Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) contribute to impressive lean muscle and muscle mass gains.
However, these compounds are only beneficial when you know how to take SARMs properly.
As a result, our guide on how to take SARMS introduces readers to suggested dosage and cycle instructions.
Therefore, you can learn the dosing instructions for the most popular SARMs.
It will assist you with building lean muscle a safe and effective way, especially compared to other types of performance-enhancing substances.
Learn more about how to take SARMS correctly to avoid any unwanted side effects.
NOTE: The below research chemicals are NOT intended for those under the age of 18. If you are under the age of 18, do NOT consider taking them under any circumstances whatsoever.
Also, if you’re planning on joining the military, cease using this (and really any) supplement at least a couple months before going to MEPS.
They can cause a false positive on a drug test, and will affect your chances of joining!
5 Crucial Things To Know Before Taking SARMS
Before starting a SARM protocol, it’s important to take into account a few things. They include:
- Type: SARMS are sold in 3 different forms: Powders, Liquids, and Pills / Capsules.
- Dosage: The dose will be entirely dependent on the type of SARM you intend to take.
- Administration: Administration of SARMS includes sublingual, injectable, and even nasal spray.
- Duration: The duration of effects can vary widely from SARM to SARM.
- Post-Cycle Therapy: Some (but not all) SARMs will require a period of post-cycle therapy.
For each SARM listed below, we’ll talk about how exactly you should take each of them using the criteria above.
Ostarine (MK-2866)
- Suggested Dosage: Beginners (1-3mg) / Advanced (10-30mg)
- Half-Life: 24 hours
- Cycle Length: 6-12 weeks
Ostarine (MK-2866) is one of the most popular Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) and heavily utilized by bodybuilders.1
You can achieve incredible lean muscle and muscle mass with the powerful SARM.
It’s best to stick to a low dose with Ostarine (preferably between 1mg – 3mg).
There is mounting evidence to suggest Ostarine is very effective in low doses.2
Moreover, higher concentrations of MK-2866 may lead to unwanted side effects.
Regardless, professional bodybuilders generally intake between 10mg – 30mg per day.
The typical cycle length for Ostarine (MK-2866) ranges between 6-12 weeks.
For some, 8 weeks is ideal for beginners introducing Ostarine at low doses (1-3mg per day).
Post Cycle Therapy (PCT) is recommended for muscle building SARMs like Ostarine.
Furthermore, it’s crucial to keep in mind the half-life of a SARM.
The half-life of Ostarine is 24 hours which means that the effects wear off approximately around that time period.
Thus, there is no need to administer MK-2866 more than once per day.
Lastly, it’s possible to “stack” Ostarine with other SARMs.
However, keep in mind adding other SARMs to your daily supplementation may require you to take each in lower doses to avoid serious side effects.
Learn more about the best SARMs to stack with Ostarine such as Andarine (S4).
Click Here to pick up Ostarine from our #1 rated source, Sports Technology Labs.
Cardarine (GW-501516)
- Suggested Dosage: Beginners (2.5-10mg) / Advanced (10-20mg)
- Half-Life: 12-18 hours
- Cycle Length: 8-12 weeks
Cardarine (GW501516) is another synthetic compound that is often stacked with SARMs for cutting or bulking.3
Unfortunately, like most SARMs, there are no firm guidelines for the correct dosage since these substances are highly experimental.
Cardarine has yet to receive FDA approval so much of the “evidence” for proper SARM dosage are based on the words of bodybuilders and athletes.4
In general, we recommend not exceeding a dosage of 10mg.
Cardarine has not demonstrated any adverse side effects between 2.5mg – 10mg per day.
Meanwhile, advanced users sometimes consume between 10mg – 20mg.
The SARM features a half-life of approximate 12-18 hours.
For this reason, most suggest splitting the dosage and administering twice per day.
It’s especially important if you are taking the SARM at higher doses.
Click Here to pick up Cardarine from our #1 rated source, Sports Technology Labs.
Ligandrol (LGD-4033)
- Suggested Dosage: Beginners (5-10mg) / Advanced (10-15mg)
- Half-Life: 24-36 hours
- Cycle Length: 4-8 weeks
Ligandrol (LGD-4033) – like most SARMs – is available in different formats from liquid and powder form to tablets.
