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Ligandrol, also known by its code name LGD-4033, is an experimental selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) taken by mouth to build muscle. It is one of the few SARMs that has been tested in healthy men, but the only published trial in that group used 0.1 to 1mg a day for 21 days. The 5 to 10mg a day commonly reported in bodybuilding is far beyond anything studied in healthy people.
Several claims about ligandrol are still repeated widely: that trials gave people 222mg a day, that it binds to “fat receptors”, and that it is not toxic to the liver. None of them holds up. LGD-4033 lowers natural testosterone and HDL cholesterol within weeks even at very low doses, and published case reports link it to liver injury.
This guide covers what the research shows, studied versus reported doses, realistic results, suppression, liver risk, post-cycle therapy (PCT) and what women need to know. Nothing here is a recommendation to use it.
Key Takeaways
- Ligandrol (LGD-4033) is an experimental SARM. In the only published trial in healthy men, 1mg a day for 21 days added about 1.2kg of lean mass.
- Commonly reported bodybuilding doses of 5-10mg a day are 5 to 10 times the highest dose tested in healthy men. No trial has used anything like the “222mg a day” still quoted online.
- Even at 1mg a day, LGD-4033 lowered total testosterone, SHBG and HDL cholesterol within three weeks. Higher doses and longer cycles should be expected to suppress more.
- It is not “liver-safe”: published case reports describe drug-induced liver injury with jaundice in LGD-4033 users, and the FDA has warned about serious SARM risks.
- There is no evidence that it burns fat, no established safe dose for women, and no trial has tested PCT after a SARM cycle.
What Is Ligandrol (LGD-4033)?
LGD-4033 is a non-steroidal SARM developed by Ligand Pharmaceuticals as a possible treatment for muscle and bone loss in conditions such as cancer, ageing and osteoporosis. “Ligandrol” is an informal name taken from the company. The compound was later licensed to Viking Therapeutics, which developed it under the code VK5211 for older patients recovering from a hip fracture.
It is not approved by the FDA or any other regulator for any condition. What is sold online as ligandrol is marketed as a research chemical, “not for human consumption”.
How LGD-4033 Works
LGD-4033 binds to the androgen receptor, the same receptor testosterone acts on. In muscle and bone, that switches on the signals that drive growth. In preclinical work in rats, it acted strongly on muscle and bone with much weaker effects on the prostate than testosterone.
It works through the androgen receptor only. There is no “fat receptor”, and the claim that ligandrol attaches to one to burn fat has no basis. Because it is not a steroid, it is not converted to estrogen or DHT. It still acts on androgen receptors in the brain and the reproductive system, which is where its suppression of natural testosterone comes from. In people it has a long half-life of roughly 24 to 36 hours, so it builds up with daily dosing.
What the Research Actually Shows
LGD-4033 has more human data than most SARMs, but the human trials are small, short and used very low doses. This is what has been published:
| Research | Subjects | What It Found |
|---|---|---|
| Preclinical studies | Rats (animal data) | Built muscle and bone with much less effect on the prostate than testosterone |
| 21-day trial | 76 healthy men aged 21-50, given placebo or 0.1, 0.3 or 1mg a day (human data) | Lean mass rose with dose, by about 1.2kg at 1mg; fat mass did not change significantly; total testosterone, SHBG and HDL cholesterol fell with dose; hormone levels returned to baseline after stopping |
| Phase 2 trial (as VK5211) | Older adults recovering from hip fracture, 0.5-2mg a day for 12 weeks (human data) | Increased lean body mass compared with placebo |
| Trials at bodybuilding doses | None published | No human data at 5-10mg a day, on 8-week cycles, or on recovery after them |
Every LGD-4033 cycle protocol in circulation comes from user experience, not research. A three-week trial at 1mg a day cannot show what eight weeks at 10mg does. And no published trial has used anything close to the “222mg a day” still quoted online: the highest daily dose tested was 2mg.
Studied Doses vs Commonly Reported Doses
Reported doses below are not clinical doses and they are not recommendations.
| Source | Daily Dose | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 21-day trial in healthy men (human data) | 0.1-1mg | 21 days |
| Phase 2 trial in hip fracture patients (human data) | 0.5-2mg | 12 weeks |
| Most commonly reported range | 5-10mg | 8 weeks |
| Higher reported doses | Above 10mg, up to about 20mg | 8-12 weeks |
LGD-4033 is taken by mouth once a day, usually as a liquid or capsules. Users report that suppression symptoms and side effects build as the dose rises and the cycle gets longer. Most reported cycles stop at 8 weeks for that reason, with time off at least as long as the cycle, plus any PCT, before another one.
