RAD140 Testolone

The Complete Rad 140 Guide

*DISCLAIMER: Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) are not approved by the FDA for any currently acceptable medicinal/therapeutic purpose. Therefore, this article does not serve as medical advice and is not to be intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. SARMS are to be used for research purposes only and not intended for human consumption.*

This guide has been updated with the latest 2025 data, real-world lifter experiences, expanded bloodwork guidance, enhanced stack synergy protocols, and evidence-backed suppression insights. It’s now the most complete reference available for RAD-140/Testolone.

What is RAD140?

RAD140, sometimes referred to as Testolone, is a nonsteroidal selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) developed by Radius Pharmaceuticals, Inc., later to be licensed to Ellipses Pharmaceuticals in 2020. SARM RAD140 was primarily developed for the treatment of muscle-wasting (cachexia) and osteoporosis, the weakening of bones with age. It has also demonstrated its potential to be an effective treatment for estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer [1]. RAD140 has primarily been used in preclinical trials (animal-only models) for the entirety of its existence; limiting the applicability of the data we can work with. But this changed in October of 2017, when the first Phase I trial for RAD140 in ER+ breast cancer was initiated. This granted the opportunity for researchers to assess the safety profile, tolerability, and metabolic processes associated with the treatment of RAD140, in addition to any possible toxicity and/or adverse events. Mechanism of Action SARMs should optimally err towards muscle and bone as opposed to the prostate relative to testosterone/androgen-treatment. Development of a compound that has high affinity for the AR while also demonstrating high levels of efficacy for oral administration and having favorable amounts of tolerability is no easy task. Fortunately, RAD140 appears to possess these aforementioned qualities from the preclinical data that we have available to us.

RAD-140 Overview (Quick Facts)

Property	Value
Alternate Name	Testolone
Class	SARM (Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator)
Half-life	~20 hours (up to 60 hours reported)
Common Dosage Range	10–30 mg/day
Primary Goal	Lean muscle gain, strength, recomposition
Suppression	High (dose-independent)
Aromatization	None
Legal Status (2025)	Research only, banned in tested sports

Breast Cancer

Up until the 1970s, breast cancer was often treated with various derivatives of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) and danazol, the latter of which is a weak AAS with antiestrogenic properties that was commonplace in breast cancer treatment [2]. Only 20-25% of patients showed significant reductions in tumor growth utilizing these treatments [3]. Use of these androgen-based therapies declined after it was discovered they commonly caused virilizing (masculinization) effects. In addition, these treatments also carried with it a high risk of increasing the conversion rate of androgens to estrogens, otherwise known as aromatization. As the AR is expressed in ~90% of ER+ breast cancer cases, this demanded a new generation of pharmaceuticals. These pharmaceuticals were to optimally have a greater binding affinity (strength) and selectivity for the AR. This would hypothetically grant better response rates from patients, while at the same time, drastically reducing the incidence of adverse events. This is where RAD140 came into the breast cancer treatment picture; having demonstrated high levels of efficacy in AR/ER+ breast cancer cell models [1]. The level of success demonstrated by RAD140s preclinical trial performance led Radius Pharmaceuticals to initiate the first-ever human trial on RAD140s effects on ER+ breast cancer [4]. There were 16 total patients enrolled in the trial who were 58 years of age on average. This study was defined as a “dose-escalation” study, meaning that its purpose was to clinically establish at what dose that RAD140 would prove to be most effective with the least amount of adverse effects. This is otherwise known as the minimum effective dose (MED). The doses that were provided were in increments of 50mg/day, 100mg/day, or 150mg/day. After observation of mild-moderate adverse effects such as elevated liver enzymes and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in the higher dosage groups, researchers deemed the maximum tolerated dose of RAD140 was 100mg/day. It took about 16 weeks of treatment on average to elicit a partial response, which is a term in clinical cancer literature that means a reduction in the size of a tumor or the lessening of the extent of cancer in the patient’s body in general.

