SARMs have been around for long enough for people to take notice, and various people have had massive lean muscle growth thanks to them.
However, we all know Creatine is best-taken post-workout, Protein is best taken always, and lifting critique from the old guys is best taken never.
When is the best time to take SARMs? Does it differ per SARM? Does it differ in pursuit of fat loss or muscle gain?
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What are SARMs?
Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) are a class of androgen receptor ligands that bind androgen receptors and display tissue-selective activation of androgenic signaling. [1]
SARMs would only bind to some of the Androgen Receptors, whereas Anabolic Androgenic Steroids would bind to all the receptors – hence why they are more prone to cause side effects. This also makes them quite a bit stronger than SARMs, however, SARMs can still be used to increase muscle mass, increase bone density, and help oxidize fatty acids.
SARMs will bind to Androgen Receptors and can cause anabolism on a cellular level by changing the DNA of the user. Many will describe this simply as SARMs can mimic Anabolic agents like Steroids without as many side effects.
How do SARMs work?
Preclinical studies have demonstrated the ability of SARMs to increase muscle and bone mass in preclinical rodent models with varying degrees of prostate sparing. [1]
How To Take SARMs?
Safely I’d hope? And preferably with post-cycle therapy in place as well. SARMs cycles are designed to ideally solve a problem, such as an inability to consume enough food, the inability to accrue lean muscle mass, or having trouble burning fat. You would ideally also like to avoid SARMs that have specific side effects that you cannot deal with.
You will also find different versions of SARMs available in terms of means of administration, such as Liquid SARMs, Oral Capsules, Raw Powders, and even injectable SARMs. All of these have their benefits and drawbacks, so you might just need to choose the version that suits you and your wallet best.
Best Dosage for SARMs
Dosage is a very hard thing to discuss as we all have different physical functions and different medical history. This means that we cannot all run the same cycle, and we will be building muscle mass at different rates. SARMs can also adversely affect the body, and some people will just have better genetics to handle side effects than others. That being said, let’s look at some of the most popular SARMs and starting dosages.
Best Time to Take Ostarine
Ostarine is a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) and It’s not approved by the FDA. [2] It can help increase lean body mass, as well as slightly aid in weight loss.
The best time to take Ostarine is irrelevant because the half-life is 24 hours. However, Ostarine has been tested and shown to lower blood sugar levels. Some anecdotal evidence on Reddit confirms some individuals suffer from nausea and dizziness after using Ostarine. Thus, might not be the best idea to take before or after a workout as those times we usually want to raise blood sugar levels to help with anabolism.
- Ostarine can increase muscle-building potential, without minimal testosterone suppressive sides.
- Ostarine could have potential fat loss effects, combined with a caloric deficit.
- Ostarine (at a low dose) seems to be safe for females.
- Ostarine has been known to have little to no side effects. At higher doses, anecdotal evidence has been found to cause nausea, heartburn, diarrhea, and stomach pain.
Best Time to Take Andarine
Andarine S4 is another great SARM known to help gain muscle mass as well as improve bone health. Predominantly it will be used for fat loss, and to stop muscle wasting.
Andarine has a remarkably short half-life at only 4 hours, meaning you would have to split your total dosage into multiple smaller ones during the day. Another thing to consider with Andarine is the effects on vision. Andarine is known to negatively affect vision, some users say this is a very short-term side effect, while others claim it lasts the whole cycle. Regardless, Andarine should be taken multiple times per day, and probably not taken by anyone who has to use their eyes a lot for work.
- Increase in muscle-building capabilities.
- Can increase fat loss capabilities by decreasing lipoprotein lipase (LPL).
- Anecdotal evidence indicates that Andarine can potentially increase recovery time significantly.
- Not for Women
- Yellow vision has been known to plague users of Andarine at doses of 50mg or higher.
- Sensitivity to light, and difficulty adjusting to the dark.
Best Time to Take Testolone
Testolone is one of the most commonly used SARMs for muscle gain, and while it is singular in its function, it has also been somewhat effective to lower body fat.
While many believe Testolone to have quite a short half-life, these factoids were based solely on animal studies. A human study published in 2020 showed that the half-life can be as long as 60 hours. Some of the anecdotal evidence shows that RAD 140 Testolone can make sleeping more difficult, as well as cause a bit of dizziness. Thus, I think it might be wise to take Testolone earlier in the day, rather than later.
- Reduces fat and increases muscle mass
- Improves muscle recovery
- Increases vascularity
- Suppresses testosterone
- May cause hair loss
- Liver toxicity
Best Time to Take Myostine
YK-11 is what’s known as a Myostatin inhibitor. Myostatin, also known as GDF8 (growth differentiation factor 8), is known classically to act as an inhibitor of skeletal muscle growth [3]. Thus, YK-11 could open a world of muscle growth. YK-11 wouldn’t be as good for fat loss.
