The idea of using MK 677 as a PCT, either standalone or alongside a SERM, stems from its properties of increased recovery, healing, and muscle building in conjunction with the mildness of its side effects.
MK 677 will help preserve the hard-earned muscle you built during your cycle and improve your sleep, appetite, and general quality of life for the duration of your pct.
If taken alongside a SERM, it will also mitigate the decrease of IGF-1 that SERMs cause and further contribute to your recovery.
This article is a comprehensive guide on incorporating MK677 as a standalone PCT compound, or alongside a SERM, based on the latest academic data on MK677 and the thorough analysis of hundreds of online anecdotal reports and experiences.
Enjoy.
What is MK 677?
MK 677 is an oral GH and IGF-1 secretagogue. Meaning that it promotes the production of growth hormone and IGF -1.
Two of the most anabolic hormones in the body.
MK 677 does this by attaching to Ghrelin receptors and is a ghrelin receptor agonist. By mimicking the hormone ghrelin (which is responsible for making you feel hungry), it binds to one of its receptors (GHSR) in the brain and raises circulating levels of GH and IGF-1 throughout the body.
Benefits
The clinically proven benefits of MK677 include:
- Increased Muscle Growth
- Increased Strength and Performance
- Fat Loss (Through Lipolysis)
- Increased Bone, Joint, and Connective Tissue Strength & Recovery
- Increased Recovery & Healing
- Increased Hunger
- Drastically Better Sleep
- Better Nutrient Partitioning
Side Effects
While considered mild, MK 677 can have side effects that can lead to serious issues if it’s taken incorrectly for prolonged periods of time.
For the purpose of using it as a PCT, they are not applicable. Though you should still be aware of them before even considering taking MK 677 for whatever reason.
The side effects of MK 677 include:
- Water Retention
- Lethargy (reported on doses above 15 mg/day)
- Increased Prolactin
- High Blood Sugar & Insulin Resistance
Can MK677 Be Used as PCT (Or During It)
First and foremost, MK 677 is NOT A REPLACEMENT for a proper PCT with a SERM after a suppressive cycle.
The point of a PCT is to jumpstart your endogenous testosterone production after a suppressive cycle.
And only a SERM is capable of fulfilling that purpose. MK 677 will not help you recover your natural testosterone in any way.
And before you decide to use it as a standalone PCT you must know how suppressed you are based on the SARM you took, and your post-cycle-bloodwork.
MK 677 can only be used as a standalone PCT after mild cycles of Ostarine, Andarine, or ACP 105, where the testosterone suppression is mild and recoverable naturally – which should always be confirmed by bloodwork.
Use this chart for reference:
Bloodwork shows: | Symptoms of Suppression: | Do PCT with SERM: |
|---|---|---|
Total Testosterone & LH within reference range (even if close to bottom) | No | Optional/No |
Total Testosterone & LH within reference range (even if close to bottom) | Yes | Yes |
Total Testosterone & LH below reference range | Yes/No | Yes |
Can't Do Bloodwork (For Whatever Reason) | No | Optional/No |
Can't Do Bloodwork (For Whatever Reason) | Yes | Yes |
Otherwise, it is also highly effective after moderately and highly suppressive cycles when used alongside a SERM as a part of your overall PCT protocol.
It will further aid in the general recovery process by doing what it does, and make up for the suppression of IGF-1 which SERMs are known to do. In fact, using MK677 during SARM+SERM protocols is very common because of this.
TL;DR
Using MK 677 as a PCT is always a good idea because it will greatly aid recovery, and help you maintain muscle after a cycle. But, you have to know how suppressed you are so that you can deploy other measures to recover your testosterone production if necessary.
How to Use MK 677 as a PCT
Using MK 677 as a PCT is very simple, and can be done in three ways:
- Take MK 677 for the duration of the entire cycle and the PCT
- Take MK 677 after the cycle as a standalone PCT or alongside a SERM depending on the level of testosterone suppression
- Take MK 677 in a SARM + SERM protocol
Dosing Protocol
- Half-life: Unclear
- Dose: 10 - 20 mg/day
- Frequency: 1x a day
- Timing: Morning
- Cycle Length: 8 - 16 weeks
Even though the half-life of MK677 has not been clinically solidified, once-per-day dosing has been successfully used as a viable frequency of administration throughout all of the clinical studies to date.
Most clinical trials have been done in the dose range of 10 – 25 mg/day, which is also what most anecdotal users recommend as the sweet spot dose range.
As per dosing timing, you can take it any time during the day, as long as it’s the same time every day. If you want to avoid the increased hunger effect, take it at night.
Example Protocol #1:
- Take MK 677 for the duration of the entire cycle and the PCT:
WEEK | SARM | IBUTAMOREN(MK677) | SERM (if necessary) |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | X mg/day | 10mg/day | |
2 | X mg/day | 10mg/day | |
3 | X mg/day | 10mg/day | |
4 | X mg/day | 10mg/day | |
5 | X mg/day | 10mg/day | |
6 | X mg/day | 10mg/day | |
7 | X mg/day | 10mg/day | |
8 | X mg/day | 10mg/day | |
9 | 15mg/day | x mg/day | |
10 | 15mg/day | x mg/day | |
11 | 15mg/day | x mg/day | |
12 | 15mg/day | x mg/day |
Taking MK 677 during the entire cycle and PCT is ideal for bulking cycles where you want to leverage the increased hunger, along with the other benefits of MK 677.
On 10 mg/day you will not experience any noticeable water retention or lethargy. During the PCT you can increase the dose to 15 mg/day.
Pro tip: be careful when stacking LGD 4033 and MK 677 as they both cause water retention which could get out of hand.
