Although SARMs look similar to steroids they are not the same. Both SARMs and steroids work by binding to your orrogen receptors. This triggers changes in your DNA that increase your muscle growth. Steroids are not a tool that is perfect for every situation. They can also have side effects like hair loss, prostate problems, and even acne. SARMs are “tissue selective”, meaning they target muscles and do not trigger the same chain reaction. They can also be taken as pills, and not injected. The downside? They have not been approved for human consumption.
Online searches for SARMs, or “selective androgen receiver modulators”, have increased steadily over the past five years. Although it’s impossible to determine how many people are purchasing them, an analysis of London’s “fatberg”, which is the sum of oil and organic matter found in London’s sewers, revealed that SARMs were present in higher quantities than MDMA and cocaine.
Is it legal to buy SARMs?
At least for now. To meet this growing demand, there are many UK-based businesses. Some companies, probably fearful of the potential repercussions of selling unlicensed drugs, use legal disclaimers to describe their products as “research lab chemicals” and warn prospective customers that these products are not intended for human consumption. This should give you cause to pause.
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SARMs were banned by US regulators in 2017. Donald D Ashley, Director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Office of Compliance, stated that SARMs are “associated with serious safety concerns”, including the potential to increase heart attack, stroke, and other life-threatening reactions such as liver damage. However, in the UK there has been very little discussion about what to do.
Where did SARMs come from?
Accidentally, SARMs were invented. Professor James T Dalton, a scientist who was researching new treatments for prostate cancer in the early Nineties discovered the molecule andarine. This first SARM was created. Although it was not effective in treating prostate cancer, it had remarkable effects on muscle growth. Men’s Health reported that it was exactly what they were looking for. “But we focused almost all our attention on this. We knew that we had something special.”
Dalton created an improved version of the drug, called ostarine, several years later. A 12-week course of the drug was shown to increase lean muscle mass, reduce fat and improve stair climbing power in elderly men. The drug was not developed after a second trial with cancer patients did not produce the desired results. Dalton tried to stop the black market companies that were profiting from his discoveries. He says, “We reached out to cease and desist letters for a few of them, and we reached out to FDA to try to shut them down.” “But it’s rampant, and there’s really nothing that can be done to stop it.”
What are the side effects of SARMs
This evidence is mostly anecdotal. Users report strength gains on online forums. However, they often seek help about impotence, high blood pressure and skin rashes. Eye problems are very common. Users report that andarine gives their vision a greenish or bluish tint.
The majority of information available online is provided by sellers and YouTubers. This means that advice tends to be positive. Dr Ian Boardley is a Birmingham University senior lecturer in sport psychology. He says that if someone is using them, it’s in their best interest to believe they are safe. SARMs are a good example of this. Even though users do extensive research on their chosen substances, they may not always draw accurate conclusions. He explains that one of the most common problems we see is the selective and distortion of information used to support their behavior. “It’s quite a dangerous process.”
Three men talk to Men’s Health here about their experiences with SARMs. They wanted anonymity.
Case Study #1 – The personal trainer
Allan, a 37-year-old personal coach, initially dismissed SARMs in his initial assessment as a fitness fad. He says that although there are many supplements on the market that claim to do certain things, the vast majority of them do nothing. He noticed YouTubers he trusted recommending supplements to him. He ordered ostarine from a website that he had read was one of the most mild SARMs. He started with a small amount.
The problems began almost immediately. Allan began his first dose around lunchtime. He then left the house for errands and went to the gym. He felt anxious, shaky and uneasy within hours. Allan thought the symptoms would go away, but they only got worse. He says that the anxiety became more severe after a few days. “After two weeks, I felt like this wasn’t for me.” He went online to seek help about his symptoms. Allan recalls hearing, “Man up, it’ll pass, you’ll grow in no time,” but instead he decided to trust his gut and say, “I’d rather have good mental health than have bigger muscles.”
Case Study #2 – The Sport Coach
Andy, a late-thirties tennis coach, saw SARMs advertised online for the first time around two years ago. Andy recalls that they were advertised as “steroid alternatives” and would provide similar results. Andy was a regular at the gym for over 20 years, and was working out three to four times per week. He says, “I am always looking into supplements, but I wasn’t going down the steroids route.” “The health risks for me were always too high.”
Andy began doing further research. Andy joined Facebook groups and watched YouTube videos. He also read scientific papers. He says, “I wanted to ensure that if I was going it, it was as safe and secure as possible.” He ordered ostarine online around a year after learning about SARMs. He began to notice changes in his mirror. He was more muscular and leaner. There were some headaches. Andy tried another SARM, LGD-4033. This increased Andy’s bench curl by almost a quarter. After two SARMs cycles, Andy decided enough was enough. He still had concerns about long-term health consequences. He says, “Once there is more research, maybe I would continue to take them longer.”
Case Study #3 – The Gym Goer
Aaron, a 33-year-old man from Stoke-on-Trent used steroids, but stopped using them after suffering severe acne. He saw a YouTube video that recommended SARMs two years ago. It basically said that they have low risks and offer all the benefits of anabolic steroids. His first dose of ostarine worked. He says, “I gained quite a lot of muscle, I was very lean, and I looked really, really great in a short time.” Although the effects were not as dramatic as when he had taken steroids, SARMs seemed safer and side effects less severe. Aaron placed another order, and he continued to run three cycles.
Aaron discovered an alarming change halfway through his fourth cycle. His testicles had shrunk. He says, “I just woke-up one day and they were gone.” In an effort to increase his body’s natural testosterone production, he stopped taking SARMs. It didn’t work. He says that despite doing all he could, they wouldn’t return. Aaron says that he made the decision to switch to anabolic steroids after being sold oral steroids. This caused his body to stop producing testosterone naturally. He has now decided to cycle steroids permanently: “I’m willing to do what’s happening now for the rest my life.”