Even though YK-11 has a half-life of 10 -12 hours, many bodybuilders have claimed great success from using YK-11 only once per day. The best time to take Myostine would be away from food, as YK-11 itself can cause some stomach issues. It would also be wise to keep YK-11 cycles shorter in duration due to other powerful side effects YK-11 has.
- Because of the mechanism in which YK-11 works, it can be beneficial in a cut and a bulk.
- Can significantly increase strength and muscle growth.
- Could also increase bone density.
- Anecdotal evidence shows hair loss, and acne while using YK-11.
- Increased aggression.
- Decreased sex drive.
Best Time to Take Ligandrol
Ligandrol (LGD 4033) is one of the most often used SARMs we see in the fitness world, as it can help you grow new muscle tissue as well as help you lose weight. Another bonus is the amount of energy people get from using Ligandrol.
The half-life of LGD 40333 is 24 – 36 hours, so there’s no need to take Ligandrol more than once a day. Unlike other SARMs, LGD 4033 will not have fewer androgenic properties than Steroids and can cause Androgenic sides. It can also cause nausea and headaches, so LGD 4033 would be best taken away from food and workouts.
- Can increase muscle mass
- Can increase strength
- Some evidence shows that it can aid in recovery after training
- Could also help a lot with fat loss
- Ligandrol has few side effects, though some anecdotal evidence reports nausea, fatigue, headaches, and low libido.
Best Time to Take Cardarine
Cardarine is widely known to not be a SARM but rather a Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor, meaning it will target Androgen Receptors that will upregulate glucose uptake and metabolism, which can massively increase fat loss.
Cardarine has a half-life of 24 hours, meaning it will affect your entire body weight for 24 hours before effects will begin to die down – thus only one dosing per day is needed. Cardarine is known to be extremely advantageous from a health perspective, and with no alarming side effects, there isn’t an ideal time of the day to take it. Perhaps pre-workout might give you a better workout?
- For losing body fat
- Increases endurance and exercise recovery ability
- Lowers LDL Cholesterol
- Increase levels of energy
- Potential Liver Damage
- Potential Digestive Issues
Best Time to Take Stenabolic
Stenabolic (despite the anabolic vibes of the name) has more positive effects regarding fat loss and an increase in performance and endurance.
Just like Testolone, Stenabolic has an incredibly low half-life, approximately 4 – 5 hours. This means that frequent dosing would be needed throughout the day. Some users have said that they experience stomach issues when using Stenabolic, thus I wouldn’t be the biggest fan of taking it around my workout or with food.
- Can increase muscle mass
- Can increase strength
- Some evidence shows that it can aid in recovery after training
- Could also help a lot with fat loss
- Ligandrol has few side effects, though some anecdotal evidence reports nausea, fatigue, headaches, and low libido.
SARMs Side Effects
SARMs do have side effects, and the extent of these depend widely on what you’re using, and how much you will be using. Typically, the more you use and for the longer you use, the more side effects you can expect; hence why your first cycle should not be too long or intense.
SARMs that are known to have the greatest side effects are YK-11 and S4. Side effects you can expect from SARMs include:
- Increased Cholesterol: Both Anabolic Steroids and SARMs are known to increase LDL and decrease HDL levels in the body.
- Decreased Endogenous Testosterone production: Some SARMs might be so powerful that they will build muscle mass by mimicking Steroids so much, that the body stops producing its natural Testosterone at all. These SARMs require a PCT.
- Increased Liver values: SARMs and Steroids are known to cause Liver damage, especially oral versions. This damage can include but is not limited to transient serum enzyme elevations.
- Oily skin: A typical Androgenic side effect we can expect. While not as severe as some of the others, if you’re prone to having pimples and oily skin, maybe stay away from Androgenic SARMs.
- Potential hair loss: Another Androgenic side effect, we will often see a stronger SARMs cycle causing hair loss.
It is important to know that side effects and positive effects will be personal, and SARMs that work for your friends won’t do the same for you. It would also be a wise idea to not use more than one new SARM at a time as you will not be able to tell the effects from one to the other.
How long to see results from SARMs?
While it naturally depends from person to person based on things like body weight, fat levels, training intensity, etc, you can expect to see somewhat of a change within 6 – 8 weeks.
Is it better to take SARMs at night or in the morning?
Morning, and after your workout. Quite a few SARMs can make the user feel nauseous, so taking them at times when your stomach isn’t filled with food will be advantageous.
How long before bed should I take MK 677?
MK 677 is known as a growth hormone secretagogue, meaning it will increase the amount of natural growth hormone your pituitary gland produces. Thus, taking it 60 minutes before bed can cause an increase in growth hormone levels whilst sleeping, leading to greater muscle mass growth.
Can you take SARMs on an empty stomach?
Absolutely, I would even advise it as most SARMs can make you a bit nauseous.
