RAD-140 Side Effects & How to Prevent Each

Rad 140 is one of the most talked about SARMs because of its versatility and potency in terms of muscle building. However, with great power comes great responsibility, and it’s crucial to know and understand the possible side effects of Rad 140 before you start taking it.

It’s not uncommon for a user to cut their Rad 140 cycle short because they couldn’t handle one or multiple of the side effects. In most of these cases, the culprit is testosterone suppression and the symptoms associated with it.

So in this article, we’ll take a comprehensive look at each and every Rad 140 side effect that has been scientifically proven and anecdotally reported. I’ll also provide actionable instructions on how to prevent and mitigate each of the side effects.

RAD 140 Testosterone Suppression

Testosterone suppression is the most well-known side effect that’s universal to every SARM out there at varying degrees.

Rad 140 is known to be a moderately suppressive SARM, and by taking it, you will experience a significant decrease in your natural testosterone levels.

Symptoms and Side Effects of Low Testosterone

Symptoms and side effects of low testosterone include:

• Lethargy
• Lack of motivation
• Weaker erections
• Decreased libido
• Irritability
• Testicular pain & atrophy

Testosterone suppression is the most common culprit for failed cycles. Many users simply can’t take the symptoms that come with it and cut their cycles 1 or 2 weeks short. Keep in mind that this happens only to a small minority of users running Rad 140 at high doses.

Testosterone suppression has two phases: on cycle (the state at which your body halts natural testosterone suppression) and post cycle suppression (the state at which your body starts natural testosterone production to combat the suppression).

To effectively mitigate and completely reverse testosterone suppression from Rad 140 is to use a test base, followed by a proper post cycle therapy protocol.

The test base will be a replacement for your natural testosterone on cycle, and there are 7 different ways you can effectively do one – mitigate phase 1 suppression.

The post cycle therapy (PCT) will jumpstart your natural testosterone production after a cycle – mitigate phase 2 suppression.

The easiest and arguably safest approach to mitigate testosterone suppression both on cycle and post cycle is to do a SARM + SERM Rad 140 cycle (you can find detailed instructions on the linked pages above).

Cholesterol (Dyslipidemia)

Rad 140 will cause an increase in your bad cholesterol (LDL) and a decrease in your good cholesterol (HDL). The extent of this side effect can vary from person to person depending on individual response to Rad 140 and, of course, the dose. Logically, the higher the dose, the greater the impact on your lipid panel.

“High cholesterol” also doesn’t manifest in your day to day life – you won’t feel it, but it’s there. Bloodwork is your best friend and is the only way to know how much your lipid panel was hit.

Coping with Cholesterol Impact

So, how do you cope and reverse Rad 140’s impact on your lipid panel?

• Eat clean by removing junk food and unhealthy fats from your diet – as they can worsen the dyslipidemia caused by Rad 140.
• Do a lot of cardio (even if you’re on a bulk) – 30 minutes a day is a good place to start.
• Take up to 6 capsules of Omega 3 a day, or up to 3 capsules a day of krill or fish oil.
• Take 1000mg of Citrus Bergamot per day (should be split in two doses of 500mg).
• Take up to 200mg/day of CoQ10.
• Take up to 500mg/day of Niacin (be careful with Niacin if you’re on MK677 since it can cause insulin resistance).
• Take Cardarine at 10 to 20mg/day – the most effective drug to lower cholesterol.

Liver Toxicity (Hepatotoxic)

Whether Rad 140 is liver toxic or not is still a gray area, as there are a LOT of anecdotal reports and bloodwork showing no elevated liver enzymes at all and vice versa.

Though a clinical trial found that Rad 140 does increase liver enzymes and is hepatotoxic. Read here.

Combatting Liver Toxicity

So how do you combat liver toxicity caused by Rad 140?

• Avoid liver toxic drugs like alcohol.
• Take liver supplements:
• Milk thistle 500-700 mg/day.
• N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) at 800-1200 mg/day.

IMPORTANT: Milk thistle and Tamoxifen and Raloxifene can have a drug interaction and cause negative effects – so do not combine them.

