MK-677 (Ibutamoren) SARM 101: The Bodybuilder’s Guide

MK-677 (Ibutamoren) is one of the more unique PEDs you can use. Once you know where and how to fit it into a cycle, you’ll quickly see why bodybuilders are replacing expensive and uncomfortable HGH injections with MK-677.

MK-677 is not just another research chemical with similar effects to all the others. But can it fill the place of real HGH, and should you go to the trouble of using Ibutamoren at all? Let’s dig a little deeper into MK-677 so you can decide if it’s right for you!

What is MK-677?

MK-677 is one of the most specialized PEDs used by performance athletes and bodybuilders.

If you’ve read that Ibutamoren is a SARM, that is incorrect! It’s classified as a growth hormone secretagogue. It’s the only widely used PED in this category of research chemicals.

MK-677 is of great interest to medical researchers as a possible alternative to growth hormone (GH) to treat deficiency in that hormone. So, is it any surprise this gets the attention of bodybuilders? After all, bodybuilders have been using HGH injections for a long time with excellent results.

But MK-677 continues to show great promise as an alternative, so much so that it remains in a preclinical research stage – a point many other research chemicals never even reach.

History and Overview

MK-677 is still classed as an Investigational New Drug but is in the preclinical development stage as a treatment for growth hormone deficiency. It commonly goes by the name Ibutamoren, but you might also see it called Nutrobal.

Studies as far back as the late 1990s have found MK-677 to be even more effective than GHRH (growth hormone-releasing hormone) in producing peak growth hormone levels in young males who took 25mg^[1].

I’m keeping a close eye on whether or not MK-677 is going to be approved for medical use in the future. Results in studies and trials to date are extremely promising, with proven results in increasing lean body mass, among other effects.

Mechanism of Action

MK-677 can stimulate growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) release at its core. The way it does this is to mimic the effects of ghrelin, which is a naturally occurring hormone that itself stimulates growth hormone.

After taking MK-677, growth hormone levels remain increased over a sustained period (which is why MK-677 is described as long-lasting), and, importantly, Growth hormone and IGF-1 levels rise without an increase in cortisol levels. Cortisol is a catabolic stress hormone that can result in the loss of muscle tissue (the very opposite of anabolic).

Just like anabolic steroids and possibly some SARMs (but not all), MK-677 is known to cross the blood-brain barrier so that it can affect the central nervous system.

Effects of MK-677 (Benefits)

Ibutamoren is a versatile compound, and we’re still only in the early stages of understanding its full benefits. But this is one of the most reliable and promising research chemicals available, with proven results in trials and studies.

For what seems to be quite a simple compound, MK-677 comes with a long list of positive effects. The best and most important ones are:

• Increased muscle mass
• Faster recovery
• Better sleep quality (also aids in recovery)
• Increased appetite
• Improved bone density
• Fat loss
• Better hair, skin and nail health

You will notice fat loss is a benefit I’ve listed. Yes, MK-677 can assist with losing body fat (but see the other side of the body fat issue below in side effects). However, this is a longer-term effect.

MK-677 should not be thought of as a fat burner or weight loss compound by any means. There are plenty of other PEDs out there far better suited for pure fat loss! It’s thought that injections of real HGH can decrease fat storage, and as MK-677 functions similarly, we might expect a similar action.

As for how much muscle mass you can gain on MK-677 will depend on many factors, including if you’re stacking (strongly recommended if you want significant gains). MK-677 is also a very effective post-SARM cycle compound that will support the maintenance of gains you’ve made in that cycle.

There’s no doubt that MK-677 works. Studies have proven this. Now it comes down to how you intend to use it and what results you specifically want to achieve that make Ibutamoren a better choice for you than SARMs, steroids, or even real HGH itself.

MK-677 Dosing and Administration

Even though MK-677 appears to be a compound that’s relatively straightforward and very tolerable to use, getting your dosage and administration right will still be a deciding factor in your results.

In short, Taking MK-677 at doses beyond the recommended range will not bring about substantially better results and will waste your money. Even though we know this is a relatively side-effect-friendly chemical, you can only raise your chances of more uncomfortable side effects with excessive doses.