Typically, how to take SARMs is based on word of mouth reputations from bodybuilders.
Thus, the “safe” dose for beginners is anticipated between 5mg – 10mg per day.
LGD-4033 has been shown to be effective in very low doses, so there is no need to over do it.5
Ligandrol builds muscle mass in more advanced users between 10mg – 15mg.6
It’s absolutely vital that users of Ligandrol do not exceed a cycle of 8 weeks.
The SARM is not designed for long-term consumption as it may lead to serious health problems.
Ligandrol features a half-life between 24-36 hours which means you only need to inject once per day.
Click Here to pick up Ligandrol from our #1 rated source, Sports Technology Labs.
Ibutamoren (MK-677)
- Suggested Dosage: Beginners (10-25mg) / Advanced (15-25mg)
- Half-Life: 24 hours
- Cycle Length: 10-16 weeks
Ibutamoren (MK-677) is a GH secretagogue that rapidly produces lean muscle and assists in weight loss.
As a result, the suggested daily dose for the growth hormone (GH) is between 10mg – 25mg per day.
The norm with Ibutamoren is to start around the beginner dose and marginally increase dosage as the weeks in the cycle progress.7
In general, users have the choice between administering once or twice per day.
If you split the doses, make sure to take the SARM once in the morning and once in the afternoon.
Ibutamoren features a half-life of approximately 24 hours so you don’t have to take it multiple times per day.
If you are wondering how to take SARMS properly than the general advice is start “low and slow” (meaning low dosage / gradually increase with cycle).
Unfortunately, users of SARMs generally have to experiment before they find the right dosage and cycle for their needs.
There are no universal or set guidelines for SARMs like Ibutamoren.
Lastly, the suggested cycle length is between 10-16 weeks.
Click Here to pick up Ibutamoren from our #1 rated source, Sports Technology Labs.
Testolone (RAD 140)
- Suggested Dosage: Beginners (2.5-5mg) / Advanced (5-15mg)
- Half-Life: 60 hours
- Cycle Length: 8-12 weeks
Testolone (RAD 140) is one of the most popular SARMs available online.
RAD 140, like many SARMs, does not require a high dosage (2.5mg – 5mg).
Then, if your body continues to handle Testolone, users may increase to 5mg – 10mg for the next cycle.
It’s highly recommended not to exceed 15mg per day of RAD 140.
Those that want to understand how to take SARMs properly should also note the half-life.8
Testolone features an extremely long half-life of 60 hours which leads to a high dosage not being necessary.9
You should aim for 8-12 weeks for the cycle with PCT being necessary for your body to recover.
Therefore, aim for a Post-Cycle Therapy that lasts between 2-4 weeks.
Click Here to pick up Testolone from our #1 rated source, Sports Technology Labs.
Andarine (S4)
- Suggested Dosage: Beginners (15-25mg) / Advanced (50-100mg)
- Half-Life: 4-6 hours
- Cycle Length: 6-12 weeks
Andarine (S4) is one of the most popular SARMs for bulking.
And, like Testolone (RAD 140) is not designed to supplement year round.10
Therefore, the best advice for how to take SARMs like Andarine (S4) is stick to a short cycle (6-8 weeks).
Moreover, beginners should stick to a low dosage (15mg – 25mg) in order to monitor any side effects that may occur.
During a cycle, users generally increase the daily intake of Andarine with each week.11
For example, a common increase is 25mg each week until the dosage reaches 75mg per day.
Meanwhile, advanced users may consider bumping the max intake to 100mg per day for the final 2 weeks.
Additionally, some prefer to stick to a standard 50mg dose throughout the duration of the cycle (8-12 weeks).
It’s important to cycle out of the SARM at least 3-4 times per year.
Lastly, note the very short half-life (4-6 hours) of S4 which makes it very short acting.
For this reason, you should administer the substance shortly before a workout.
Click Here to pick up Andarine from our #1 rated source, Sports Technology Labs.