Example Protocol #2:
- Take MK 677 after the cycle as a standalone PCT or alongside a SERM depending on the level of testosterone suppression
WEEK | SARM | IBUTAMOREN MK677) | SERM (if necessary) |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | X mg/day | ||
2 | X mg/day | ||
3 | X mg/day | ||
4 | X mg/day | ||
5 | X mg/day | ||
6 | X mg/day | ||
7 | X mg/day | ||
8 | X mg/day | ||
9 | 10 -15 mg/day | x mg/day | |
10 | 10 - 15 mg/day | x mg/day | |
11 | 10 - 15 mg/day | x mg/day | |
12 | 10 - 15 mg/day | x mg/day |
Take MK 677 after the cycle as a standalone PCT or with a SERM depending on the level of suppression. It will greatly aid in recovery and mitigate the IGF-1 suppression that a SERM would normally cause.
Example Protocol #3:
- Take MK 677 in a SARM + SERM protocol
WEEK | SARM | IBUTAMOREN MK677) | SERM (if necessary) |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | X mg/day | ||
2 | X mg/day | ||
3 | X mg/day | ||
4 | X mg/day | ||
5 | X mg/day | 10 - 15 mg/day | x mg/day |
6 | X mg/day | 10 - 15 mg/day | x mg/day |
7 | X mg/day | 10 - 15 mg/day | x mg/day |
8 | X mg/day | 10 -15 mg/day | x mg/day |
A SARM+SERM protocol is a new and experimental approach to cycling SARMs which is becoming increasingly popular as more and more users are reporting their successful experiences.
In a SARM+SERM protocol, the SERM is deployed on cycle to combat the suppression as it’s happening. MK 677 is an excellent addition to SARM+SERM cycles as it mitigates the IGF-1 suppression that SERMs cause.
SARM+SERM cycles are often regarded as a test base practice. I have a comprehensive guide on doing them optimally in my test base for SARMs guide.
Example Stacks
You can use and adjust the previously mentioned templates to pretty much any plan of attack.
Though here are a two simple and versatile stacks that can be used for cutting and bulking alike, and incorporate the use of MK 677 as a pct.
MK2866 + MK 677 | PCT
WEEK | OSTARINE MK2866 | IBUTAMOREN (MK677) | TAMOXIFEN |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 20 mg/day | 15 mg/day | |
2 | 20 mg/day | 15 mg/day | |
3 | 20 mg/day | 15 mg/day | |
4 | 20 mg/day | 15 mg/day | |
5 | 20 mg/day | 15 mg/day | |
6 | 20 mg/day | 15 mg/day | |
7 | 20 mg/day | 15 mg/day | |
8 | 20 mg/day | 15 mg/day | |
9 | 15 mg/day | 20 mg/day | |
10 | 15 mg/day | 20 mg/day | |
11 | 15 mg/day | 20 mg/day | |
12 | 15 mg/day | 10 mg/day |
This example features a mild SARM, Ostarine, alongside MK 677. It’s best used as a bulking cycle because of the increased hunger, but it can also be used as a cutting stack by dosing MK 677 at night and fasting the following day to leverage the fat loss benefits of MK 677.
Not everyone will need to PCT with a SERM though I’ve included one (Tamoxifen in this example, but any SERM could work).
RAD 140 + MK 677 | SARM + SERM
WEEK | TESTOLONE (RAD 140) | IBUTAMOREN (MK677) | ENCLOMIPHENE |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 10 mg/day | 10 mg/day | |
2 | 10 mg/day | 10 mg/day | |
3 | 10 mg/day | 10 mg/day | |
4 | 10 mg/day | 10 mg/day | |
5 | 15 mg/day | 10 mg/day | 12.5 mg/day |
6 | 15 mg/day | 10 mg/day | 12.5 mg/day |
7 | 15 mg/day | 10 mg/day | 12.5 mg/day |
8 | 15 mg/day | 10 mg/day | 6.25 mg/day |
9 | 10 mg/day | ||
10 | 10 mg/day | ||
11 | 10 mg/day | ||
12 | 10 mg/day |
This example features a moderately suppressive SARM, RAD 140, in a SARM + SERM protocol. MK 677 is used for the entirety of the cycle, as well as 4 weeks after it in order to help with recovery and further assist in muscle building.
If RAD 140 is tolerated at 10 mg/day, then it can be increased to 15 mg/day for the second half of the cycle.
Doing a test base would be very beneficial in preventing symptoms of testosterone suppression from the increase in the dose of Rad 140. In this example, Enclomiphene is being used, though any of the SERMs (except Raloxifene) can work.
Conclusion
MK 677 can be taken as a standalone PCT after mildly suppressive SARMs to help retain and even build muscle post-cycle. But it will not reverse testosterone suppression, which is why it should always be taken as an addition and not a replacement for a SERM after suppressive cycles.
BEWARE OF FAKE MK 677:
Fake chemicals can lead to serious side effects, so always make sure the MK677 you’re getting is legit. On the trusted sources page you will find the most tried & tested, well-known vendors where you can buy the highest quality MK677 available.
You’ll also get access to the biggest discounts available!
Sources
- Gender difference in the neuroendocrine regulation of growth hormone axis by selective estrogen receptor modulators
- Raloxifene lowers IGF-I levels in acromegalic women
- Prolonged oral treatment with MK-677, a novel growth hormone secretagogue, improves sleep quality in man
- MK-677, an orally active growth hormone secretagogue, reverses diet-induced catabolism
- Effects of a 7-day treatment with a novel, orally active, growth hormone (GH) secretagogue, MK-677, on 24-hour GH profiles, insulin-like growth factor I, and adrenocortical function in normal young men