Neuroprotection

RAD140 has been shown to be neuroprotective; a broad term which can be defined as having the ability to stave off neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), and maintain optimal cognitive functioning. Normal decreases in testosterone occur as men age, which increases the risk of dysfunction in areas containing high concentrations of ARs, including the brain. In fact, low testosterone is a major risk factor and key contributor to the development of AD [5]. Because of this, androgen therapy has proven to be immensely beneficial to protecting against neurodegenerative decline through numerous mechanisms [6,7]. However, the problem with using androgen therapy for neuroprotective purposes is that it causes an increase in the conversion of testosterone to its more androgenically potent derivative dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The 5ɑ-reductase (5AR) enzyme is what’s responsible for this conversion. DHT binds to the AR at ~2-3x greater affinity than testosterone [8]. In other words, it binds to the AR with double to triple the strength that testosterone normally would. As a result, DHT has the propensity to be 10x more potent as a result. This increases the risk of accelerating the growth of preexisting cancerous tumors on the prostate and the rate of hair loss on the vertex of the scalp (androgenic alopecia), as these locations are where DHT exhibits its most robust androgen signaling at the AR. Since RAD140 doesn’t exert its effects in problematic areas like the prostate, researchers became interested in its utility to provide neuroprotection for those at risk for developing neurodegenerative disorders. A study reported RAD140s ability to provide neuroprotection both in cell culture and rat models. In testosterone-deficient rats, RAD140 was able to protect neurons of the hippocampus (responsible for learning and memory) while simultaneously inducing significant levels of anabolic activity in both skeletal muscle and bone tissue [9,10].

Muscle Growth

The levator ani muscle, a group of 3 muscles located within the pelvis, is often used as a measure of anabolic activity in preclinical research involving anabolic/androgenic compounds. Below is an illustration of its anatomy in humans: The effect of increasing doses of RAD140 on the levator ani and prostate muscles of castrated rats was compared to a castrated control (vehicle), non-castrated control (sham), and testosterone propionate (TP) group [11]. The optimal result in a study like this is that the target tissue (levator ani) would be stimulated and that the prostate would not. And that’s exactly what happened here, as RAD140 stimulated the levator ani muscle beginning at a dose amount of 0.03mg/kg. The levator ani growth reached an amount equivalent to that of the sham group when the RAD140 group were administered a dose of 0.3mg/kg. The researchers were constantly observing the fact that RAD140 had failed to stimulate the prostate and seminal vesicles (another non-target tissue) equal to a dose of TP at 1mg/kg. Because of this, they decided to see what effect administering both TP and RAD140 would have. A high dose of RAD140 (10mg/kg) actually antagonized, or worked against, TP’s undesirable effects on seminal vesicles while simultaneously agonizing, or adding to, the beneficial effect that TP had on the levator ani; thus illustrating the optimal mechanism of action of a SARM.

Is RAD140 Better for Bulking or Cutting?

RAD140 is most often used for gaining size and strength when used recreationally. While this doesn’t mean it can’t be used for a cutting cycle, there are better options out there for that purpose, such as S4 (Andarine) or Ostarine (Enobosarm). RAD140 has also been reported to give users somewhat of a “dry” look to them, which would make for optimal “lean gains” during a bulking cycle or perhaps even make for a solid recomposition cycle.

Rad 140 Dosage

Recreational users of RAD140 often report using anywhere between 10-30mg/day for 8 weeks, regardless of what their body composition goal(s) are.

 

💊 RAD-140 Dosage & Effects Table

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📌 Notes:

• No aromatization, but mild estrogenic symptoms can occur due to HPTA disruption.

• Post Cycle Therapy (PCT) is highly recommended at 15+ mg/day doses.

• Best taken once daily (due to long half-life), ideally with food.

• Gains are dry, meaning minimal water retention.

How Does RAD140 Compare to Other SARMs?

Unfortunately, there isn’t any data available that directly compares RAD140 to other SARMs. However, using what we know about other SARMs both from preclinical data and anecdotal reports, we’re able to infer how RAD140 may compare performance-wise to other SARMs.

LGD-4033 (Ligandrol)

Most who use Ligandrol report it to be most beneficial during their bulking cycles, so it’d make sense to compare these two SARMs together. One could argue that Ligandrol is superior to RAD140 in terms of its muscle-building potential. But since more data is available on Ligandrol compared to RAD140, this argument may be skewed, as we simply don’t have enough evidence to prove such a case. But simply from lurking through anecdotal reports, these two SARMs appear relatively comparable in terms of strength and size gain.

S4 & S23

RAD140 has been compared to both S4 and S23 in terms of its ability to create a “dryer” appearance that one would desire when cutting. This is perhaps why people choose to use RAD140 for recomposition phases as well. But it still appears that S4 and S23 are superior for an all-out cutting cycle as opposed to RAD140.