But you know what’s even more important than the dosage? Your cycle length. Increased blood glucose levels and insulin sensitivity are possible risk factors for long-term continual use of MK-677. I prefer to limit the use of MK-677 to 16 weeks maximum. This is double the time I’d be comfortable using most SARMs, but MK-677 differs significantly from SARMs.

Yes, you will find people who say they’ve been using MK-677 for much longer than that continuously. Sometimes even over several years without a break. We don’t know what all the possible long-term effects could be. MK-677 might be safe for most people for such long periods, and ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what you’re comfortable with.

Doses

MK-677 is one of the more studied research chemicals to date, so we have some data to go by in terms of what doses humans have been given in the various clinical trials. In studies, MK-677 was given at doses of up to 50mg per day at the high end. At the lower end, a dose of 10mg was provided to some participants.

It’s generally accepted that a “sweet spot” dose that balances side effects and prevents diminishing benefits is around 25mg. But don’t take that as the final word: you should experiment a little, particularly as a beginner. I can recommend starting at the lower end and evaluating your response.

Here’s a general guide to Ibutamoren bodybuilding doses for different experience levels:

Beginner

10mg daily is a good beginner dose of MK-677. This introduces you to its effects while keeping side effects to a minimum, or even non-existent. It’s well known that 10mg can increase IGF-1 levels, and that’s your main goal with Ibutamoren^[2].

Intermediate

Once you’ve done a cycle or two at lower doses, you might consider increasing your MK-677 dosage to around 20mg. The effect will be a more significant appetite increase and more pronounced muscle growth, although you will not likely see a doubling of benefits despite taking twice the dose. Any side effects should still be more than manageable at this level.

Advanced

25mg is considered the sweet spot of MK-677 doses. Even advanced users won’t go any higher once they understand how Ibutamoren works, and the effects start to diminish above 25mg. So essentially, you end up wasting money and gain very little.

If you want results that 25mg of MK-677, you should be looking at stacking at this stage and not increasing your MK-677 dose to needlessly high levels.

Female

Since there are no hormonal effects of MK-677, females can take the same dosage as men and not risk any different side effects than males.

Depending on how much muscle gain is desired and how long your cycle will be, women who take just 10mg of MK-677 are going to see substantial effects, and they will become noticeable within the first week of the cycle.

Bioavailability, Half-life, and Cycle Length

MK-677 has a short half-life, thought to be 6 hours or less. But this is one compound where we don’t have to worry about such a short half-life. Any other PED with a 6-hour half-life would require multiple daily administrations. But MK-677 is different. Despite the short half-life, it’s known that IGF-1 levels stay at a high level for up to 24 hours. So, that means you still only have to take MK-677 once per day.

Thanks to the lack of suppression and side effects in general, MK-677 can often be comfortably used for longer cycles than you’d typically run with most SARMs or similar PEDs. And your MK-677 cycle length is going to heavily depend on your purpose for using Ibutamoren!

If it’s included mainly as a supportive agent when stacking with other PEDs, you’d be looking at a cycle of a similar length to what the other PEDs require. But if MK-677 is going to be a sole or primary compound, most people can use it for 12-16 weeks without issues. Sixteen weeks is the maximum recommended cycle length, though, and a break of at least ten weeks should be taken before using MK-677 again.

Yes, some people will only break for five weeks or not at all. I prefer to be cautious but haven’t heard of specific complications around taking a shorter break between cycles.

Dosing Schedule and Administration Methods

Do you prefer liquid or capsules? MK-677 is sold in both forms. Less commonly, powder is also available.

Liquid is typically easier to find, and it’s the method most of us prefer. You can measure out a precise dose with liquid, whereas if you want to half-dose a capsule, you need to split it, and that’s far from ideal.

The timing (time of day) of your MK-677 daily dose is something to take the time to consider as much as the dose itself. Your experience with MK-677 can turn positive or negative based on when you take it during the day. And YOUR timing will depend on what you’re trying to get out of your cycle.

Remembering that one of the main effects of Ibutamoren is to increase your appetite, it makes sense to take it early in the morning so you’re not dealing with late-night hunger.

Then there are the effects on sleep to consider: Taking MK-677 later in the evening can possibly help you sleep better. Taking it early in the morning should still provide sleep benefits, and you need to weigh this up alongside the appetite effects.

