RAD-140 (Testolone)
Also known as: RAD-140, Testolone, RAD140, RAD 140
The most potent widely used SARM — strong effect, strong suppression, and the compound in this class with the most documented cases of liver injury.
Substance family
Non-steroidal compounds binding the same androgen receptor as testosterone, but favouring muscle and bone over prostate and hair. The selectivity is real; the suppression of the body's own production is not avoided by it. None is approved anywhere.
Effects on
Which outcomes this substance acts on — descriptive, not a recommendation.
Strain profile
Where this substance is most likely to hit — a rough orientation, individually dependent on dose, duration and predisposition.
Dosing & protocols by goal
Rough orientation ranges as reported in harm-reduction literature — not an individual treatment plan. Doses are individual and open-ended; frequency depends on the ester or half-life.
Approved medical use
MedicalDose
—
Frequency
—
Cycle length
—
None. Development reached early trials for breast cancer and never progressed to an approval.
Muscle gain (grey market practice)
AdvancedDose
5–10 mg / day
Frequency
1× daily
Cycle length
6–8 weeks
SuppressionSuppressionThe body shutting down its own testosterone production because an external source is present. at this dose is comparable to a moderate steroid cycle. A recovery plan is required, not optional.
Higher doses
AdvancedDose
> 10 mg / day
Frequency
1× daily
Cycle length
—
Case reports of severe liver injury cluster at higher doses and longer durations. There is no safety data supporting this range.
Side effect & countermeasure
Typical problems and what you can do to reduce harm — at a glance. Does not replace medical monitoring.
Problem
Documented cases of severe liver injury
Countermeasure
This is the risk that separates RAD-140 from the milder SARMsSARMsA non-steroidal compound that binds the androgen receptor with claimed tissue selectivity.. Published case reports describe drug-induced liver injury, in some cases requiring hospitalisation, at doses within the commonly used range. Check ALT, AST, GGT and bilirubin before, during and after. Jaundice, dark urine or persistent upper abdominal pain means stop immediately and see a doctor.
Problem
Strong suppression of the hormonal axis
Countermeasure
Comparable to a moderate steroid cycle and not comparable to ostarine. Measure LH, FSH and testosterone before and after; a structured recovery plan with tamoxifen or enclomiphene applies exactly as it would after steroids. The long half-lifehalf-lifeHow long it takes for half the substance to leave the body — it determines dosing frequency, not duration of effect. means the recovery phase starts later than the last dose.
Problem
Underestimated because it is oral and non-steroidal
Countermeasure
Neither property makes it mild. RAD-140 is the most potent SARMSARMA non-steroidal compound that binds the androgen receptor with claimed tissue selectivity. in circulation, and its side-effect profile reflects that. Treating it as a lighter alternative to testosterone is the most consequential misjudgement around this substance.
Problem
Lowered HDL, rising blood pressure
Countermeasure
Cardio, omega-3, possibly citrus bergamot; measure blood pressure at home. Baseline lipids before starting.
Problem
Aggression and mood changes
Countermeasure
Frequently reported and dose-dependent. Take feedback from people around you seriously; if it persists, the dose is too high or the substance is not suitable.
Problem
Contaminated and mislabelled product
Countermeasure
Products sold as RAD-140 have been found to contain other SARMsSARMsA non-steroidal compound that binds the androgen receptor with claimed tissue selectivity., wrong doses or prohormones. Only sources with an independent HPLC/MS analysis.
Overview
RAD-140, sold as Testolone, is the most potent of the widely used SARMs. Development began for breast cancer treatment and never reached an approval, so what exists in humans is early trial data and a growing set of case reports.
Its reputation in the scene is as the SARM that comes closest to steroids in effect. That is accurate — and the side-effect profile follows the same logic.
Mechanism of Action
Like all SARMs, RAD-140 binds the androgen receptor with a preference for muscle and bone tissue over prostate and hair follicles. What distinguishes it is binding strength: it activates the receptor considerably more strongly than ostarine, which is where the stronger anabolic effect comes from.
The same strength drives the suppression. The hypothalamus reads androgen receptor activation and shuts down LH accordingly — and it does so more thoroughly here than with the milder compounds. Suppression at typical doses is comparable to a moderate steroid cycle.
The half-life of around sixty hours is worth noting for a practical reason: it means levels accumulate over the first week, and it delays when a recovery phase can meaningfully begin after the last dose.
The liver is where RAD-140 differs most from the rest of the class. Published case reports describe drug-induced liver injury, including cases requiring hospitalisation, at doses within the range people commonly use. The mechanism is not fully characterised, but the pattern is consistent enough that liver monitoring here is not a formality.
Typical Context
Five to ten milligrams daily over six to eight weeks. It is often chosen by people who want a stronger effect than ostarine without injections.
That reasoning contains the central error. Avoiding injections does not avoid the hormonal consequences, and RAD-140 in particular is not a lighter alternative to testosterone — it is a compound with steroid-comparable suppression, an oral route that involves the liver, and no completed safety trial behind it. A testosterone cycle at least has decades of documented experience; this does not.
A recovery plan is required, and the long half-life means it starts later than the last capsule.
Side Effects & Risks
- Severe liver injury, documented in case reports at commonly used doses
- Strong suppression of LH and the body's own testosterone production
- Lowered HDL
- Elevated blood pressure
- Aggression, irritability, mood changes
- Headache, fatigue during suppression
- Frequently contaminated or mislabelled product
- Long detection window in doping tests
Blood Work & Monitoring
- Liver values (ALT, AST, GGT, bilirubin) — before, during and after; the key markers for this substance
- LH, FSH and total testosterone — before and after, to judge whether recovery is needed
- Lipid profile (LDL, HDL, triglycerides)
- Blood pressure — measured at home
- Estradiol (sensitive) — falls with testosterone under suppression
Harm-Reduction Notes
- Liver monitoring is not optional here — the case reports are at ordinary doses, not extreme ones
- Jaundice, dark urine or persistent upper abdominal pain: stop and see a doctor
- Plan a recovery phase from the start; suppression is comparable to a steroid cycle
- The 60-hour half-life delays when recovery can begin after the last dose
- Do not combine with oral steroids or alcohol
- Being oral and non-steroidal does not make it mild
- Only sources with an independent analysis
Legal status by region
Regulation differs considerably between jurisdictions and changes over time. This is a rough orientation, not legal advice — check the rules that apply where you are.
| Region | Regulatory status |
|---|---|
| United States | Not approved; FDA warning issuedThe FDA has warned explicitly about liver injury and cardiovascular risk with SARMs. |
| EU / UK | No marketing authorisation |
| Most other jurisdictions | Unregulated grey areaLegal to possess in many places because no framework covers it. |
| Competitive sport | Prohibited at all timesListed by WADA under S1.2. |