As the UK’s Food Standard Agency (FSA) classifies selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) as ‘novel food’ and has yet to give authorisation for SARMs to be placed on Great Britain’s market, they cannot be sold for human consumption.
This means that while it is advisable to speak to one’s doctor before taking SARMs, particularly if other medication is being taken, SARMs cannot be prescribed by a doctor outside medical trials. As legislation leaves SARMs in a sort of limbo, sourcing accurate information on the effects of different SARMs – how they should be taken, in what quantifies, and for how long – is far from simple. Most of the information comes from users who, through trial and error, found the best dosage and cycle duration depending on the user’s goals and experience.
Buying from a trusted manufacturer is the first, most important step. As is often the case, unethical manufacturers and sellers are liable to sell low-quality SARMs, and provide incorrect information on cycling SARMs.
So, what is a SARMs cycle?
What is a SARMs cycle?
As with any sort of medicine or compound, the length of time over which the user takes the compound is referred to as a ‘cycle’. Despite their efficiency increasing muscle mass, bone density and fat loss, no SARM will work miracles upon taking a dose: it is essential that each SARM is taken in the correct dosage, and for the correct amount of time; a good diet and exercise regime need to be maintained during the cycle and beyond in order to maximise results.
Each SARM has its own recommended dosage range and cycle duration; a good seller will be able to provide this information. For example Ostarine-MK2866, a popular choice for beginners looking to build lean muscle and lose body fat through SARM cutting, has a recommended dosage range between 5mg and 25mg, taken daily for 4 to 12 weeks. SR-9009 Stenabolic, another popular choice for cutting, has a suggested cycle between 8 and 12 weeks; a dosage of 5mg to 10mg daily is recommended for beginners, who can gradually increase it to a maximum of 30mg.
For all SARMs, It is advised that beginners start their dosage at the lower end of the range, and to avoid stacking different SARMs during their first ever cycle: while side effects are rare and usually minor, they are not unheard of. In case of stacking, working out which SARM is giving the undesired side effect, and switching to a more suitable SARM, may be more difficult.
SARM SERM cycle
SARM side effects, while less common and nowhere as potentially serious for anabolic steroids, remain a possibility. SARMs do not overload the body with testosterone as is the case with steroids, but rather allow for a more natural increase; still, this increase can cause some minor side effects such as acne, low libido, and some mood swings.
In order to counteract these side effects, there are some who take a SERM alongside their SARMs of choice during the cycle. SERMs is an acronym which stands for Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators, compounds which act upon estrogen receptors in the same way SARMs act on androgen receptors, balancing out hormones and reducing minor side effects which may be caused by the increase in testosterone.
Some users found through experience that taking both during the same cycle reduces the need for post-cycle therapy (PCT) after taking SARMs – although in the vast majority of cases, SERMs are used post-SARM cycle as part of the PCT regime.
