MK677 is an extremely popular compound used as a replacement for regular HGH injections. Although it is not as effective as high dosages of HGH, it is far less expensive, rarely counterfeited, and orally accessible.
MK677 is a versatile PED that can be added to pretty much any cycle, whether you are cutting, bulking, maintaining or just trying to recover from an injury.
This article is a comprehensive breakdown concluded from all of the current official academic papers (studies) and thousands of hours spent collecting and analyzing anecdotal data online. You will learn everything there is about MK677, including:
Ibutamoren (also known as MK-677, Nutrobal and Oratrope) is an oral Growth Hormone Secretagogue and an agonist of the Ghrelin Receptor.
It was developed by Reverse Pharmacology for the treatment of growth hormone deficiency, muscle wasting conditions and osteoporosis.
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MK677 will elevate IGF-1, one of our bodies’ most anabolic hormones, but it won’t result in a considerable gain in muscle growth on its own. It will, however, provide a new muscle growth pathway that together with SARMs or steroids will maximize your results.
Ibutamoren is also anti-catabolic, therefore it will aid in maintaining muscle mass when there is a caloric deficit.
Ibutamoren is well known for causing water retention, which frequently aids in boosting strength. The positive effect of high HGH on the joints and tendons will also help you become stronger and
perform better while minimizing the chances of an injury.
Growth Hormone is known for boosting fat loss through lipolysis (mobilization of fat for energy), so you can expect the same to occur with MK-677. Unfortunately, it will make you hungry, so you may struggle to remain on a calorie deficit.
If you intend to use MK-677 for fat loss, I would suggest taking it before bed at least 3 hours after your last meal, followed by 3-4 hours of fasting after you wake up the next day.
This is because lipolysis can only occur when insulin levels are low, and this is best achieved through fasting. Doing cardio in the morning, during the 3-4 hours of fasting, will significantly increase fat loss.
Having elevated levels of Growth Hormone will not only strengthen bones, but it will also heal, repair, and strengthen your joints, ligaments and tendons.
Note that in some instances, the water retention caused by Ibutamoren can be too heavy and it can have a negative impact on the joints, causing them to feel stiff.
Since HGH speeds up tissue healing and regeneration, one can expect faster muscle recovery when taking MK677. This means you will feel less sore and you will be ready to work out again sooner.
Many people claim that MK677 has fixed chronic pain in some areas of their body, and it will definitely boost the speed at which your body heals itself (whether it be skin damage, skin burns, bone fractures, injured joints, etc…).
MK677 can also strengthen the immune system and it has been shown to have antiviral properties which could make it a useful treatment for certain viruses.
This can either be seen as a positive benefit or a detrimental side-effect
If you are bulking up, hunger is always welcome (especially if you are the kind of guy who is never hungry and struggles to eat enough), but if you are on a cut it can make things harder.
Some users report no extra hunger when they take MK677 before bed, so if you want to benefit from the increased hunger, take MK677 first thing in the morning.
The sleep improvement caused by Ibutamoren is one of its best properties. Your REM sleep will be deeper and last for longer, and you will almost certainly feel more rested and refreshed the next morning.
According to some people, 6 hours of sleep on Ibutamoren are as effective, refreshing and energizing as 8 hours of normal sleep.
This benefit will also contribute to muscle growth, fat loss and injury recovery.
Ibutamoren will make nutrient partitioning more efficient, meaning that carbs, protein and fat will be used more efficiently. If you are bulking up you will gain less fat than you otherwise would (as long as you control your insulin sensitivity, more on that in the On-Cycle Therapy Guide in the recommended resources tab – right sidebar)
The added water retention will make you look bigger (gains of up to 10lbs of water are possible, but they rapidly fade away after the cycle).
If you are very lean, water retention can fill you out and make your muscles pop but expect to lose some definition if you are on a calorie surplus. On a calorie deficit, the water retention is almost non-existent.
MK677 will also improve the quality and appearance of your hair and skin.
ADDITIONAL TIP: It may be possible to enhance the effects of MK-677 by using Huperzine A. According to some “broscientists” it can inhibit somatostatin, a hormone that limits GH production, allowing MK-677 to increase GH levels even more. There is no scientific data to prove that Huperzine A can actually do this, but there are anecdotal reports from people who experienced a noticeable increase in the intensity of Ibutamoren’s effects after introducing Huperzine A at 250 micrograms a day.
MK677 will increase your blood sugar levels and cause insulin resistance. This can result in lethargy, intense hunger, and tingling or numbness in the limbs.
Those who misuse it continuously for months on end and those who have a family history (a genetic susceptibility) of this condition may even develop Type 2 Diabetes as a result.
The reason why this can happen is very simple: Elevated GH levels lead to an increase in blood glucose levels. This forces the pancreas to release more insulin which eventually causes insulin resistance. The condition is often referred to as “prediabetes”.
Luckily, it is simple to prevent excessive high blood sugar and insulin resistance (more on that in the sidebar resources tab).
In short – it comes down to using glucose disposal agents and taking breaks throughout your MK677 use.
