LGD-4033, also known as Ligandrol, is a SARM discovered by Ligand Pharmaceuticals and currently under licensed development by Viking Therapeutics. There has been a lot of research into the efficacy of LGD-4033, but very little published research. Ligandrol has exhibited desirable in vivo efficacy on skeletal muscle and bone measurements in animal models of disease. There is only one published study on the effects of LGD-4033 in humans. In 2013, Bhasia et al. conducted a rigorous 3-week placebo-controlled study of 76 healthy men aged 21 – 50 years old. During this study participants were randomly assigned to be given a placebo, 0,1, .0,3 or 1mg of LGD-4033 for 21 days. There was a dose dependent increase in lean body mass. There was also a dose dependent increase in strength as measured by stair climbing speed and power. Adverse effects were not noted 5. The sample size was small, as the study’s primary aim was to establish safety and tolerability, rather than efficacy. As such, the 3-week study duration was not designed to demonstrate maximal effects on muscle mass and strength. Therefore, larger and longer studies are needed to access the efficacy of LGD-4033.
Dosages of 10mg per day for 8 to 12 weeks are commonly used in a recreational context for muscle building purposes. There is no established therapeutic dosage.
Side Effects From LGD-4033
LGD-4033 showed a dose-dependent suppression of total testosterone from baseline when given to healthy men aged 21-50 for 21 days. Upon discontinuation of LGD- 4033, testosterone levels returned to normal by day 56.
It’s impossible to determine how long it would take for testosterone levels to return to normal after using LGD-4033 for an 8 to 12 week cycle. Anecdotal evidence shows the LGD-4033 is one of the more suppressive SARMS, suggesting that a post cycle therapy is needed after using LGD-4033.
“LGD is the second most effective SARM that we have used on professional bodybuilders. We still have not found the upper limit of what it’s capable of. I have seen bodybuilders who plateaued using steroids that switched to LGD and started making gains again.
For the oral dosage, one of the most impressive transformations I’ve seen used 120mg/day oral. For the injectable, we have used 50mg/day on many professional bodybuilders to put on muscle. The injectable version is even more effective, and we can get a lot more effect with less side effects. The main side effect we get from high dosages of LGD is water retention and fatigue. Both of those side effects appear to be mitigated by using the injectable version.
One of the most impressive female transformations was a female taking 5mg of oral LGD EOD and within 2 weeks she had gained more muscle then she wanted. She hasn’t taken it since. The muscle gains appear to be permanent.”
- Dr Tony Huge
“LGD is the SARM that woke me up into realizing that SARMS work. I was very skeptical of SARMS until trying LGD. It’s one of the best mass gainers I’ve ever used. Some water weight but no bloat. Mostly intracellular water inside the muscle tissue. The effects are similar to a nandrolone like deca; increases in strength, joint relief, and helps with weight endurance. However, it kills cardio endurance.
I would compare the results of LGD as similar to a test/deca stack, but without the bloat.
Oral LGD works well. For women, it’s one of the best SARMS for size. I recommend 5-10mg/day for women, but I don’t recommend they take it daily. Only 4-5 days per week. For men, I recommend 10-50mg/day every day.
The injectable version gives less androgenic side effects and less HPTA shut down. For women, I always recommend injectable LGD over oral. I typically recommend 10mg every Monday of extended release form of injectable LGD, called magnalone XR.”- Coach Trevor