If eating more calories is not your goal with MK-677 (if you’re cutting), taking it in the evening can be ideal as long as you think you can go off to sleep without that hunger kicking in. Ultimately, every individual is different, and it can take some experimentation with dose timing to get it right for you!

As if that’s not enough to think about…

Liquid MK-677 is a notoriously bad-tasting PED, and since you’ll most likely be taking it straight in the mouth as a liquid, it’s hard to escape that horrible taste that can hang around for hours afterward. Some people think it tastes like gasoline or acid; others think it’s very bitter.

In any case, placing it near the back of the throat can help. Others have tried mixing it with something like grapefruit juice to mask the taste or eating something strong-tasting afterward.

MK-677 Cycles

MK-677 looks like it could be helpful in just about any cycle, not least because of the “bonus” benefits it brings that aren’t explicitly related to bulking or cutting.

While I certainly agree that MK-677 can be an awesome PED to use in a cutting stack, one thing makes it difficult: The increase in appetite it causes in most people. Try doing a hardcore cutting diet while using a PED that boosts your hunger. If you have discipline of steel, you could get by.

For the rest of us, I mostly prefer to save MK-677 for bulking and possibly recomp as well if the diet isn’t too restrictive.

MK-677 Cycle for Men

Even at a low dose, the results from an MK-677-only cycle will be more effective than most people imagine. Consider a dose of just 12.5mg a day for 12 weeks. This is as basic a cycle as you can get on Ibutamoren, but don’t let its simplicity fool you.

The results were close to what I expected (after having done tons of research on MK-677):

• During the first two weeks, my appetite had increased to the point that I could quickly reach my daily calorie goal (and sometimes still feel hungry). This appetite effect did start to drop off at week 4. At that point, you could increase the dose a little if desired. I was also sleeping better.
• By week 10, I’d gained over 11lbs. Definition and muscle mass were noticeably improved. A small amount of fat was lost, but don’t expect much fat loss if you’re not dieting.

There are plenty of positive comments about MK-677 cycles. Guys love the increased appetite, and the sleep benefits are underrated. Getting 6 hours of sleep and having it feel like 8 or 9 hours is incredible. Reduced pain is another frequently heard praise of MK-677. Niggling problems like sore elbows or knees tend to fade away.

Negative reviews and comments about cycles similar to this one tend to revolve around increased blood glucose levels (some will be more prone to this problem, and higher doses increase the risk), and some users complain about water retention. However, without knowledge of their diet and other factors or their source of MK-677, men shouldn’t assume they will suffer from these same adverse effects.

MK-677 Cycle for Women

We know MK-677 can be used by women with minimal side effects, as studies have been done that showed increased bone strength. As growth hormone is not a sex hormone, females aren’t going to be at risk of virilization or other effects that you come to expect from most other PEDs.

A simple MK-677 cycle for women will be very similar – in fact, identical – to that of male users with perhaps a lower dose. Women will be more responsive to the anabolic effects of MK-677 and find it easier to gain muscle (if that’s the goal). A typical recommendation for an MK-677 cycle for women is 10mg daily of MK-677 for 8-12 weeks.

The results that females get with MK-677 will, of course, include an appetite increase (especially in the first 4-6 weeks) and a welcome decrease in any niggling pain in the joints and muscles. Many females will welcome the noticeable improvement in the quality and strength of nails, hair, and skin.

As for fat loss and/or muscle gains? It won’t be at Anavar levels, but even a few pounds of lean muscle gain on the female physique will significantly improve your aesthetics and body composition.

MK-677 is undoubtedly not the most widely used PED by females, so minimal real-world experiences are being shared. On the upside, I’ve yet to come across a female who has had a bad experience with Ibutamoren besides complaints about increased appetite – but this will always be somewhat unwanted, where fat loss is the primary goal of the cycle.

MK-677 vs. HGH

MK-677 has gained popularity among users who want an alternative to HGH injections.

In case you might be asking yourself whether MK-677 can replace and replicate true HGH, what I will say is this:

• Ibutamoren is cheaper than real HGH, which is typically extremely expensive.
• Both have similar benefits, but higher doses of genuine HGH will be more potent than Ibutamoren.
• HGH requires daily injections, while MK-677 is taken orally.
• HGH can be tough to acquire without a doctor’s prescription, while MK-677 is readily available through research chemical suppliers.
• Both have similar side effects, with HGH known to cause water retention, joint pain, and headaches.