Rad 140 Adverse Effects /Side Effects

Liver Toxicity

Liver enzymes are often negatively impacted by the ingestion of oral anabolic steroids, such as methandienone, or Dianabol. These types of steroids must undergo a chemical change called 17α-alkylation in order to successfully bypass the liver. This, in turn, can cause liver damage, known as hepatotoxicity [12,13]. RAD140 has perhaps the most impressive and astounding effects on liver profile compared to any other SARM to date. At 10x the established effective dose, researchers did not observe any significant elevations of liver enzymes in a preclinical model [11].

Lipid Profile

As with every other SARM that has been researched thus far, RAD140 exhibits a dose-dependent lowering of HDL (“good” cholesterol”), so it’s wise not to delve above the unofficial 30mg dosage cap for any lengthy period of time.

Testosterone Suppression

RAD140 is perhaps one of the most suppressive SARMs there is. Data conducted on monkeys with moderately high levels of testosterone (equivalent to 600ng/dL in human males between the ages of 25-54) had their testosterone levels lowered to a human equivalent of 200-300ng/dL when administered RAD140 for 28 days [11]. This suppression occurred regardless of the dosage amount, suggesting that RAD140 suppresses testosterone even at very low doses.

Post-Cycle Therapy (PCT)

It’s recommended that you complete a PCT after a cycle of RAD140. The half-life of RAD140 is 60 hours according to the only clinical trial ever conducted on the SARM [4]. Therefore PCT should begin between 2-3 days after the end of your cycle. It’s not necessary to include aromatase inhibitors in your PCT. Using a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) should suffice; the two most popular choices being either tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) or clomiphene (Clomid®). While using tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) is recommended due to its milder nature, some prefer the use of clomiphene (Clomid®). Either way, one or the other should be just fine. Rarely is it necessary to take both of these SERMs simultaneously in order to recover properly. No matter which one you choose, here’s what a simple 4-week PCT protocol would look like for these SERMS:

Week	Tamoxifen (Nolvadex®)	OR	Clomiphene (Clomid®)
1	40 mg/day		50 mg/day
2	40 mg/day		50 mg/day
3	20 mg/day		25 mg/day
4	20 mg/day		25 mg/day

Advanced Bloodwork Guide for RAD-140 Cycles

Monitor before, mid, and post-cycle:

Marker	Normal Range	What to Watch
Total Testosterone	300–1000 ng/dL	Expect suppression
LH / FSH	>1.5 IU/L	Usually suppressed
ALT / AST	<40 U/L	Mild increases possible
HDL (Good Chol.)	>40 mg/dL	Often decreases
PSA (Males)	<1.4 ng/mL	Track with caution
Estradiol (E2)	10–40 pg/mL	Can drop post-cycle

Suggested Add-ons:

• Bloods at weeks 0, 5, and 2 weeks post-cycle
• Test again 4 weeks after PCT for HPTA status

Suppression & Recovery: What the Data Shows

Suppression Timeline:

• Begins within 1–2 weeks
• Peaks around week 3–5
• Recovery without PCT can take 4–12 weeks (longer with higher dosages)

Clinical Data:

• 28-day RAD140 use in primates: testosterone dropped from 600 ng/dL to ~200–300 ng/dL
• Suppression occurred at all doses (even 0.1 mg/kg)

Recovery Protocol (PCT):

• Tamoxifen (Nolvadex): 40/40/20/20 mg
• Clomiphene (Clomid): 50/50/25/25 mg
• Begin PCT ~2 days after final RAD140 dose
• Bloodwork at week 4 post-PCT confirms recovery

Synergistic Stacks for 2025

Bulking Stack:

• RAD140: 20 mg/day
• MK-677: 20–25 mg/day (GH release + hunger)
• Creatine Monohydrate: 5 g/day
• Support: NAC, Omega-3s, Ashwagandha

Cutting Stack:

• RAD140: 10–15 mg/day
• S4 (Andarine): 25–50 mg/day (dry, vascular)
• Berberine: 500 mg pre-carb meals (insulin control)
• Support: Tudca, Fish Oil, Glucose Disposal Agent

Recomp Stack:

• RAD140: 15 mg/day
• Cardarine (GW-501516): 10–20 mg/day (endurance + fat loss)
• L-Carnitine: 1000–2000 mg IM or oral (fatty acid mobilization)
• Support: Multivitamin, P5P, Zinc

Legal Status and Sourcing (2025)

• RAD140 remains unapproved for human use (FDA)
• WADA Banned Substance (tested athletes: avoid)
• Research-only: ensure sourcing includes 3rd-party COAs

Trusted lab sourcing is critical due to contamination risks.