Stenabolic (SR9009)
- Suggested Dosage: Beginners (10-20mg) / Advanced (20-30mg)
- Half-Life: 4-6 hours
- Cycle Length: 8-12 weeks
Stenabolic, or SR9009, is sometimes referred to as “cardio in a pill”.
The SARM can produce remarkable weight loss as well as improve energy and stamina.12
Therefore, beginners are suggested to administer 10mg – 20mg per day while advanced users may bump up to 30mg.
Stenabolic (like Andarine) features a very short half-life.13
Thus, many find it best to split the dosage between multiple injections per day.
Usually, the best advice for how to take SARMs is through a capsule/tablet or liquid injection.
Injections produce faster results because the SARM enters the bloodstream immediately.
Stenabolic is often stacked together with other SARMs like Cardarine to maximize weight loss results.
For this reason, adjust dosage accordingly to avoid any dangerous side effects.
Click Here to pick up Stenabolic from our #1 rated source, Sports Technology Labs.
YK-11
- Suggested Dosage: Beginners (5-10mg) / Advanced (10-30mg)
- Half-Life: 10-12 hours
- Cycle Length: 4-8 weeks
YK-11 is a powerful SARM that only requires a low dosage to produce effects.14
In fact, the cycle length of YK-11 (4-8 weeks) is generally shorter than most SARMs.
Beginners should adhere to 2.5mg – 5mg for a starting dose.
Then, monitor side effects (if any) and adjust dosage as necessary.15
It’s common for intermediate/advanced users to administer between 10mg – 15mg per day.
The lack of concise research has yet to determine a half-life for YK-11 though some estimate it around 10-12 hours.
As a result, the general guidelines for YK-11 is to take the SARM at least 2x per day.
Post Cycle Therapy (PCT) is mandatory with YK-11 or it may lead to testosterone suppression.
Moreover, you may want to consider stacking YK-11 with other types of SARMs (Andarine, RAD 140).
Click Here to pick up YK-11 from our #1 rated source, Sports Technology Labs.
S23
- Suggested Dosage: Beginners (5-10mg) / Advanced (10-25mg)
- Half-Life: 12 hours
- Cycle Length: 6-8 weeks
Unfortunately, clinical research is lacking on certain types of SARMs.16
As a result, it’s not always universal when new users seek advice for how to take SARMs correctly.
Consequently, athletes and bodybuilders that have experimented with SARMs are usually the most knowledgeable sources.
Thus, the consensus is to administer between 10mg – 25mg per day of S23.
While some claim S23 doses can easily exceed 30mg we suggest not going over that benchmark.
In general, higher concentrations of S23 and other SARMs could contribute to liver toxicity.
Thus, stick to guidelines to avoid unwanted side effects like itchiness, abdominal pain, and jaundice.
However, with that being said, it’s considered safe to stack S23 with other SARMs to maximize benefits.
Just make sure you adjust dosage accordingly to avoid dangerous side effects.
S23 demonstrated a 12 hour half-life in rodents so consider administering 2x per day.
Lastly, it’s necessary to follow up the cycle with PCT (Post-Cycle Therapy).
Therefore, allow at least 4 weeks to recover from a cycle of S23.
Click Here to pick up S23 from our #1 rated source, Sports Technology Labs.
Conclusion
It’s important to understand how to take SARMS safely.
These powerful substances are outstanding at producing lean muscle and muscle mass.
However, they can also become dangerous when used incorrectly.
While there are no “set” guidelines for how to take SARMs, there is a lot of word of mouth reputation.
Therefore, most dosing and cycle standards are determined by others that have previously experimented with SARMs.
It’s important to note that most SARMs have yet to receive FDA approval.
Thus, you should consider speaking with a physician before use, especially if you take other prescriptions.
Finally, never purchase from an unreliable manufacturer.
It’s crucial to verify the SARMs are produced from a lab with a long track record and solid reputation.
