Introduction
Introduction Pregnenolone is a hormone made by humans and animals. It can be made in a lab and taken as a pill, powder, or extract. Pregnenolone has been used to ease symptoms of depression and to boost brain function.
Dosages
50 to 100 milligrams once daily
What Research Shows
May Be Effective
Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.
Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.
Safety Notes
It is likely safe to take pregnenolone in small doses for a short time. Not enough studies have been done to say whether it is safe to use for a long period. It is not known whether it is safe for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Interactions
Talk to your doctor about any alternative therapy or supplements you are taking to make sure it does not interfere with your current treatment.
References
REFA Bipolar Disorder
REFA1 Osuji IJ, Vera-Bolaños E, et al. Pregnenolone for cognition and mood in dual diagnosis patients. Psychiatry Res. 2010;178(2):309-312.
REFA2 Brown ES, Park J, et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of pregnenolone for bipolar depression. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2014;39(12):2867-2873.
REFB Schizophrenia
REFB1 Marx CE, Keefe RS, et al. Proof-of-concept trial with the neurosteroid pregnenolone targeting cognitive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2009 Jul;34(8):1885-1903.
REFB2 Ritsner MS, Gibel A, et al. Pregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone as an adjunctive treatment in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder: an 8-week, double-blind, randomized, controlled, 2-center, parallel-group trial. J Clin Psychiatry. 2010;71(10):1351-1362.
REFB3 Ritsner MS, Bawakny H, et al. Pregnenolone treatment reduces severity of negative symptoms in recent-onset schizophrenia: an 8-week, double-blind, randomized add-on two-center trial. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2014;68(6):432-440.
REFB4 Marx CE, Lee J, et al. Proof-of-concept randomized controlled trial of pregnenolone in schizophrenia. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2014;321(17):3647-3662.
REFB5 Kashani L, Shams N, et al. Pregnenolone as an adjunct to risperidone for treatment of women with schizophrenia: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. J Psychiatr Res. 2017;94:70-77.
REFB6 Kreinin A, Bawakny N, et al. Adjunctive Pregnenolone Ameliorates the Cognitive Deficits in Recent-Onset Schizophrenia: An 8-Week, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Clin Schizophr Relat Psychoses. 2017;10(4):201-210.
REFB7 Kardashev A, Ratner Y, et al. Add-On Pregnenolone with L-Theanine to Antipsychotic Therapy Relieves Negative and Anxiety Symptoms of Schizophrenia: An 8-Week, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial. Clin Schizophr Relat Psychoses. Spring 2018;12(1):31-41.