Whether you choose to take MK-677 or jump into HGH injections depends on whether you can access genuine HGH (buying on the black market is not recommended due to quality issues) and if you’re comfortable with daily (sometimes multiple times) injections.

There’s also that other small issue of being able to afford genuine HGH. Prepare for a per-cycle cost in the thousands with real HGH. This alone is enough for most of us to consider MK-677 without question.

When used correctly, MK-677 and HGH can provide similar results! A typical bodybuilding dose of HGH is 3iu daily, so to match this with MK-677, you’d be looking at 25mg daily. Over a 3-month cycle, both HGH and MK-677 can have you gaining moderate amounts of lean mass with some fat loss.

Stacking MK-677

MK-677 is often stacked with SARMs; sometimes, it’s not even primarily for performance benefits. Stacking MK-677 as a supportive PED is frequently done to minimize or prevent hair loss/shedding and sleep problems that other PEDs might cause.

A good stack is always a combination of benefits and minimizing or offsetting side effects. Since MK-677 doesn’t come with testosterone suppression or estrogenic side effects, you might look to continue that by stacking with PEDs with little to no side effects.

Ultimately, the results I can get are my main priority, and being prepared for side effects comes with the business. Some of my favorite MK-677 stacks are outlined here and include LGD-4033, Cardarine, RAD-140, and Ostarine.

LGD-4033 + MK-677 (Bulking/Recomp Stack)

Stacking MK-677 with the SARM LGD-4033 brings additional benefits into the cycle, with the main focus on gaining muscle mass, strength, and potentially some fat loss if your diet and training encourage it. There are a ton of supportive benefits in this cycle, largely thanks to MK-677. Here’s what to expect:

Benefits

• Muscle gains
• Strength boost
• Faster recovery
• Appetite increase
• Better sleep
• Increased bone density/strength
• Fat loss

Dosing

The study’s dosing (see below) was 10 mg of LGD-4033 and 15mg of MK-677 daily for five weeks. If you plan to run a longer cycle for eight weeks (potentially extending MK-677 to 16 weeks), 5mg a day of LGD-4033 can help minimize side effects while still providing excellent results.

• Week 1-8: LGD-4033 5mg-10mg daily
• Week 1-16: MK-677 15mg daily

Part of the reason for taking MK-677 for an extra eight weeks is to act as a form of PCT and help maintain your gains.

Possible Side Effects

• Water retention
• Suppression
• Lethargy
• Decrease in libido

Water retention can be reduced by maintaining a high water intake and reducing salt in your diet. Eliminating simple carbohydrates and processed foods doesn’t hurt either. And – just as important is the quality of your Ibutamoren. Poor-quality formulas can worsen water retention and introduce a host of other side effects you wouldn’t typically experience with MK-677.

Results

On average, you can expect a gain of 5 lbs or more in muscle and a small body fat percentage loss if you eat and train well. This stack has so much interest that it’s even been put through an official scientific trial. The study found positive results involving increased lean mass and strength but also increased fat mass^[3]. Adverse outcomes included changes to liver enzymes, bone, serum lipids, and testosterone levels.

PCT

LGD-4033 is a suppressive SARM, so if you’re male, you should be prepared for PCT after this stack. The higher your dose of LGD-4033 is in this stack, the more severe the suppression will be.

MK-677 can almost replace PCT; in this case, I run it for 16 weeks for that exact reason. But if your LGD-4033 dose is higher than 5mg, it’s better to be safe than sorry and to have a standard PCT on hand like Nolvadex or Clomid.

RAD-140 + MK-677 (Bulking Stack)

Some will call this the best SARM bulking stack (putting aside the fact that MK-677 isn’t a SARM). It’s certainly a powerful stack for gaining muscle, with RAD-140 taking on the primary anabolic agent and MK-677 providing additional supportive benefits.