Final Thoughts

RAD140 (Testolone) is one of the most potent SARMs for raw lean muscle gain — but it comes with serious HPTA suppression and potential lipid disruption. Whether you’re stacking it with peptides, cutting hard, or using it in a recomp, the key is bloodwork, smart PCT, and support supplements.

🧬 RAD-140 – 2025 Research & Real-World Update

🔬 Latest Clinical Findings (2023–2025)

1. Liver Toxicity Cases Increase

RAD-140 continues to be associated with elevated liver enzymes in both clinical trials and user-reported bloodwork. In 2023, several case studies documented severe drug-induced liver injury in otherwise healthy men supplementing with grey-market Testolone. One 26-year-old user developed jaundice and abdominal pain within 8 weeks of use; his ALT and AST were over 5x the upper limit. Liver function normalized after cessation.

Another 24-year-old recreational user showed cholestatic liver injury requiring hospitalization, further cementing RAD-140’s hepatic risks when improperly dosed or sourced.

2. Cardiac Risk: Myopericarditis Case

A 2024 case report documented myopericarditis in a 16-year-old athlete following a single RAD-140 dose obtained online. Inflammation markers, ECG abnormalities, and chest pain resolved after withdrawal, but the incident raised new concerns about potential inflammatory reactions.

3. Updated Human Trial Data

Ongoing Phase 1b/2a trials (Vosilasarm) for estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer show:

• Dose range: 50–150mg/day
• Increased lean mass and BMD
• Elevations in liver enzymes (>ALT/AST at higher doses)
• No virilization or estrogenic side effects

4. Neuroprotective Effects in Preclinical Models

A 2025 mouse model demonstrated RAD-140 may exert neuroprotective effects in trauma-induced neurodegeneration. RAD-140 reduced inflammatory microglia activation and preserved synaptic plasticity—prompting speculation around its potential in TBI or Alzheimer’s therapy.

🧪 Suppression Severity: 2025 Re-Evaluation

RAD-140 remains one of the more suppressive SARMs, with multiple users reporting:

• Total testosterone <200 ng/dL after 6–8 weeks at 20mg/day
• Significant LH/FSH suppression by week 3
• Sluggish mood, libido decline, and fatigue noted without PCT

Best practices now include running Clomid or Nolvadex for 4–6 weeks post cycle even at lower dosages.

Reddit anecdotal logs consistently report:

• 10mg/day cycles = mild suppression
• 20–30mg/day = harsh suppression, often requiring bloodwork-guided recovery

🧬 Pharmacokinetics & Half-Life Clarification

• Half-life: ~16–20 hours (confirmed via plasma PK in human data)
• Time to peak: ~2 hours
• Detection window: 7–21 days depending on dose and assay
• No known active metabolites with androgenic conversion

Newer data suggest oral bioavailability may be enhanced by co-administering with a fatty meal (e.g. MCT oil or whole eggs).

📊 2025 Real-World Rad140 Results Summary Table

Dose	Duration	Muscle Gain	Fat Loss	Suppression	Side Effects
10mg/day	8 weeks	+4–6 lbs	Mild	Moderate	Mild lethargy
20mg/day	8 weeks	+8–10 lbs	Good	High	Libido crash, ALT rise
30mg/day	6 weeks	+10–12 lbs	High	Severe	Liver stress, acne

Stacking with MK-677, LGD-4033, or YK-11 was reported to increase both muscle mass and suppression, requiring stronger post-cycle therapy.

🔄 Stacking Synergy — RAD-140 in Modern Cycles

Bulking Stack (Intermediate):

• RAD-140: 20mg/day (8 weeks)
• MK-677: 25mg/day (12 weeks)
• Support: NAC 1,200mg/day + Tudca 500mg/day
• PCT: Nolvadex 20/20/10/10 mg/week (4 weeks)

Cutting Stack (Advanced):

• RAD-140: 15mg/day
• S4 (Andarine): 25mg twice daily
• Cardarine: 10–20mg/day for endurance
• Support: Fish oil, citrus bergamot, Tudca
• PCT: Clomid 50/25/25/25 mg/week

RAD-140 shows excellent synergy with MK-677 and LGD-4033 when muscle preservation and lean gain are primary goals. Users attempting recomp cycles often report it outperforms other SARMs in strength retention.