A Commonly Reported 8-Week Timeline
This is what users commonly describe in before-and-after reports. It is anecdotal, and individual results vary widely.
| Period | What Users Commonly Report |
|---|---|
| Weeks 1-2 | Strength and muscle fullness often rise first; scale weight starts climbing, much of it water and glycogen |
| Weeks 3-5 | Visible size gains; suppression symptoms such as lower libido, fatigue or flat mood can begin |
| Weeks 6-8 | Gains slow down; suppression symptoms become more common, and some users report acne, hair shedding or headaches |
| After stopping | Some fullness and scale weight drop off; low-testosterone symptoms can appear or worsen until natural production recovers |
Pros
- Exceptional purity & testing (≥98%)
- Pharmaceutical-style packaging for stability
- Broad catalog across peptides & nootropics
- Strong reputation & consistency across years
Cons
- Some items frequently out of stock due to high demand
- Limited long-term data for some compounds
Ligandrol Results: Before and After
The only controlled figure comes from the 21-day trial: about 1.2kg of lean mass at 1mg a day. Lean mass on a body scan includes water, not only muscle tissue. There are no controlled data at bodybuilding doses.
User before-and-after reports commonly describe roughly 5 to 10lb (about 2 to 4.5kg) of scale weight over an 8-week cycle, with strength rising early. Some of that is water and glycogen rather than new muscle, and photos are easily flattered by lighting, a pump and posing.
Most of the difference between users comes from diet, training, product quality (an underdosed or mislabeled product gives a different result) and how quickly natural testosterone recovers after the cycle, which decides how much of the gain stays.
Does LGD-4033 Help With Fat Loss?
Not directly. In the 21-day trial, fat mass did not change significantly. Users who look leaner on a cut are seeing the effect of the calorie deficit; whether LGD-4033 helps keep muscle while dieting has not been tested in people.
LGD-4033 and Testosterone Suppression
Testosterone production runs on a feedback loop: when the brain senses androgen activity, it cuts its output of LH and FSH, the hormones that tell the testes to make testosterone and sperm. LGD-4033 is a potent androgen-receptor activator, so it triggers that cut.
This has been measured. In the trial in healthy young men, total testosterone, SHBG and HDL cholesterol fell in a dose-dependent way within 21 days, and free testosterone and FSH dropped significantly at 1mg a day. Commonly reported bodybuilding doses are 5 to 10 times higher and are taken for longer, so deeper suppression should be expected. User blood work commonly shows it.
Suppression usually shows up as lower libido, weaker erections, fatigue and flat mood. It also reduces sperm production, which matters for anyone trying to have children. In the trial, hormone levels returned to baseline after stopping. Users of higher doses commonly report recovery over weeks to a few months, but there is no published data on recovery after 8 weeks at those doses.
Blood Work Before and After
Blood work is the only way to know how suppressed you are and whether you have recovered. The usual markers:
- Hormones: total and free testosterone, LH, FSH, SHBG and estradiol
- Lipids: HDL, LDL and triglycerides
- Liver: ALT, AST and bilirubin
- General: a full blood count
A baseline test before a cycle gives a reference point. A test 4 to 8 weeks after stopping shows whether levels are coming back.
Is LGD-4033 Bad for Your Liver?
LGD-4033 is often called “liver-safe” because it is not a 17-alpha-alkylated steroid and because the 21-day trial did not report liver problems. Neither point settles it. That trial was small, lasted three weeks and used doses of 1mg a day or less.
Several published case reports describe drug-induced liver injury in people using LGD-4033 products, alone or together with other SARMs. The usual pattern is cholestatic injury, where bile flow is impaired, appearing within weeks of starting. Most patients recovered after stopping, some only after months. The FDA has warned consumers that SARMs have been linked to serious safety concerns, including liver damage.
Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), dark urine, pale stools, persistent itching, nausea or pain under the right ribs need prompt medical attention.
Other Ligandrol Side Effects
Cholesterol and heart risk: Lower HDL (“good”) cholesterol was one of the clearest findings in the healthy-men trial, at doses far below what bodybuilders take. Low HDL is a recognized risk factor for heart disease, and the FDA’s warning on SARMs includes a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. No study has followed LGD-4033 users long enough to measure heart outcomes.