Benefits

• Lean muscle gains
• Faster recovery
• No or minimal water retention
• Preserve muscle if dieting
• Big strength increase
• Enhanced stamina
• Joint and bone support
• Better sleep
• Increased appetite

Dosing

• 8-10 week cycle
• RAD-140 10mg – 20mg daily
• MK-677 10mg – 20mg daily (according to your preference)

Possible Side Effects

• Aggression or irritability
• Testosterone suppression
• Negative cholesterol changes
• Hair shedding

Results

You’ll have the ability to increase your daily calorie intake with an increased appetite, supporting significant muscle gains with RAD-140. Energy and strength will be elevated, and you will see a reduction in recovery times as early as the first week. By the end of the cycle, you could gain anywhere from 10lbs to 25lbs in muscle, depending on dose, diet, and training. Vascularity and muscle fullness will be impressive, and people will notice.

PCT

RAD-140 is a suppressive SARM, so male users should prepare for PCT following this stack – 20 mg of Nolvadex for three weeks, then 10mg for the fourth week.

Ostarine + MK-677 (Beginner Bulking Stack)

Ostarine is called a weak SARM often, but it can support a very nice bulking cycle. I like this stack for anyone relatively new to PEDs because of the great synergy and manageable side effects.

Benefits

• Lean muscle gains
• Fat loss
• Increased appetite to support consuming more calories
• Faster recovery
• More energy and stamina
• Better sleep
• Improved quality of hair and skin

Dosing

• 20mg daily Ostarine
• 15mg daily MK-677

I prefer an 8-week cycle and to go hard for those two months. Some will continue with MK-677 only for up to 16 weeks, which can help support testosterone recovery.

Possible Side Effects

• Water retention
• Fatigue/lethargy
• Prolactin increase
• Increased blood sugar

Results

10-15lbs of lean mass gains are achievable with this stack over eight weeks. If you’re including some cardio training, a few percent of body fat loss is possible, which will contribute to better muscular definition.

My stamina was exceptional on this cycle, with this being mostly from Ostarine. I could work out twice as long as usual (still being careful not to overdo it). Overall, this is a tolerable stack with no serious side effects and one I’d look at doing again.

PCT

Nolvadex 20mg daily for the first three weeks, then 10mg daily for the 4th week.

Cardarine + MK-677 (Cutting/Performance Stack)

Cardarine is a controversial compound, but if you’re comfortable using it, this is a powerful stack, and you only need low doses of each to get some incredible results. This can be used as a cutting stack or even just as a performance enhancer if you’re an athlete.

I don’t deny that MK-677 is challenging to use on a cut because you’ll want to eat more. It will take discipline, plus adjusting the dose to a level where your appetite is kept in check; for some users, this won’t be possible.

Benefits

• Stamina and endurance: longer, harder workouts
• Fast recovery
• Fat loss
• Cholesterol support
• Better sleep
• Joint and bone support
• Minimal or no testosterone suppression

Dosing

• 10mg MK-677 daily
• 10mg Cardarine daily
• 8-10 weeks cycle length

Possible Side Effects

• Some water retention at higher MK-677 doses
• Cancer risk of Cardarine
• Some users report headaches, nausea, or lethargy during the first week or two.

Results

The incredible ability to recover after hard workouts is one of my favorite benefits of this stack. I could get back in the gym the next day if I wanted. Both these compounds aid in recovery, so it’s a double effect. You can’t help but lose body fat on this stack with the longer, higher-intensity training ability that Cardarine brings.

PCT

No PCT is required after this stack due to no suppression from Cardarine and minimal or no suppression with MK-677.

MK-677 PCT

One of the great things about MK-677 is that males don’t need PCT after using it. MK-677 doesn’t cause testosterone suppression.

And it doesn’t stop there: Ibutamoren is sometimes used as a PCT compound itself after a cycle of SARMs or steroids. The way to do that is to continue on with MK-677 for 4-8 weeks after stopping your other PEDs.

Note that if you’ve used severely suppressive PEDs, then MK-677 is not likely to provide the support you need, and a traditional PCT will still be required. People look at MK-677 for PCT due to real or perceived side effects from SERMs like Nolvadex or Clomid.

I would very rarely use MK-677 for post-cycle therapy without any additional support from a SERM. It would have to be a very mild cycle for me to consider it on its own!

