SARMs and High Blood Pressure

SARMs and High Blood Pressure: What Every Lifter Should Actually Know

Here’s the deal—when most people start researching SARMs, the focus is on the muscle, the shred, the scale going up or down. But one thing that often gets brushed aside until it’s too late? Blood pressure.

Yep. That subtle-but-deadly metric can quietly creep up during a cycle, and you won’t know until the headaches hit or your veins feel like they’re vibrating at rest. While SARMs were designed to be selective (meaning they mostly target muscle and bone), they still have systemic effects—some of which can directly or indirectly affect blood pressure.

In this article, we’re diving into:

Why SARMs mess with your blood pressure in the first place
The worst SARMs for BP elevation
The ones that are relatively safer
Real lifter case examples
How to track and mitigate elevated BP
A protocol for protecting yourself while cycling

Why Do SARMs Affect Blood Pressure?

Even though SARMs don’t hit the prostate or liver like traditional anabolic steroids, they still tweak your body’s hormones and systems. And when hormones shift, so does everything else—especially fluid retention, heart rate, and vascular tone.

Here are some of the big reasons blood pressure tends to rise:

Test suppression: When SARMs suppress your natural testosterone, your body may overproduce stress-related hormones like cortisol and aldosterone, both known to mess with BP.
Increased hematocrit: More red blood cells = thicker blood = harder work for your heart.
Sympathetic nervous system stimulation: Some SARMs like RAD-140 seem to keep your nervous system in “go mode,” raising your resting heart rate and BP.
Water retention: Not as dramatic as with Dbol or Anadrol, but subtle increases in fluid volume can still push BP up.

SARMs That Are Worst for Blood Pressure (Real Feedback and Patterns)

1. RAD-140 (Testolone)

This one’s a favorite for sheer strength and mass, but it also comes with a stimulant-like edge. Users frequently report:

Elevated heart rate at rest
Hot flashes
Irritability
Blood pressure climbing into the 140s/90s range by week 4 or 5

Example: A 29-year-old male running 20mg/day saw his BP shift from a baseline 122/78 to 144/88 by the fifth week. He also reported flushed skin and restless sleep.

2. YK-11

YK-11 isn’t technically a true SARM, but more of a myostatin inhibitor with anabolic properties. It’s a heavy hitter, but it can cause stress on the kidneys and liver—two systems tightly linked to BP control.

Example: One user on 10mg/day reported rising blood pressure after just three weeks and persistent headaches. Pressure normalized post-cycle, but it left a mark.

3. LGD-4033 (Ligandrol)

Mild-to-moderate suppression paired with low-grade water retention makes this one a mid-level offender.

Example: A 33-year-old male running 15mg/day noted his BP rise from 118/76 to 138/86 over four weeks. No major symptoms, but definitely something to track.

SARMs That Are Gentler on Blood Pressure

Not all SARMs carry this side effect baggage. Some are more forgiving on the cardiovascular side, especially when dosed conservatively:

1. Ostarine (MK-2866)

The go-to beginner SARM, and one of the cleanest in terms of side effects.

Mild suppression
No significant CNS stimulation
Doesn’t noticeably spike BP at doses below 20mg

2. S4 (Andarine)

While S4 has a rep for causing vision issues, it’s generally mild on blood pressure unless stacked.

No significant heart rate spikes
Minimal water retention

3. Cardarine (GW-501516)

Technically not a SARM, but often used alongside them.

Can lower blood pressure in some users
Promotes fat oxidation and endurance

If you’re stacking and want a compound to help offset BP elevation, Cardarine can be a smart inclusion.

Case Study: What Happens When You Stack the Wrong SARMs

User Profile: 35-year-old male
Stack: RAD-140 (20mg), YK-11 (10mg), LGD-4033 (10mg)
Goal: Aggressive lean bulk

By week 5:

Resting heart rate: 92 bpm
BP: 152/92
Symptoms: Headaches, tight chest, flushed face, irritability, poor sleep

The fix:

Dropped the suppressive stack
Switched to Ostarine + Cardarine
Added taurine (4g/day), magnesium glycinate, and Hawthorn Berry extract

Within 10 days, BP dropped back under 130/80.

How to Track Blood Pressure on SARMs (Without Being Obsessed)

Don’t be that guy who guesses how he feels and assumes he’s fine. Here’s how to check yourself:

Use an upper-arm BP cuff, not a wrist one
Measure BP first thing in the morning before caffeine or training
Log it 3-4x per week during and after cycle
Watch for symptoms like pulsing in the ears, dizziness, or pressure in the head

Long-Term Risks of Ignoring Blood Pressure

While short-term BP elevation may seem minor, prolonged high blood pressure can cause:

Left ventricular hypertrophy (heart thickening)
Damage to kidneys and blood vessels
Increased stroke and heart attack risk—even in lifters under 40
Hormonal rebound issues post-cycle

This is why it’s essential to treat high BP as a red flag and not just a “side effect.”

Blood Pressure Mitigation Protocol (During SARMs Cycle)

Use this as a baseline mitigation protocol to protect yourself:

Daily (Morning)

Magnesium glycinate: 400mg
Taurine: 2g (empty stomach)
Omega-3s (fish oil): 2g EPA/DHA combined

Daily (Evening)

CoQ10: 100mg with food
Garlic extract: 500mg
Hawthorn Berry: 500mg

Cycle Support Add-ons (optional)

Celery seed extract: 75-150mg
Hibiscus tea: 1-2 cups per day

Lifestyle tactics:

No stimulants after 2pm
20-30 min LISS cardio 3x/week
Minimum 7 hours sleep
Sodium under 2,000mg/day
Avoid overlapping suppressive compounds

Final Word: Is the BP Risk Worth It?

That depends on your baseline health, your goals, and how responsibly you approach your enhancement phase.

If you’re already hypertensive? SARMs might not be your best bet.

If you’re young, healthy, and track everything like a pro? You can probably mitigate the BP impact with smart dosing, smart stacking, and even smarter recovery.

Key Takeaways: