- Joined
- Aug 13, 2007
- Messages
- 36
sarms S-4 is a revolutionary advancement in the field of muscle development through anabolic enhancement. Simply put, sarms targets the androgen receptors in a “selective” manner (Hence the term Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators), zeroing in on the “good “ aspects while negating the bad(1). In this way, you get the benefits of enhanced androgenic effects – strength, increased muscle and heightened libido – without the negative side effects of traditional anabolic/androgenic steroids -- prostate enlargement(2), increased blood pressure, testicular atrophy, hair loss and elevated cholesterol(3)(4). And it does it all in an orally bio-available form that is not liver toxic. Sound interesting? It should. sarms is changing the landscape of bobybuilding in a big way. And for those who already use steroids as a part of the process, sarms has several interesting applications, most significantly, in the area of Post Cycle Therapy(5).
Part of this usage is another advantage that is especially appealing to those who use steroids on a regular basis. In controlled dosages, sarms is relatively non-suppressive. This opens up considerable possibilities in regard to utilizing sarms to enhance a typical steroid cycle, but more significantly, it becomes a tremendous tool in the area of PCT.
Coming off of steroids is the most complicated, and often confusing part of the process. The athlete wants to maintain gains, avoid the “crash” of reduced strength and muscle growth and yet, recover his natural hormonal balance. It’s a tricky balance of drugs, supplements and ultimately luck. Some fare better than others and many consider the down time inevitability. But with the advent of sarms S-4, not only can the transition be made more tolerable, it is now possible to avoid the down sides of coming off of a steroid cycle(6). One can maintain the gains and even continue growing after the cessation of steroids.
The most logical method of PCT use would be to implement sarms as a “taper” at the end of a cycle. In other words, once you stop using steroids, the body can obviously no longer support the muscle growth it achieved in an enhanced state. Natural testosterone is lower. And nitrogen retention is lessened. That’s where sarms fits the bill. By using sarms following the end of a cycle, the body can begin to recover yet still receive both the anabolic and androgen benefits. Muscles will still be able to absorb increased nitrogen from Protein sources, thus increasing muscle tissue growth and the androgenic qualities will insure that strength is maintained(7). Recovery time will also be reduced. You can still work out hard without fear of overtraining and the increased workload will lead to further improvement. In short, this means no crash and no loss of gains. Essentially, you’re still “on” but you’re recovering. Sounds perfect, doesn’t it? Well, it’s not perfect, but it’s pretty damn close to it. Never before has anything like this been possible and the potential is amazing(8).
The only drawback of using sarms (if it even be considered a drawback) is the fact that its androgenic ratio is closer to a mild steroid such as Primobolin than it is to testosterone. So by itself, one could not and should not expect tremendous gains in mass from it. Increasing the dosage beyond 50-100 mls a day is not recommended since at that point the risk/benefit ratio shifts unfavorably – not that the side effects are severe, but that’s where continued use could lead to suppression, and then you’re defeating the purpose of using it for PCT(9)
Another steroid with which sarms can be compared is Proviron. The main similarity in regard to the physical result is a noticeable “hardness” and increased density to the muscles. Proviron is also only mildly suppressive and then, only in high dosages for extended duration, which is why it too is a popular add-on at the end of a cycle. Neither drug can aromatize and also work as an anti estrogen. (Another advantage in PCT). The main difference between Proviron and sarms is that Proviron is DHT based making it especially hard on the hairline and prostate -- NOT what you want when trying to restore sex drive and stamina. sarms has been shown to cause less prostate hypertrophy than all other steroids(10). In fact, in some studies sarms has been shown to decrease prostate weight similar to the 5 alpha reductase inhibitor, Finesteride(11). How perfect is that?
Higher dosages have also been shown to lead to vision disturbances (much like with Clomid). Still, at 50mg - 100mg a day the results are impressive and virtually side effect free. A good way to incorporate sarms into PCT is to begin using 50mls a day at the same time as you begin using other PCT ancillaries – depending on what drugs and supplements you prefer and/or found to be effective. You then can continue using sarms and supplements which will allow the HPTA to begin functioning on its own without the help of other drugs such as hcg or Clomid(12). The added benefit would be continued strength and libido and an increased muscularity. Instead of being a time when you experience the loss of gains, it will become a time when the gains become solidified and you can look better than ever(13).
It won’t be long before the term PCT and sarms are inexorably linked. The way PCT is conducted will be changed forever. In fact, it already is.
REFERENCES.
1. Drug Discov Today. 2007 Mar;12(5-6):241-8. Epub 2007 Feb 7.
Expanding the therapeutic use of androgens via selective androgen receptor modulators (sarms).
Gao W, Dalton JT.
Division of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, 500 W 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
2. Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2006 Apr;15(4):377-87.
Therapeutic potential of the sarms: revisiting the androgen receptor for drug discovery.
Segal S, Narayanan R, Dalton JT.
1GTx, Inc., Memphis, TN 38163, USA
3. Curr Opin Investig Drugs. 2006 Oct;7(10):873-81.
Selective androgen receptor modulators: in pursuit of tissue-selective androgens.
Omwancha J, Brown TR.
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Division of Reproductive Biology, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
4. J Biol Chem. 2009 Dec 25;284(52):36367-76. Epub 2009 Oct 21.
Identification of anabolic selective androgen receptor modulators with reduced activities in reproductive tissues and sebaceous glands.
Schmidt A, Harada S, Kimmel DB, Bai C, Chen F, Rutledge SJ, Vogel RL, Scafonas A, Gentile MA, Nantermet PV, McElwee-Witmer S, Pennypacker B, Masarachia P, Sahoo SP, Kim Y, Meissner RS, Hartman GD, Duggan ME, Rodan GA, Towler DA, Ray WJ.
Department of Molecular Endocrinology/Bone Biology, Merck Research Laboratories, West Point, Pennsylvania 1948, USA
5. Nucl Recept Signal. 2008;6:e010. Epub 2008 Nov 26.
Selective androgen receptor modulators in preclinical and clinical development.
Narayanan R, Mohler ML, Bohl CE, Miller DD, Dalton JT.
Preclinical Research and Development, GTx, Inc., Memphis, Tennessee, USA
6. Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2010;(195):99-126.
Synthetic anabolic agents: steroids and nonsteroidal selective androgen receptor modulators.
Thevis M, Schänzer W.
Center for Preventive Doping Research - Institute of Biochemistry, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, 50933, Cologne, Germany
7. Pharmacokinetics of S-3-(4-acetylamino-phenoxy)-2-hydroxy-2-methyl-N-(4-nitro-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-propionamide in rats, a non-steroidal selective androgen receptor modulator
J. D. KEARBEY,† D. WU,† W. GAO,† D. D. MILLER,‡ and J. T. DALTON†* †Division of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
‡Department of Pharmaceutics, Graduate Health Sciences Center, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
8. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1999 Oct;84(10):3459-62.
Selective androgen receptor modulators (sarms): a novel approach to androgen therapy for the new millennium.
Negro-Vilar A.
Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc., San Diego, California 92121, USA
9. Discovery and biological characterization of a novel series of androgen receptor modulators.
Zhou C, Wu G, Feng Y, Li Q, Su H, Mais DE, Zhu Y, Li N, Deng Y, Yang D, Wang MW
10. Design, synthesis, and biological characterization of metabolically stable selective androgen receptor modulators.
Marhefka CA, Gao W, Chung K, Kim J, He Y, Yin D, Bohl C, Dalton JT, Miller DD
11. Antiandrogens in prostate cancer.
Reid P, Kantoff P, Oh W.
Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology, Dana Farber-Partners Cancer Care, Boston, MA 02115, USA
12. Emerging drugs for hypogonadism.
Edelstein D, Dobs A, Basaria S.
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Baltimore, MD, USA
13. Anabolic applications of androgens for functional limitations associated with aging and chronic illness.
Bhasin S, Storer TW
Part of this usage is another advantage that is especially appealing to those who use steroids on a regular basis. In controlled dosages, sarms is relatively non-suppressive. This opens up considerable possibilities in regard to utilizing sarms to enhance a typical steroid cycle, but more significantly, it becomes a tremendous tool in the area of PCT.
Coming off of steroids is the most complicated, and often confusing part of the process. The athlete wants to maintain gains, avoid the “crash” of reduced strength and muscle growth and yet, recover his natural hormonal balance. It’s a tricky balance of drugs, supplements and ultimately luck. Some fare better than others and many consider the down time inevitability. But with the advent of sarms S-4, not only can the transition be made more tolerable, it is now possible to avoid the down sides of coming off of a steroid cycle(6). One can maintain the gains and even continue growing after the cessation of steroids.
The most logical method of PCT use would be to implement sarms as a “taper” at the end of a cycle. In other words, once you stop using steroids, the body can obviously no longer support the muscle growth it achieved in an enhanced state. Natural testosterone is lower. And nitrogen retention is lessened. That’s where sarms fits the bill. By using sarms following the end of a cycle, the body can begin to recover yet still receive both the anabolic and androgen benefits. Muscles will still be able to absorb increased nitrogen from Protein sources, thus increasing muscle tissue growth and the androgenic qualities will insure that strength is maintained(7). Recovery time will also be reduced. You can still work out hard without fear of overtraining and the increased workload will lead to further improvement. In short, this means no crash and no loss of gains. Essentially, you’re still “on” but you’re recovering. Sounds perfect, doesn’t it? Well, it’s not perfect, but it’s pretty damn close to it. Never before has anything like this been possible and the potential is amazing(8).
