Because DHEA is classified as a dietary supplement by the FDA rather than a drug, it does not require a prescription and is not a controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act.

: Since it is regulated as a supplement in the U.S., these products are not as strictly tested as prescription drugs. Independent testing by ConsumerLab.com has found that the actual amount of DHEA in some bottles differs from the label.

The U.S. is unique in its treatment of DHEA as a supplement; most other developed nations regulate it as an anabolic steroid or a prescription drug. Regulation Status

; illegal to sell over the counter but available via prescription. Canada