Pregnenolone is a neurosteroid but it is sold as a dietary supplement. Apparently there is a difference in effects between pregnenolone and pregnenolone sulfate. I haven’t been able to find a whole lot of recent info. The link above is a study on people, below, one on rats discussing the mechanism for effects.
This on the effects differences between pregnenolone and pregnenolone sulfate
"We also showed that pregnenolone sulfate normalized behavioral abnormalities in MK801-treated wild-type mice, whereas pregnenolone, its precursor, only partially rescued MK801-induced behavioral abnormalities. This indicates that there are distinct mechanisms of action between pregnenolone sulfate and pregnenolone, and the involvement of NMDA receptor signaling in the action of pregnenolone sulfate. "
Pregnenolone didn’t help me at all. I took 50mg daily for more than a month. Maybe sulfate would make a difference? But I don’t think they sell it OTC…
Just seems kinda stalled out, don’t know who’s taking an interest in it these days. Real studies are expensive, too and it’s got no wealthy drug company to advance it.
Apparently pregnenolone in high doses normalizes schizophrenia-like behavior through glutamate signalling. The significance of this is mentioned briefly in the below video. Skip to 12:45 for the relevant portion of the video.