Hair Shedding (Temporary Hair Loss)

Don’t panic, hair shedding is not the same as hair loss. And 99% of the time is completely temporary and reversible.

Hair shedding is a side effect that you can experience with other SARMs as well, but the vast majority of anecdotal cases were from Rad 140.

Why it happens is still somewhat of a mystery. Some people speculate that it’s a result of the increase in Free Testosterone (with that DHT) that Rad 140 causes by suppressing SHBG. Another theory is that Rad 140 attaches to the androgen receptors in the scalp and causes hair loss directly.

Preventing Hair Shedding

So, how do you prevent it?

Throughout your cycle, supplement with:

• Ketoconazole shampoo (2 to 3 times per week).
• Finasteride or Dutasteride (if the theory of Rad 140 attaching directly to androgen receptors in the scalp is true, then these won’t work).
• Take 0.25 mg/day and slowly increase to 0.5 mg if necessary. Be warned that these two drugs are not without risks. While most men do not experience any of them, you are still at risk of low sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and lethargy.

Aggression

Rad 140 is very well known for causing aggression in users, often times manifested through irritability and impatience.

Managing Aggression

Luckily this aggression can be easily coped with by supplementing with:

• L-theanine at 200mg up to 3 times per day.
• CBD at 25mg 2 to 3 times per day.
• Ashwagandha 250 – 500 mg 2 – 3 times per day.

A lot of users report that “getting blazed” helps them overcome their on-cycle aggression as well. Do what you will with that.

Gynecomastia (Gyno)

You’ve probably seen a few cases of gyno if you’re an avid consumer of fitness content online. Gynecomastia is the growth of breast tissue (and not fat) in men. It is caused by an imbalance in testosterone and estrogen.

Men who’ve had gynecomastia in their teens are at a far greater risk of developing it again if they take Rad 140.

Preventing Gynecomastia

How to prevent it?

• If you’re using a test base, take an Aromatase Inhibitor (AI). But if you’re not using a test base, this can destroy your estrogen levels, further worsening the symptoms of suppression. If you do decide to take an AI, go with Arimistane at 25mg/day as soon as you experience symptoms of gyno, and stop taking it once they’re gone.
• If you’re not using a test base, then take Tamoxifen or Raloxifene.
• Tamoxifen at 10mg/day.
• Raloxifene at 30mg/day.

Either one until you finish your cycle. They will completely prevent and get rid of any development of gyno.

Insomnia

Insomnia is very, very rare. But some people do experience it from taking Rad 140, as well as other SARMs.

Overcoming Insomnia

To overcome insomnia, take the following supplements half an hour before bed:

• To fall asleep:
• Melatonin: 2mg.
• L-theanine: 200mg.
• CBD oil: 25 to 50mg.
• To stay asleep:
• B6: 100mg.
• Glycine: 1000mg.
• Magnesium: 300-500mg.

Lifestyle Changes

Lifestyle changes that can help you overcome your insomnia:

• Avoid drinking caffeine anything past midday, or completely cut it out.
• Take L-theanine with caffeine to mellow down the anxiety and twitchiness caffeine causes – in case you’re sensitive to it.
• Avoid melatonin unless you’re on a testosterone base because there are studies showing that it decreases testosterone levels.
• Instead of supplementing with melatonin, you can time your natural melatonin production by strategically setting your circadian clock. In short, you need to get up as early in the morning as possible and view morning sunlight within your first waking hour.

This will set an internal timer in your body that in around 12 to 16 hours later, your brain will release melatonin. Just in time for bed.

Key Point

Rad 140 has many dangers and is not a miracle magic muscle pill. Chances are, you will experience at least one of these side effects, no matter how confident you are in your body’s ability to tolerate it.

But, when you have a plan and are prepared for anything that comes your way, then you can smash your goals and have a productive cycle. Both for gains and longevity. By now you should be fully equipped with all the info you need regarding what to expect side effect-wise when doing Rad 140. Not only this, but you also learned how to avoid and minimize each of the side effects.

A document I originally made for my clients. A neat map to the sphere of PEDs and supplements.

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