Toremifene (Fareston) PCT 101: The Bodybuilder's Guide

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Toremifene might be the hidden gem of SERMs for bodybuilders. Not because it’s an unknown drug or because no one wants to use it. It just doesn’t have the same popularity status as Clomid or Nolvadex. But is there a reason for this? Or is Toremifene as good as other SERMs for your ancillary steroid cycle needs?

If you want to know what Toremifene is all about, where and how it can benefit you, and how it compares to some of our other AAS and SARM ancillary options, then this guide is for you!

What is Toremifene?

Toremifene is a SERM that was developed primarily for treating advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women.

This gives us an indication of what this SERM might excel at – mitigating gynecomastia. Many users find it a tremendous on-cycle gyno reversal and prevention SERM.

That’s not all, though. Toremifene is also clinically proven to stimulate testosterone production. That makes this a SERM that can be very useful for our on-cycle and PCT needs.

History and Overview

Toremifene is a much newer SERM than the more famous names. It was approved for use in the US in 1997, while Nolvadex goes back to the 1970s. This means Toremifene has had a lot less study and clinical trials undertaken with it.

Toremifene’s primary medical use is as a treatment for post-menopausal women with metastatic breast cancer, and it’s often prescribed at very high doses for that purpose (much higher than we would want to take it).

It’s also been investigated as a possible treatment for the side effects that come along with some prostate cancer treatments (including gynecomastia) and for directly treating or preventing prostate treatment – but this line of research has now been discontinued.

Fareston is the primary brand name of Toremifene that is marketed around the world, and generic versions also exist.

Mechanism of Action

Toremifene’s mechanisms of action will be very similar to those of all SERMs: specifically, it targets only selective estrogen receptors in the body instead of lowering your circulating estrogen levels (as aromatase inhibitors do). And like all SERMs, Toremifene is both an agonist and antagonist of estrogen receptors – depending on where in the body those receptors are.

Its primary purpose is to be anti-estrogenic in breast tissue (which is why we want to use it for preventing gynecomastia). But at the same time, Toremifene produces estrogen effects in other areas like the bones.

Toremifene works to block estrogen, specifically within the breast cells, because the tumors of breast cancer will continue to grow and spread with the activity of estrogen.

Another mechanism of action of Toremifene relates to its effects on SHBG (Sex Hormone Binding Globulin), which I’ll go into more detail below.

Effects of Toremifene (Benefits) for Men

Toremifene does not come with a long list of benefits for men. But what it does do, it does it well, and we will always have just a few specific reasons for wanting to use a SERM like this.

Even though these effects are not the original intention behind the development of Toremifene as a medical drug, they are very convenient and valuable to us steroid users. Here’s what Toremifene can do for you:

Testosterone Stimulation

Toremifene is effective at stimulating and raising your testosterone levels. Studies on men have shown that Toremifene successfully raises FSH levels, total testosterone levels, and sperm concentrations.

One of the most important arguments against Toremifene for PCT use is that it’s shown to raise levels of SHBG. The higher your SHBG levels are, the more testosterone will bind to it and the less free or total testosterone you’ll have available. This then has the opposite effect of what we want – reduced testosterone levels.

The SHBG-raising effects of Toremifene should not impact its ability to stimulate testosterone at the doses we use this SERM at. This is backed up by the medical evidence of Torem being effective at increasing testosterone.

Prevent and Reverse Gynecomastia

For the low number of men who have used legitimately to reverse the symptoms of gyno that have developed on cycle, Torem has shown to be possibly the best SERM for the job. Once signs like nipple puffiness begin, you need a good SERM to reverse the gyno and keep it away effectively.

Torem has been shown in cell culture studies to inhibit breast tissue growth, stopping breast cell division and even bringing about selective cell death.

Even though we have very little scientific data available on Toremifene, these promising studies, as well as (even more importantly) anecdotal experiences, have shown without a doubt that Toremifene is effective at preventing and reversing gynecomastia.

What is Estrogen?

We can think of estrogen to females as testosterone is to males: it’s the primary female sex hormone responsible for:

The female reproductive system
Secondary sex characteristics (such as wider hips and breast development)

So what, you say? What has this got to with men?

Well, as steroid users, we run the high risk of getting our estrogen out of balance. Using steroids that aromatize (convert testosterone to estrogen) makes it a certainty that your estrogen will spike—too much estrogen results in gynecomastia and water retention, as well as other issues like mood changes.

And while a spike in estrogen isn’t going to impact your short-term health seriously, it can result in distressing symptoms that we all want to avoid – the most notable is gynecomastia.

But as a male steroid user, you don’t only have to worry about having too much estrogen. There’s also the risk of crushing your estrogen levels by misusing an aromatase inhibitor during your cycle (the standard way of minimizing water retention).

The symptoms of low or crashed estrogen can be similar to those of low testosterone, and you might not even know it’s happening without bloodwork. Understanding estrogen and how it can fluctuate during a steroid cycle – and which steroids are going to contribute to it – is critical to knowing which ancillaries to use.

A SERM like Toremifene works VERY differently from an aromatase inhibitor in controlling your estrogenic side effects.