MK677 will increase your blood sugar levels and cause insulin resistance. This can result in lethargy, intense hunger, and tingling or numbness in the limbs.
Those who misuse it continuously for months on end and those who have a family history (a genetic susceptibility) of this condition may even develop Type 2 Diabetes as a result.
The reason why this can happen is very simple: Elevated GH levels lead to an increase in blood glucose levels. This forces the pancreas to release more insulin which eventually causes insulin resistance. The condition is often referred to as “prediabetes”.
Luckily, it is simple to prevent excessive high blood sugar and insulin resistance (more on that in the sidebar resources tab).
In short – it comes down to using glucose disposal agents and taking breaks throughout your MK677 use.
Even though the water retention can be useful when it comes to looking bigger, getting stronger and lubricating your joints, it is an undesired effect for some people.
Firstly, if you are on a calorie surplus you can expect your muscles to lose definition, almost as if you gained 10lbs of fat in a few days
Your face may also look puffy and bloated. Secondly, if the water retention becomes too heavy (due to taking a very high dose or eating insane amounts of carbs), it can have a negative impact on the joints. And finally, excessive water retention can cause high blood pressure.
MK677 can make you feel tired and lethargic. Users have reported feeling lethargic throughout the day on doses over 15mg/day. This can be due to insulin resistance or due to the compound itself.
MK677 will NOT cause cancer. However, if a user already has cancer (whether he is aware of it or not), MK677 will speed up the growth and development of his cancer cells.
If you read all of the info so far you should be more than ready to start researching on your own. Though many first time users run into “obstacles” because of general uncertainty.
So this section is dedicated to researchers who have just gotten their feet wet.
As a general rule of thumb, MK677 should be taken at/for:
PCT is not required when taking MK677 alone, as it is not a SARM and does not suppress testosterone production.
Because of the nature of MK677’s benefits, many users opt to take it for long periods of time. But as mentioned previously MK677 can be troublesome for those who are prone to diabetes when taken in long timeframes (though every user should do following preventive protocols).
One part of preventing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes is taking glycogen clearing agents (addressed in the OCT guide).
The other part is properly dosing MK677. To do that safely, keep the dose low, and take 2 out of every 7 days off.
Again, because of the nature of MK677’s benefits, many users decide to take it alongside a SARM (to achieve a synergistic effect). And more often than not, it comes down to a bulking cycle.
In such cases, take the recommended dose for the timeframe of the cycle. It’s also a good idea to continue taking MK677 even after the final week of the cycle alongside the PCT.
That way MK677 will aid in keeping as much of the newfound muscle as possible.
In continuation to the last point, MK677 can be added after any SARM cycle to help maintain as much muscle as possible. The dose at which you take it is completely dependent on the SARM you previously took.
A high dose of MK677 would be unnecessary after an Ostarine cycle, as Ostarine is very mild and you won’t need much to maintain the gains you’ve made.
On the other hand, after a high dose cycle of a stronger SARM like rad 140, or lgd 4033, you would want to take a higher dose of MK677 alongside a PCT to maintain as much of the muscle as possible.
Beginner Bulking Cycle
| Week | Ostarine | Ibutamoren | Tamoxifen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20mg/day | 15mg/day | – |
| 2 | 20mg/day | 15mg/day | – |
| 3 | 20mg/day | 15mg/day | – |
| 4 | 20mg/day | 15mg/day | – |
| 5 | 20mg/day | 15mg/day | – |
| 6 | 20mg/day | 15mg/day | – |
| 7 | 20mg/day | 15mg/day | – |
| 8 | 20mg/day | 15mg/day | – |
| 9 | – | 15mg/day | 20mg/day |
| 10 | – | 15mg/day | 20mg/day |
| 11 | – | 15mg/day | 20mg/day |
| 12 | – | 15mg/day | 10mg/day |
Intermediate Cutting/ Bulking Cycle (SERM+SARM)
| Week | Testolone | Ibutamoren | Tamoxifen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10mg/day | 15mg/day | – |
| 2 | 10mg/day | 15mg/day | – |
| 3 | 10mg/day | 15mg/day | – |
| 4 | 10mg/day | 15mg/day | – |
| 5 | 10mg/day | 15mg/day | 20mg/day |
| 6 | 10mg/day | 15mg/day | 20mg/day |
| 7 | 10mg/day | 15mg/day | 20mg/day |
| 8 | 10mg/day | 15mg/day | 10mg/day |
| 9 | – | 15mg/day | – |
| 10 | – | 15mg/day | – |
| 11 | – | 15mg/day | – |
| 12 | – | 15mg/day | – |
MK677 is an incredible compound that can be used not only to aid in muscle building and post-cycle muscle retention but also drastically improve the general quality of life.
My general philosophy when it comes to PEDs is always less is more, and the same applies even for compounds considered mild or “safe” like MK677.
Keep your use minimal and hyper-focused on a predetermined goal so you don’t end up misusing it. Opt to use the knowledge from this article to help you mould your cycles to best fit your goal. And in case you’re running long cycles, put in place safety protocols to avoid developing insulin resistance.
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