If you’ve stacked MK-677 with any suppressive PED at all, PCT will be your friend. Low testosterone is nothing to sneeze at and will make your life hell for a while (unless you’re a woman, in which case you get to go PCT-free all the time).

MK-677 Side Effects

MK-677 is known for its minimal side effects and for being a very tolerable chemical to use for most people. Studies to date have also not found any alarming health risks either.

MK-677 can sometimes cause some water retention, resulting in a temporary puffy, swollen, or bloated appearance and stiffness in the joints. You can reduce fluid retention on Ibutamoren by keeping up your water intake and minimizing eating salty and high-carb/processed foods.

The list of the more common potential MK-677 side effects is short and includes:

• Water retention
• Headaches

These side effects are not known to be specific for either males or females, and both sexes will typically have the same experience with Ibutamoren.

But that’s not the whole story: You’ll regularly come across people talking about MK-677 posing a risk to blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity. We know that MK-677 can raise fasting glucose/blood sugar levels in elderly people.

I’m not here to tell you one way or another whether MK-677 is a risk in these areas. What is likely is that doses that are too high, cycles that are too long, and more sensitive individuals may heighten these risk factors. But without more in-depth clinical research, we do not know what, if any, these are real or likely risk factors.

Where to Buy MK-677?

You will want to find a reliable source for buying MK-677. Bad quality Ibutamoren can be under-dosed, contaminated, contain cheap replacement and filler ingredients, and worse.

The result?

Poor results, wasted money, and unexpected side effects. In the worst case, you can endanger your health if unhygienic manufacturing processes have been used as well.

Thankfully, we do have a good number of quality suppliers these days of research chemicals as long as you know where to look.

So, where to buy it? Here are my top picks:

Availability of MK-677

MK-677 is sold as a liquid formula and as capsules. Both are going to give equal results, but even though MK-677 is well known as an awful-tasting liquid, this is the most common way of taking it. It’s quick and accurate.

It’s just so much easier to measure out your daily dose precisely, especially if you’re using half doses like 12.5mg, which is typical. Liquid MK-677 is also typically cheaper and more widely available from research chemical suppliers, which are only meant to be sold to legitimate researchers.

Clearly, capsules indicate an intention for human use, and some suppliers prefer not to put themselves in the spotlight by selling them.

Is MK-677 Legal?

Technically, MK-677 is legal to buy and use in most countries, including the US. More to the point, it’s not illegal. Yet.

We don’t know what the future holds for regulation around research chemicals, including MK-677. But for now, you can quickly and legally buy MK-677 from online research chemical companies and have it shipped to you.

But then there’s this:

If you’re a competitor in any sport or contest where drug testing happens, then you should know that MK-677 is listed as a banned substance in the same way that anabolic steroids are. It’s on the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List of performance-enhancing drugs because authorities are well aware of the powerful effects Ibutamoren has.

When it comes to buying MK-677, it’s a significantly less stressful experience than buying anabolic steroids. Unlike AAS, research chemicals are not legally enforced and prohibited in the way that steroids are.

Typical Pricing

In general, these are the prices you’ll be looking at for MK-677 from online research chemical suppliers:

• A 30ml bottle of 25mg/ml concentration in liquid form, under $60 or as high as $100 from some sellers
• 12.5mg capsules, bottle of 60 typically in the $70-$140 range

Does the pricing of SARMs and other research chemicals like MK-677 reflect the quality of the product? Rarely. Sellers can price these chemicals as high or low as they want, but it doesn’t indicate whether it’s a pure, perfectly dosed formula. That’s where it pays to research the very best suppliers to buy MK-677 from.

Final Thoughts

MK-677 is still one of my favorite research chemicals to use. It’s so flexible and brings so many unique benefits to a cycle that I almost want to include it in every single stack I do.

With minimal side effects, it will rarely add any difficulty to a cycle, so this is a PED that I can confidently state has a list of benefits that far outweigh any negatives.

I’ll continue using MK-677 regularly and continue enjoying the fact that I can get most of the advantages of HGH injections without having to inject and without the hefty price tag.

Related:

• Andarine (S4) SARM 101: The Ultimate Guide
• YK-11 SARM 101: The Complete Guide
• SR9009 (Stenabolic) SARM 101: The Bodybuilder’s Guide

— Furious Joe