Pharmacology & biology

SARM

Also known as: sarms · selective androgen receptor modulator

A selective androgen receptor modulator — a class that acts on the androgen receptor, and which MK-677 is routinely and wrongly lumped into.

In plain terms

SARMs bind the androgen receptor, the same receptor testosterone acts on, and are designed to favour muscle and bone over prostate and skin. They are a distinct pharmacological class from peptides and from growth hormone secretagogues.

Ibutamoren (MK-677) is the compound most often mis-sold as a SARM. It is not one. It never touches the androgen receptor: it is a non-peptide ghrelin receptor agonist that raises growth hormone. The mislabelling matters because the side-effect profiles are entirely different — a SARM raises questions about testosterone suppression, while ibutamoren raises questions about blood glucose and fluid retention.

Why it matters

If a seller lists MK-677 under “SARMs”, they are telling you something about how carefully they classify what they sell.

Compounds where this comes up

Small Molecule Drug

Ibutamoren (MK-677)

Guides that use this term

Growth hormone secretagogues: what they can and can’t do

CJC-1295, ipamorelin and MK-677 reliably raise growth hormone and IGF-1 in humans. What the trials have not shown is that raising those numbers produces the outcomes people take them for.

Educational reference only. Pepperz does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, prescribing guidance, or dosing recommendations.