Water retention, hair, skin and mood: LGD-4033 does not convert to estrogen, but users commonly describe a fuller, softer look and some water weight that fades after the cycle. Hair shedding in men prone to male pattern baldness, acne, headaches and mood changes are also commonly reported, mostly at higher doses. Flat mood and low drive often track with suppression.
PCT After a Ligandrol Cycle
Post-cycle therapy (PCT) means taking a drug such as tamoxifen (Nolvadex) or clomiphene (Clomid) after a cycle to push the brain to restart LH and FSH output. Both are prescription drugs, neither is approved for this use, and no trial has tested PCT after a SARM cycle.
These are the protocols users most commonly report after an LGD-4033 cycle, usually started within a few days of the last dose:
| PCT Drug | Commonly Reported Protocol | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) | 20mg/day | 4 weeks |
| Clomiphene (Clomid) | 25-50mg/day | 4 weeks |
Some users skip PCT and wait for natural recovery; others run it as a matter of course. Without blood work, neither choice is an informed one. Clomiphene can cause mood changes and visual disturbances, and vision changes are a reason to stop it. A doctor can test hormones and, where appropriate, treat persistent low testosterone properly. Read more in our guide to PCT for SARMs.
Ligandrol for Women
LGD-4033 is often described as a good SARM for women because the dose can be kept low. Evidence does not support calling it safe. It is a potent androgen-receptor activator, androgens masculinize women, and the trial in healthy volunteers enrolled only men.
Commonly reported virilization signs include:
- A deeper or hoarse voice
- Facial and body hair growth
- Acne and oily skin
- Clitoral enlargement
- Irregular or missed periods
Voice changes and clitoral enlargement may not reverse after stopping. Where women describe using LGD-4033, they report doses well below men’s, but no dose has been shown to be free of these effects. Periods that do not return to normal after stopping need a doctor’s assessment.
Stacking LGD-4033
LGD-4033 is often stacked with RAD-140 or Ostarine for bulking, with MK-677, or with Cardarine on a cut. Each one adds its own risks:
- Other SARMs (RAD-140, Ostarine): Stacking two suppressive compounds adds to the suppression and to the drop in HDL cholesterol. RAD-140 has its own liver injury case reports.
- MK-677 (ibutamoren): Not a SARM but a growth hormone secretagogue. It is commonly reported to raise appetite and water retention, and it can raise blood sugar.
- Cardarine (GW501516): Not a SARM. It was abandoned during drug development after it caused cancer in animal studies.
LGD-4033 vs Other SARMs
| Compound | Human Data | How It Compares |
|---|---|---|
| Ostarine (MK-2866) | Several clinical trials, including in cancer-related muscle loss | The most studied SARM; users describe it as milder and less suppressive, but it is still suppressive and lowers HDL |
| RAD-140 (Testolone) | Only a phase 1 trial in women with advanced breast cancer | No data in healthy people; users describe it as more androgenic, with more hair shedding and aggression |
| Andarine (S4) | Mostly animal data | Users describe it as weaker for size; vision changes such as a yellow tint are reported at higher doses |
| YK-11 | None | Has a steroid structure; raised follistatin in cell studies, the basis of its “myostatin inhibitor” label; no human safety data |
Legal Status, Drug Testing and Product Quality
LGD-4033 is not approved for human use in the US or anywhere else. In the US it cannot legally be sold as a dietary supplement, which is why vendors label it “for research purposes only”. Rules differ by country; see are SARMs legal for a country list.
In sport, WADA bans LGD-4033 and other SARMs at all times, in and out of competition. Anti-doping labs test for it and its metabolites, and it has been behind a number of anti-doping violations.
Product quality is the other unknown. In a study published in JAMA, researchers bought 44 products sold online as SARMs and analyzed them. Only about half contained a SARM at all, and many contained other unapproved drugs or amounts that did not match the label. Every reported dose assumes the product holds what it claims.
The Bottom Line
LGD-4033 is one of the few SARMs tested in healthy men, and that data shows both sides: lean mass gains, and falling testosterone and HDL within three weeks at doses far below what bodybuilders take.
- Commonly reported cycles run 8 weeks at 5-10mg a day, 5 to 10 times the highest dose tested in healthy men. Gains of a few kilograms come from user reports, not trials.
- It is not liver-safe and it does not burn fat: case reports link it to liver injury, and fat mass did not change in its trial.
- Suppression should be expected, and blood work before and after a cycle is the only way to know where recovery stands. Women face a real risk of permanent virilization.
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