RAD-150 vs. RAD-140: Which is the Superior SARM?

Dr. George TouliatosDisclaimer: Only researchers are authorized to administer SARMs, as they are not FDA-approved and may cause adverse effects. Dr. Touliatos is available for consultation should readers have any questions or concerns.


Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) are gaining traction in bodybuilding due to their legal status when sold for experimental use.

SARMs are designed to mitigate the side effects of anabolic steroids via tissue selectivity, which involves specifically targeting androgen receptors. Thus, their objective is to stimulate receptors that promote anabolism rather than those that cause side effects.

SARMs aim to mimic the same benefits as anabolic steroids, albeit with less potency. However, we have found that SARMs reproduce several of the same side effects as anabolic steroids, while producing less overall anabolic activity.

Despite the potential cardiotoxic and hepatotoxic effects of SARMs, users may experience increases in:

  • Muscle mass
  • Muscular strength
  • Fat loss
  • Endurance

Consequently, various drug testing organizations have listed SARMs, including RAD-140 and RAD-150, as prohibited substances. The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) states that SARMs can provide athletes with an unfair advantage due to their anabolic properties. USADA also states that SARMs can pose health risks to athletes and the general public, as there are limited long-term studies demonstrating their safety in humans.

What is RAD-140?

RAD-140 infographic
RAD-140 (Testolone) can produce significant results with moderate side effects. RAD-140 is similar to testosterone in the anabolic steroid world, with its reward-to-risk ratio being more favorable than several other SARMs.

Based on our observations, RAD-140 may increase lean muscle mass by up to 10 pounds during a cycle. This weight gain can make a notable difference in appearance, considering users are simultaneously burning fat.

We have also seen users’ strength increase by 50 pounds on compound exercises from their first RAD-140 cycle. Thus, RAD-140 may produce disproportionately large strength gains relative to muscle growth, making it a more appealing SARM for bodybuilders or powerlifters prioritizing strength improvements over muscle hypertrophy.

Gary Hattersley, the chief scientific officer of Radius Health, states that RAD-140 shows potential as a therapeutic agent for cancer patients due to its unique mechanism of action. Hattersley explains that tumors resistant to conventional estrogen receptor (ER)-targeted therapies may be effectively treated with RAD-140 because it selectively stimulates the androgen receptor, which can inhibit tumor growth. Importantly, this mechanism does not significantly impact reproductive tissues and therefore may reduce the risk of exacerbating estrogen-related cancers.

What is RAD-150?

RAD-150 infographic
RAD-150 (TLB-150) is an esterified form of RAD-140 with an added benzoate ester. This modification increases the compound’s half-life, resulting in steadier blood concentrations.

Patricia LoRusso, a leading researcher on the effects of RAD-140, states that, in her experience, the SARM’s half-life in humans is approximately 45 hours. In contrast, RAD-150 is expected to remain in the system for an extended period, delaying the onset of peak effects. Therefore, RAD-150 may cause fewer side effects in individuals who are sensitive to RAD-140. However, athletes who are being drug tested commonly favor RAD-140 due to its shorter elimination time.

Findings and Observations

RAD-150 appears to exhibit slightly lower hepatotoxic and lipid-altering effects than RAD-140, with approximately 15% fewer changes in cholesterol levels and liver enzymes.

However, we have found that RAD-150 can produce greater testosterone suppression in patients, potentially due to its longer half-life and prolonged androgen receptor activation. Thus, it is increasingly important to utilize an effective post-cycle therapy (PCT) with RAD-150 to recover natural testosterone levels. This recovery process may take a few weeks longer for RAD-150, due to the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis (HPTA) being more affected. Therefore, men struggling with low natural testosterone levels may prefer RAD-140 supplementation, with it potentially having a less detrimental effect on androgen hormones.

Our patients who have used RAD-150 have experienced muscle gains that are 10–15% greater than those in patients using RAD-140. Strength improvements are even more significant with RAD-150, approaching a 20% increase. Therefore, bodybuilders seeking maximum results when bulking are likely to be more satisfied with RAD-150’s anabolic potency.

Disclosure: We do not accept any form of advertising on Inside Bodybuilding. We monetize our practice through doctor consultations and carefully selected supplement recommendations, which have produced excellent results for our patients.

Best SARMs Company in 2026

Chemyo

Chemyo products

Chemyo is our recommended SARM source worldwide. They guarantee a minimum purity of 99% on all products.

Chemyo offers excellent international shipping, allowing overseas researchers to access high-quality SARMs.

US orders are delivered within 2–5 days, while international orders typically arrive in 4–7 days.

Use discount code INSIDE10 for 10% off.

Sports Technology Labs

Sports Technology Labs

Sports Technology Labs is a highly cost-effective US SARM source, offering purity levels exceeding 98%, as confirmed by their certificates of analysis.

Sports Technology Labs also has a no-credit-card-fee policy, whereas other sources may charge up to 10%.