Toremifene for PCT

It’s possible to do a successful PCT with Toremifene as the sole compound and ultimately recover your testosterone. Unfortunately, we don’t hear more about this because Toremifene is so hard to buy.

I’ve heard of guys asking whether you should add Clomid or another SERM to PCT when using Toremifene – I would say definitely not! Toremifene really is capable of testosterone recovery when used right (as long as it’s legitimate or high purity Toremifene).

If you need an extra kick, HCG can always be added in, but I would avoid combining Toremifene with other SERMs like Clomid – it’s simply not necessary.

Doses

For breast cancer treatment, Toremifene doses will start at 60mg in some cases, but it can vary wildly depending on the individual’s need. Many women will be prescribed much higher doses.

One study involving women with advanced breast cancer made use of very high doses – up to more than 600mg per day^[1]. While Toremifene has proven safe at high-dose usage, we do not need to take such significant doses.

Toremifene Dosage On-cycle

We know that Toremifene works very well for reversing the symptoms of gyno. This can be done at a very moderate dose – 60mg per day should be enough to get rid of those gyno symptoms, provided you keep taking Toremifene until the signs have completely disappeared.

If you’re worried that your gyno is already too well developed, you could begin with 90mg or 120mg (prepare for some potential side effects like fatigue) for a short time before dropping the dose to 60mg.

Would lower doses work to stop gyno?

I’ve seen some guys successfully prevent gyno on only 30mg/day, but if you’re using an aromatizing steroid at high doses or you’re just more prone to gyno, I’d still stick with 60mg/day to be on the safe side.

Worth noting is that Toremifene won’t have an effect on that other estrogenic side effect – water retention – and for that, you’ll need an AI.

Toremifene Dosage for PCT

The standard Toremifene dosage of 60mg per day is all we should need for PCT use, and if that doesn’t work effectively enough, then the addition of hCG might be needed (for more suppressive cycles).

I’ve seen people estimate that 60mg of Toremifene is around the equivalent strength of 20mg of Nolvadex, so if you’re used to using Nolvadex, adjust your Torem dose as needed.

Tapering the dose is what we usually do with all other SERMs, and you can do so with Toremifene if desired: 60mg daily for three weeks, followed by 30mg daily for one week.

While I’ve seen some users start at 120mg for the first week before reducing the dosage for the rest of PCT, I wouldn’t recommend such a high dose. Of interest is a study with post-menopausal women taking 120mg of Toremifene, resulting in increased fatigue, nausea, and night sweats at this dose^[2].

Dosing Schedule, Half-life, and PCT Length

Toremifene has a half-life of about six days, so it can be taken once daily without any issues, keeping in mind the long half-life^[3]. This SERM is prescribed as a once-daily dosing schedule when used medically.

Toremifene can be used for the standard length of a PCT protocol – 4 to 6 weeks, depending on how suppressive your steroid or SARMs cycle was.

Proper Administration and Timing

Even though Toremifene has a 6-day half-life, it’s still always medically prescribed as a daily dosage, and we also use a daily administration when taking Toremifene.

The time of day you take this SERM will come down to personal preference. Higher doses can potentially bring on fatigue and nausea; in those cases, I’d prefer to take the dose in the evening so my workouts aren’t impacted.

Toremifene vs. Other PCT Options

Some might say that we have too many PCT options to choose from now. It’s not easy to pick which SERM or other type of drug to use to get your testosterone function back to where it should be.

So, I thought I’d briefly compare the significant differences between Toremifene and some of the other ancillaries we can use on-cycle or PCT.

Toremifene vs. Raloxifene

Many users consider Raloxifene as THE best SERM for on-cycle gynecomastia mitigation.

But before making that claim, you’d want to have experience with all other SERMs to compare, including Toremifene. And the difficulty in obtaining Torem means that most guys haven’t had a chance to compare these two SERMs.

One thing is sure: both are going to be very good to excellent for gyno control. Ralox is often used by males with non-AAS-related gynecomastia, and it effectively reverses often advanced symptoms. I’d have no issues with using either of these SERMs for on-cycle anti-gyno purposes.

However, PCT is different: Raloxifene isn’t an effective testosterone stimulator, while Toremifene is one of the best PCT SERMs.

Toremifene vs. Nolvadex

First of all, it is the simple fact that Nolvadex is MUCH easier to get your hands on than Toremifene. And it’s cheap. This alone will be the decision-maker for most of us between these two SERMs.

Structurally, Torem and Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) are almost identical, with only one atom difference between them. Breast cancer treatment studies have shown very similar outcomes with both these SERMs^[4].

In terms of gyno control on-cycle, some users will say that Toremifene is a better version of Nolvadex and does a better job at stopping or reversing gyno signs.

But here’s the kicker:

For every few thousand guys using Nolvadex for gyno control, there might be one or two using real pharma Toremifene. This will always skew the opinion towards Nolvadex because it DOES work brilliantly. Could Torem be better for gynecomastia? At the very least, I believe it’s equal to Nolvadex.