The only drawback of using sarms (if it even be considered a drawback) is the fact that its androgenic ratio is closer to a mild steroid such as Primobolin than it is to testosterone. So by itself, one could not and should not expect tremendous gains in mass from it. Increasing the dosage beyond 50-100 mls a day is not recommended since at that point the risk/benefit ratio shifts unfavorably – not that the side effects are severe, but that’s where continued use could lead to suppression, and then you’re defeating the purpose of using it for PCT(9)
Another steroid with which sarms can be compared is Proviron. The main similarity in regard to the physical result is a noticeable “hardness” and increased density to the muscles. Proviron is also only mildly suppressive and then, only in high dosages for extended duration, which is why it too is a popular add-on at the end of a cycle. Neither drug can aromatize and also work as an anti estrogen. (Another advantage in PCT). The main difference between Proviron and sarms is that Proviron is DHT based making it especially hard on the hairline and prostate -- NOT what you want when trying to restore sex drive and stamina. sarms has been shown to cause less prostate hypertrophy than all other steroids(10). In fact, in some studies sarms has been shown to decrease prostate weight similar to the 5 alpha reductase inhibitor, Finesteride(11). How perfect is that?
Higher dosages have also been shown to lead to vision disturbances (much like with Clomid). Still, at 50mg - 100mg a day the results are impressive and virtually side effect free. A good way to incorporate sarms into PCT is to begin using 50mls a day at the same time as you begin using other PCT ancillaries – depending on what drugs and supplements you prefer and/or found to be effective. You then can continue using sarms and supplements which will allow the HPTA to begin functioning on its own without the help of other drugs such as hcg or Clomid(12). The added benefit would be continued strength and libido and an increased muscularity. Instead of being a time when you experience the loss of gains, it will become a time when the gains become solidified and you can look better than ever(13).
It won’t be long before the term PCT and sarms are inexorably linked. The way PCT is conducted will be changed forever. In fact, it already is.
REFERENCES.
1. Drug Discov Today. 2007 Mar;12(5-6):241-8. Epub 2007 Feb 7.
Expanding the therapeutic use of androgens via selective androgen receptor modulators (sarms).
Gao W, Dalton JT.
Division of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, 500 W 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
2. Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2006 Apr;15(4):377-87.
Therapeutic potential of the sarms: revisiting the androgen receptor for drug discovery.
Segal S, Narayanan R, Dalton JT.
1GTx, Inc., Memphis, TN 38163, USA
3. Curr Opin Investig Drugs. 2006 Oct;7(10):873-81.
Selective androgen receptor modulators: in pursuit of tissue-selective androgens.
Omwancha J, Brown TR.
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Division of Reproductive Biology, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
4. J Biol Chem. 2009 Dec 25;284(52):36367-76. Epub 2009 Oct 21.
Identification of anabolic selective androgen receptor modulators with reduced activities in reproductive tissues and sebaceous glands.
Schmidt A, Harada S, Kimmel DB, Bai C, Chen F, Rutledge SJ, Vogel RL, Scafonas A, Gentile MA, Nantermet PV, McElwee-Witmer S, Pennypacker B, Masarachia P, Sahoo SP, Kim Y, Meissner RS, Hartman GD, Duggan ME, Rodan GA, Towler DA, Ray WJ.
Department of Molecular Endocrinology/Bone Biology, Merck Research Laboratories, West Point, Pennsylvania 1948, USA
5. Nucl Recept Signal. 2008;6:e010. Epub 2008 Nov 26.
Selective androgen receptor modulators in preclinical and clinical development.
Narayanan R, Mohler ML, Bohl CE, Miller DD, Dalton JT.
Preclinical Research and Development, GTx, Inc., Memphis, Tennessee, USA
6. Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2010;(195):99-126.
Synthetic anabolic agents: steroids and nonsteroidal selective androgen receptor modulators.
Thevis M, Schänzer W.
Center for Preventive Doping Research - Institute of Biochemistry, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, 50933, Cologne, Germany
7. Pharmacokinetics of S-3-(4-acetylamino-phenoxy)-2-hydroxy-2-methyl-N-(4-nitro-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-propionamide in rats, a non-steroidal selective androgen receptor modulator
J. D. KEARBEY,† D. WU,† W. GAO,† D. D. MILLER,‡ and J. T. DALTON†* †Division of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
‡Department of Pharmaceutics, Graduate Health Sciences Center, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
8. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1999 Oct;84(10):3459-62.
Selective androgen receptor modulators (sarms): a novel approach to androgen therapy for the new millennium.
Negro-Vilar A.
Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc., San Diego, California 92121, USA
9. Discovery and biological characterization of a novel series of androgen receptor modulators.
Zhou C, Wu G, Feng Y, Li Q, Su H, Mais DE, Zhu Y, Li N, Deng Y, Yang D, Wang MW
10. Design, synthesis, and biological characterization of metabolically stable selective androgen receptor modulators.
Marhefka CA, Gao W, Chung K, Kim J, He Y, Yin D, Bohl C, Dalton JT, Miller DD
11. Antiandrogens in prostate cancer.
Reid P, Kantoff P, Oh W.
Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology, Dana Farber-Partners Cancer Care, Boston, MA 02115, USA
12. Emerging drugs for hypogonadism.
Edelstein D, Dobs A, Basaria S.
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Baltimore, MD, USA
13. Anabolic applications of androgens for functional limitations associated with aging and chronic illness.
Bhasin S, Storer TW