Ibutamoren (MK-677)

MK-677 is one of the most interesting investigational drugs that’s being used (read abused) currently by athletes and bodybuilders.

Interesting because it’s neither a steroid nor a SARM.

But it comes with two very juicy terms attached to it, Insulin like growth factor-1 and Growth Hormone.

Anyone worth his salt would know that this combination is a short cut for anabolism.

Muscle growth, strength, preventing muscle wasting, name it and these two terms will find a mention in it. 

Moreover, it is probably the only compound in the world that you can use for up to 8-9 months a year. Makes it perfect for cruising.

You can club it with other SARMS for short term cycles or steroids even.

Unlike exogenous GH, which is obscenely priced and incredibly difficult to source, MK-677 is easily available in underground labs.

Why we even found someone peddling it on Instagram. (We wouldn’t be caught dead buying from such sources though)

So, if you were hoping to jump on to the whole GH stimulation bandwagon with MK, then here’s what you need to know about it.

An overview of MK-677

Ibutamoren or MK-677 is a ghrelin mimetic GH secretagogue.

We know that sounds like some dope from the Star Wars movies. But that term best explains how this drug works.

It mimics the action of Ghrelin, which is the hunger hormone in the body but is also associated with our circadian rhythms.

And it stimulates the release of naturally occurring Growth hormone in the body which in turn also increases the levels of IGF-1.

Ibutamoren was discovered in the early part of the 1990s and has been studied extensively since then for its potential therapeutic applications.

Particularly, as a safer alternative for exogenous hormone replacement in teens and adolescents who lack GH.

As we briefly mentioned, there are multiple reasons why it is considered to be a better bet than exogenous GH.

Firstly, it increases the body’s natural GH production by up to 40%. Secondly, it has excellent oral bioavailability. You do not need to pin. Just gulp it down (probably tastes like Sulfuric acid, but still) with fruit juice.

Almost forgot to mention that it’s cheaper.

The effects with Ibutamoren or MK-677

Ibutamoren is a very potent, but slow acting compound which will take a while to kick in.

The problem with gym rats these days is that anything that doesn’t help them pile on a boatload of mass (90% of it fat and water) is trashed as being ineffective.

To truly understand the effect of this compound, it must be used for at least 6-months. And while it may not be the best of choices for hypertrophy, it will help you in ways that no other compound does.

Sleep:

Sleep is probably the most underrated aspect of anabolism. This is the time when the secretion of anabolic hormones like GH, Testosterone and IGF-1 is at its peak. By taking MK-677 an hour before you hit the sack, you will notice a dramatic improvement in sleep quality. There is an instant spike in GH levels and this helps you maximize the anabolic window. Most bodybuilders who struggled to get good, restful sleep report how Ibutamoren completely changes the way they feel the next day. You feel more focused, alert and your concentration improves.

Muscle retention:

We spoke about how MK-677 stimulates the release of hormones that prime your body for growth of new muscle tissue. But surprisingly, this compound really shines in a cutting phase or when you come off a steroid cycle. It helps you retain muscle like no other compound does. There are bodybuilders who have used this for 6-8 months without any other compound and have not lost even a pound of muscle. That’s a tall order folks.

Muscle quality:

One aspect of MK-677 that doesn’t receive as much attention is the quality of the muscle you build while you are on it. The muscles are full and hard. There will probably be a little water retention especially in the first few weeks. But once you shed the water weight, these are gains that you can keep.

Hunger:

It’s a Ghrelin Mimetic, remember? Get ready to eat like a horse while you using MK-677. This might be beneficial or counterproductive to your goals. But it is one of the most pronounced effects of using the compound.

Immunity:

MK-677 strengthens your immunity. Your body will stave off flus, allergies and other seasonal disorders so easily that you might not even notice it.

What are the side effects of MK-677?

MK-677 is pretty safe at recommended doses and side effects if any are very easily manageable.

• Lethargy: Some users sleep uninterrupted for almost 12-hours while using MK-677 which makes them groggy and tired the next day. If you experience this, then you can either taper down the dose for a while or split the dosage to twice a day.
• Water retention: People react differently to the drug. But Ibutamoren tends to make you hold on to water for as long as you take it. A lot of users stick to a low-carb or keto diet to negate this effect to an extent.
• Cramps: Once again, an individualistic reaction. Some people get nasty muscle cramps while using MK.

Dosage and stacks

A good starting dose for a short-term cycle of 10-12 weeks would be 20-25mg/day.

But there’s an argument that a 12-week cycle would be too short to notice any serious gains from using MK-677.

If you plan to use it for 6-months or so, then start off with 10mg/day for a few weeks and up it to 15mg/day for the remainder of the cycle.

Always watch how your body reacts to a drug, analyze and readjust accordingly.

To sum it up

MK-677 is considered to be one of the safest compounds that you can use for performance enhancement.

That’s provided you find a legitimate source to buy it from.

There were some concerns of a contaminated batch doing the rounds recently from all three Chinese manufactures who used to export it to the US.

So, we’d be doubly careful about where we buy this from.