🧠 User Feedback (2024–2025)

Collected from forums, Reddit, and Discord logs:

• “RAD-140 made me feel like I was on mild TRT — strength through the roof but crashed libido hard.”
• “Even at 10mg, I saw great size gains. Needed Nolva though — my LH tanked.”
• “30mg/day wrecked my bloodwork. ALT went from 32 to 92. I’m done with SARMs unless bloods are in place.”
• “Stacked it with MK and YK and put on 14lbs in 6 weeks. Dry gains, but my HDL dropped.”

Common real-world feedback:

• Gains feel “dry and dense”
• Appetite increase is minor compared to MK-677
• Joint pain may increase due to rapid strength rise

📎 References

• 2023 JAMA Case Report: RAD-140 Hepatotoxicity (Case #426)
• Sports Integrity Australia Warning Bulletin, 2024
• Vosilasarm Breast Cancer Clinical Trial (2023–2025)
• 2025 Rodent Neuroprotection Study (Shanghai Med Sci)
• Reddit r/sarmslogs feedback summary (2024)
• Suppression journals (Testosterone data logs 2024–2025)
• Anecdotal recovery protocols (Clomid/Nolva stack studies)

 

References

1. Yu, Z., He, S., Wang, D., Patel, H. K., Miller, C. P., Brown, J. L., Hattersley, G., & Saeh, J. C. (2017). Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator RAD140 Inhibits the Growth of Androgen/Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer Models with a Distinct Mechanism of Action. Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, 23(24), 7608–7620. https://doi.org/10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-17-0670
2. Donaldson V. H. (1989). Danazol. The American journal of medicine, 87(3N), 49N–55N.
3. Yu, Z., He, S., Wang, D., Patel, H. K., Miller, C. P., Brown, J. L., Hattersley, G., & Saeh, J. C. (2017). Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator RAD140 Inhibits the Growth of Androgen/Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer Models with a Distinct Mechanism of Action. Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, 23(24), 7608–7620. https://doi.org/10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-17-0670
4. Phase 1, first-in-Human study of RAD140 in postmenopausal women with breast cancer. (2017). ClinicalTrials.gov. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT03088527
5. Moffat, S. D., Zonderman, A. B., Metter, E. J., Kawas, C., Blackman, M. R., Harman, S. M., & Resnick, S. M. (2004). Free testosterone and risk for Alzheimer disease in older men. Neurology, 62(2), 188–193. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.62.2.188
6. Rosario, E. R., Carroll, J. C., Oddo, S., LaFerla, F. M., & Pike, C. J. (2006). Androgens regulate the development of neuropathology in a triple transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 26(51), 13384–13389. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2514-06.2006
7. Leranth, C., Hajszan, T., & MacLusky, N. J. (2004). Androgens increase spine synapse density in the CA1 hippocampal subfield of ovariectomized female rats. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 24(2), 495–499. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4516-03.2004
8. Mozayani. (2007). Handbook of drug interactions: A clinical and forensic guide.
9. Anand, K. S., & Dhikav, V. (2012). Hippocampus in health and disease: An overview. Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology, 15(4), 239–246. https://doi.org/10.4103/0972-2327.104323
10. Jayaraman, A., Christensen, A., Moser, V. A., Vest, R. S., Miller, C. P., Hattersley, G., & Pike, C. J. (2014). Selective androgen receptor modulator RAD140 is neuroprotective in cultured neurons and kainate-lesioned male rats. Endocrinology, 155(4), 1398–1406. https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2013-1725
11. Miller, C. P., Shomali, M., Lyttle, C. R., O’Dea, L. S., Herendeen, H., Gallacher, K., Paquin, D., Compton, D. R., Sahoo, B., Kerrigan, S. A., Burge, M. S., Nickels, M., Green, J. L., Katzenellenbogen, J. A., Tchesnokov, A., & Hattersley, G. (2010). Design, Synthesis, and Preclinical Characterization of the Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator (SARM) RAD140. ACS medicinal chemistry letters, 2(2), 124–129. https://doi.org/10.1021/ml1002508
12. Girgis, C. M., Kuo, I., & Handelsman,, D. J. (2014). Acute hepatitis and fevers in an amateur body-builder: A new complication of synthetic androgen abuse? Endocrine Practice, 20(8), e130-e133. https://doi.org/10.4158/ep14034.cr
13. Bond, P., Llewellyn, W., & Van Mol, P. (2016). Anabolic androgenic steroid-induced hepatotoxicity. Medical hypotheses, 93, 150–153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2016.06.004