S4 (Andarine) Review: Dosage, Side Effects, and Results
If you’re anything like me and you hit up the gym more than once a week, you’re no doubt hip to the current SARMs (Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator) boom.
The stuff is blowin’ up for one very obvious reason—people don’t want to risk their health by taking dangerous steroids, but they want something that can burn fat and increase muscle mass without all the ridiculous side effects.
S4, also known as Andarine, is one of the most popular SARMs to hit the market and I was just as curious as the rest of you to see how this research chemical stacked up against others that have been introduced in recent years.
Last year, I was in a terrible fender bender that left me out of work with vertebral fractures and compressed discs in my back. As a result, I was laid up for quite some time and found myself in a position where I was forced to work from home.
Needless to say, my newfound sedentary lifestyle didn’t exactly keep me in beast mode in terms of health and fitness. To put it more bluntly, I had become an obese couch potato who no longer felt comfortable taking his shirt off at the beach.
When I heard about Andarine, I knew that I had to check it out. Well, let me tell you, these little buggers did not disappoint. In no time at all, I was getting off my butt, completing my physical therapy and building back all the muscle I’d lost.
But before you run out and snatch up a bottle of Andarine capsules, let’s explore Andarine in greater detail so that you’ll have a better understanding of just what it is, how it works and whether it might be a good fit for you.
Important: What to Consider Before Buying S4
Andarine, aka Acetamidoxolutamide (try saying that three times fast), can be readily purchased online here or here.
But before buying it (or any SARM for that matter), you should get a sense of how it works. S4 works by attaching to the androgen receptor and binding to it. As it sticks to the receptor, S4 interacts with testosterone, making it produce genes which enable both bone and muscle growth.
This selective anabolic activity produces additional protein that influences the development of muscle, meaning that it works in a way akin to steroids but without all the adverse effects of the same. Unlike ‘roids, S4 doesn’t affect one’s sexual organs or prostate.
For these reasons, it has been carefully studied for its possible potential in treating osteoporosis, age-related muscle degeneration and hypogonadism.
But this is not to say that Andarine doesn’t have any side effects of its own. On the contrary, it can lead to some undesirable effects, the most acute of them being vision disturbance. One of the most common side effects of long-term Adarine use (more than 8 weeks), this blurred vision can be accompanied by a slight jaundice of the eyes.
On the plus side, whereas anabolic steroid use leads to male breast enlargement, Andarine does not since it does not promote a significant increase in serum estradiol levels.
And that’s hardly where the benefits end. Let’s just say, if your Mini-Me’s aren’t swimming right, Andarine has been shown to help.
In fact, S4 got its start as a male contraceptive thanks to its ability to promote spermatogenesis. Not only have studies shown that Andarine can increase male fertility but it can also get your mojo risin’ if you catch my meaning.
Some scientific studies believe that it is essential for the maintenance of male development including muscle mass and body composition. And it’s hard to argue with science.
But now that you’ve got the skinny on the basics of what Andarine can do, let’s look at the bigger picture. As with all medications, especially research chemicals, S4 has its share of prospective drawbacks as well as advantages. Here’s a comprehensive list of both.
S4 (Andarine) Pros & Cons:
So as we’ve seen, S4 can assist in maintaining muscle mass, bone mass and body composition.
It comes in pill, liquid or powder form and can generally be taken safely in the short term to achieve the above results.
This supplement may be good for those looking to lose weight for general health and wellness, and to help maintain muscle strength. But it is important for users to understand that they are not likely to see any results if they don’t maintain a healthy, balanced diet and routine exercise while taking S4.
Pros:
- Readily and legally available when ordered online in the US
- Clinically-proven to have positive effects on men in a number of areas
- Does not break down undesirable molecules that lead to side effects like estrogen
- May increase libido and male fertility
- Can be taken orally as a daily supplement with no need for injections or doctor’s visit
- Natural supplement with metabolites
- AR antagonist which affects human growth hormone, not an anabolic steroid
Cons:
- Long-term use can lead to suppression
- May cause vision disturbances
Other side effects may develop and studies are ongoing, but so far, these are the two most commonly experienced adverse effects of long-term Andarine use.
Proper Dosing
The aforementioned vision effects occur as a result of intense binding. Users typically experience such a side effects after 8-10 days of continuous use.
These effects are not permanent, but they can easily be alleviated or even avoided by cycling your doses.
Users who experience this side effect should always adhere to the following routine: Five days on, two days off.
Since the half life of S4 is rather short, sticking to this cycle will not produce ideal results in most users as daily use is the way in which to build up Andarine’s benefits.
For best results, it is generally advisable to slowly titrate your dosage, starting out in test mode with a 60mg dose and paying close attention to how your body reacts. Users should maintain this dosage for ten to fourteen days.
If all seems well after this initial phase, users can then graduate to a 70mg dose. Most people find that seventy to eighty milligrams is the best dosage range. At this point, you can safely proceed with the ten milligram increase pattern until you find your personal sweet spot.
Users are advised to stick to somewhere in the range of 80 to 90 milligrams and should NOT exceed 100 mgs daily. Be careful not to rush when increasing your dose. You want to give your body time to acclimate to the effects of S4.
Reviews—What People Are Saying
A growing number of users have reported terrific results from taking Andarine. Here are some of their glowing testimonials:
“I have some at the moment and I love it. I dose 100mg preworkout. It lets me pump those hard to reach muscles like my lowerback and lats.”
“…I felt a difference in three areas, strength, endurance and less pain in my elbow and joints in general. I was able to do more weights at least by 20% more and still felt like I can go more…So far so good, joint pain was the main reason I wanted to do this…
“I am actually feeling good, lighter on my feet and seems to have good energy throughout the day, but the real results is how I feel when I am done with the cycle…I am glad it’s working for me, especially for my joints…
As mentioned earlier, not everyone experiences the rare side effects of Andarine. As one forum member wrote, “The thing which puzzled me is when I increased my s4 dosing to see if I would get any of the vision side effects and I didn’t experience any changes to my vision at all.”
Many users find that S4 works best when stacked with other SARMs such as RAD-140 (Testolone) or a 12-week enhanced super stack. Stacks vary widely, but one of the most popular consists of Andarine, Cardarine and Ostarine.
For best results, it is a good idea to try each of these SARMs separately before combining them as any one of them may not be right for you. If side effects develop and/or especially if they persist, users should discontinue use and consult with a physician.
Closing thoughts
To build and sustain a strong body, users should maintain a healthy diet and exercise regimen as these will play a vital role in the efficacy of S4 and your overall quality of life.
Whether you are looking to burn fat, gain muscle or protect your bones, Andarine can help.
Have you tried S4 or other SARMs? Please let me know how they worked out for you in the comments below! Thanks and be well.
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