Both these SERMs are useful for PCT, and again, if more of us had access to Toremifene, we’d be using it as often (if not more) than Nolvadex for restarting testosterone. All in all, there really is very little to differentiate Toremifene and Nolvadex, and you can’t go wrong with using either of these SERMs both on-cycle and for PCT.

Toremifene vs. Letrozole

The big difference between Letrozole and Toremifene is that Letrozole is an aromatase inhibitor, so it works very differently from a SERM like Torem.

Letrozole won’t target estrogen receptors in breast tissue – instead, it will lower your production of estrogen. While men might think this is a great thing, it can go too far and crash your estrogen levels – and that’s when guys experience some atrocious symptoms (even worse than low testosterone). For that reason, Letrozole is not what you would use for PCT. Toremifene, on the other hand, is brilliant for PCT.

Letrozole is what you’ll need if you want to reduce water retention on cycle, as well as gyno. Toremifene won’t help you with fluid retention because it only targets breast tissue, but it is an excellent gynecomastia prevention and reversal ancillary.

Toremifene Side Effects in Men

The good news is that most anecdotal reports of Toremifene use rarely come with concerning side effects, mainly where low or moderate doses are used. Higher doses above 100mg/day are known to bring on some fatigue and possible nausea, hot flashes, and night sweats.

The medical literature has revealed various side effects that some women on Torem experience – but we will find that few, if any, of these apply to men due to the different roles estrogen plays in female and male bodies.

These side effects can include:

Depression
Gastrointestinal upset
Loss of strength
Muscle stiffness
Shortness of breath
Visual disturbances

Most guys who have used Clomid and had negative experiences with mood and mental side effects find that Toremifene does not cause the same issues. But the fact is we don’t have enough anecdotal reporting by male Toremifene users to build up a solid side-effect profile.

As always, if you purchase Toremifene, which is not genuine pharmaceutical grade (very hard to find) and isn’t high purity, then you run the risk of suffering side effects that aren’t necessarily expected with this drug.

Where to Buy Toremifene?

It’s disappointing to many of us that Toremifene is one of the most difficult SERMs to find (possibly THE most difficult).

This no doubt contributes greatly to its relatively low use among steroid users. If you can find equally good or better SERMs for a low cost and higher quality, most of us are going to do that. That does not mean getting Toremifene is impossible, but you will find it challenging to buy.

Availability of Toremifene

Many of our favorite steroid and SERM suppliers will often not have Toremifene. This is not because of its lack of effectiveness but rather simply due to the lack of available supply and its higher cost compared to the very popular SERMs, which are easier for suppliers to obtain.

So this means that legitimate Toremifene is really difficult to get. Research chemical suppliers and underground labs are our main options for this SERM.

And let’s not forget:

Buying fake Torem (and it is known to be counterfeited much more than other SERMs) can not only result in poor performance but puts you at risk of unknown and unexpected side effects and health risks.

The standard per-tablet dosage of pharma-grade Toremifene is 60mg.

Is Toremifene Legal?

There’s only one approved medical use for this SERM in the US and other countries, and that’s for breast cancer treatment. So, there’s zero chance of you being able to get a legitimate doctor’s prescription for Toremifene.

Technically, the only legal way you can possess or buy Toremifene is at a pharmacy with your prescription.

Black market Toremifene (such as that imported from overseas and sold through non-official suppliers) is considered illegal in most major countries. Buying through underground labs or research chemical suppliers (which is technically legal) is the only option for most of us.

Typical Pricing

Genuine branded Toremifene under Fareston is the best version of this SERM we can get. As I’ve said, it’s one of the most difficult to come by without a prescription.

Fareston is prescribed all over the world for breast cancer, and arrangements in different countries will determine pricing – but again, without a prescription, you’re going to be at the mercy of black-market suppliers.

But here’s the deal:

With the lack of availability of genuine pharma-grade Toremifene, if you do come across black market products, they are going to be priced very high compared to other SERMs. Currently, generic Toremifene 60mg tablets in a bottle of 30 tablets can be found for over $1000 without insurance in the US.

With most other ancillaries, we could research chemical suppliers and expect a reasonable quality product for an affordable price. Toremifene Citrate is again an exception here, with even research grade (usually in liquid form) costing $100 or more for a 25mg vial.

It’s unfortunate that the cost of Toremifene rules it out for so many of us. Still, as many drugs do over time become cheaper, it’s well worth checking back in on the pricing and availability of Toremifene in the future.

Final Thoughts

Toremifene is a great SERM. For a lot of us, it doesn’t cause the mental side effects that often come with Clomid and Nolvadex, and this is enough to make the switch. And it really is fantastic at kickstarting testosterone and controlling gynecomastia – which is all we can ask of any SERM.

But if you ask any steroid user why they aren’t using Toremifene on-cycle or for PCT, there’s usually one answer: it costs too much, and I can’t find it for sale. It is definitely a more costly SERM, and this is a big reason why it’s not used as widely as the more available and cheaper drugs.

Some will claim this is the best PCT SERM, and I won’t hesitate to use Toremifene for both PCT and my on-cycle needs – if I can find it.

Related:

— Furious Joe

Toremifene (Fareston) PCT 101: The Bodybuilder’s Guide