References
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Roch PJ, Henkies D, Carstens JC, et al. Ostarine and Ligandrol Improve Muscle Tissue in an Ovariectomized Rat Model. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2020;11:556581. Published 2020 Sep 17. doi:10.3389/fendo.2020.556581 (source)
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Leciejewska N, Pruszynska-Oszmalek E, Bien J, Nogowski L, Kolodziejski PA. Effect of ostarine (enobosarm/GTX024), a selective androgen receptor modulator, on adipocyte metabolism in Wistar rats. J Physiol Pharmacol. 2019;70(4):10.26402/jpp.2019.4.04. doi:10.26402/jpp.2019.4.04 (source)
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Chen W, Gao R, Xie X, et al. A metabolomic study of the PPARδ agonist GW501516 for enhancing running endurance in Kunming mice. Sci Rep. 2015;5:9884. Published 2015 May 6. doi:10.1038/srep09884 (source)
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Kintz P, Ameline A, Gheddar L, Raul JS. Testing for GW501516 (cardarine) in human hair using LC/MS-MS and confirmation by LC/HRMS. Drug Test Anal. 2020;12(7):980-986. doi:10.1002/dta.2802 (source)
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Basaria S, Collins L, Dillon EL, et al. The safety, pharmacokinetics, and effects of LGD-4033, a novel nonsteroidal oral, selective androgen receptor modulator, in healthy young men. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2013;68(1):87-95. doi:10.1093/gerona/gls078 (source)
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Basaria S, Collins L, Dillon EL, et al. The safety, pharmacokinetics, and effects of LGD-4033, a novel nonsteroidal oral, selective androgen receptor modulator, in healthy young men. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2013;68(1):87-95. doi:10.1093/gerona/gls078 (source)
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Sigalos JT, Pastuszak AW. The Safety and Efficacy of Growth Hormone Secretagogues. Sex Med Rev. 2018;6(1):45-53. doi:10.1016/j.sxmr.2017.02.004 (source)
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Miller CP, Shomali M, Lyttle CR, et al. Design, Synthesis, and Preclinical Characterization of the Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator (SARM) RAD140. ACS Med Chem Lett. 2010;2(2):124-129. Published 2010 Dec 2. doi:10.1021/ml1002508 (source)
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Jayaraman A, Christensen A, Moser VA, et al. Selective androgen receptor modulator RAD140 is neuroprotective in cultured neurons and kainate-lesioned male rats. Endocrinology. 2014;155(4):1398-1406. doi:10.1210/en.2013-1725 (source)
- National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 9824562, Andarine. Accessed Sept. 11, 2022. (source)
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Gao W, Reiser PJ, Coss CC, et al. Selective androgen receptor modulator treatment improves muscle strength and body composition and prevents bone loss in orchidectomized rats. Endocrinology. 2005;146(11):4887-4897. doi:10.1210/en.2005-0572 (source)
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Dierickx P, Emmett MJ, Jiang C, et al. SR9009 has REV-ERB-independent effects on cell proliferation and metabolism. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019;116(25):12147-12152. doi:10.1073/pnas.1904226116 (source)
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Geldof L, Deventer K, Roels K, Tudela E, Van Eeno P. In Vitro Metabolic Studies of REV-ERB Agonists SR9009 and SR9011. Int J Mol Sci. 2016;17(10):1676. Published 2016 Oct 3. doi:10.3390/ijms17101676 (source)
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Yatsu T, Kusakabe T, Kato K, Inouye Y, Nemoto K, Kanno Y. Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator, YK11, Up-Regulates Osteoblastic Proliferation and Differentiation in MC3T3-E1 Cells. Biol Pharm Bull. 2018;41(3):394-398. doi:10.1248/bpb.b17-00748 (source)
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Lee SJ, Gharbi A, Shin JE, Jung ID, Park YM. Myostatin inhibitor YK11 as a preventative health supplement for bacterial sepsis. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2021;543:1-7. doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.01.030 (source)
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Kitaoka Y, Olvera J, Wool IG. The primary structure of rat ribosomal protein S23. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1994;202(1):314-320. doi:10.1006/bbrc.1994.1929 (source)
See Also
RAD-140 Review: Testolone Dosage, Cycle Length, & More
Born and raised in Woodbridge, NJ, he graduated from the New Jersey Institute Of Technology with an MBA in eCommerce.His hobbies include beach volleyball, target shooting, and lifting.
Rob is also a Commercially rated pilot and Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), with over 1,500 hours of flight time.
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