Sports Technology Labs does not currently provide shipping outside the US.

Use discount code INSIDE15 for 15% off.

Dose

SARM companies typically dose RAD-150 lower than RAD-140 due to its extra potency.

In our experience, a standard cycle of RAD-150 is dosed at 10–15 mg/day for 8 weeks. Novice users might opt for the lower end of this dosage to gradually acclimate to the SARM. In contrast, intermediate users often choose higher doses to maintain progress in strength and size.

We recommend that RAD-150 and RAD-140 users refrain from extending cycles beyond 8 weeks to minimize hepatotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, and testosterone suppression.

Cost

RAD-150 is slightly more expensive per bottle compared to RAD-140.

In the table below, you can see how Sports Technology Labs’ prices compare for these two SARMs.

SARM PriceVolumeConcentration
RAD-140$64.9930 mL15 mg/mL
RAD-150$69.9930 mL10 mg/mL

For those on a budget, choosing powder versions of RAD-140 and RAD-150 can considerably lower the overall cost compared to liquid forms.

Taste

Our patients have stated that RAD-150 tastes more pleasant, which can be attributed to the addition of the new benzoate ester.

Adding RAD-140 to juice can help mask the unpleasant taste that some users consider unpalatable. We have not observed any negative impact on overall results from this method of mixing.

Anabolism

Research in monkeys shows a 10% increase in mass after a RAD-140 dose of 0.1 mg/kg per day for 28 days [1]. This would translate to 7.5 mg per day for a 75 kg man. Dosages exceeding 0.1 mg/kg did not produce any further increases in mass. Researchers also found that liver enzymes and prostate mass in the monkeys remained stable.

A rodent study indicated that a RAD-140 dose of 3 mg/kg per day produced the same amount of muscle gains as a 1 mg/kg dose of testosterone [2]. Thus, at very high doses, RAD-140 may rival the muscle-building effects of some anabolic steroids. However, 3 mg/kg of RAD-140 per day in humans is likely to yield severe side effects.

There is also evidence that high doses of RAD-140 can cause muscle atrophy, as rodents at risk of sarcopenia had a higher mortality risk when taking 5 mg/kg/day of RAD-140 [3].

Neuroprotection

Research has shown that androgens possess neuroprotective qualities [4]. We have also observed the same cognitive-enhancing effects with RAD-140 in patients, suggesting potential for the treatment of dementia-related diseases.

RAD-140 may be considered a more optimal treatment than testosterone for dementia-related diseases, as testosterone can cause prostatic hyperplasia. However, RAD-140 would need to demonstrate acceptable safety in humans before it is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of neurological conditions.

There is a lack of medical research conducted on RAD-150, so despite some promising early findings, it remains an experimental SARM.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which SARM is More Common?

RAD-140 was created first and has been more extensively studied; thus, some bodybuilders are more inclined to administer it. In comparison, RAD-150 is a more recently developed SARM; therefore, its effects are less established.

Is RAD-140 or RAD-150 Safe?

There is insufficient clinical research to suggest that RAD-140 or RAD-150 is safe. RAD-140 and RAD-150 are only legal for experimental purposes, and thus, human consumption is prohibited.

Our experience suggests that SARMs like RAD-140 replicate some of the anabolic effects of steroids but with less overall anabolic activity and similar side effects.

Dr. Thomas O’Connor has treated hundreds of patients who have used RAD-140 and other SARMs, and he says that, at moderate doses, these substances lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels and worsen liver enzyme function. Therefore, it could be dangerous for individuals to utilize SARMs, including RAD-140 or RAD-150, if their hepatic or cardiac health is less than optimal.

Is RAD-140 or RAD-150 Suppressive?

RAD-140 and RAD-150 are both suppressive SARMs, and therefore, PCT is commonly implemented upon cycle cessation to accelerate endogenous testosterone recovery.

Dr. George Touliatos states that he has observed hypogonadism in patients who have used SARMs, including RAD-140 and RAD-150. He also says that PCT may be necessary to restore optimal testosterone production.

Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) such as Nolvadex and Clomid typically produce positive results in restoring HPTA function. Without PCT, it can take several weeks for users’ testosterone levels to return to normal following RAD-140 and RAD-150 cycles.

RAD-150 can be more suppressive than RAD-140, potentially requiring a couple of PCT medications for swift recovery. Therefore, RAD-150 may be a less appealing SARM for men struggling with low natural testosterone levels.

Is it Necessary to Take Liver Support with RAD-140 or RAD-150?

We have found that tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) supplementation can effectively reduce damage caused by hepatotoxic compounds. Research indicates that this bile salt supplement can reduce hepatic stress, decreasing alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels [5]. We have found 500 mg/day to be an effective dose for SARM users.

Expert Consensus

Dylan Gemelli, a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)-certified personal trainer, has observed RAD-140’s effects. He warns that limited information exists on RAD-150.

Gemelli states that the main difference is that “RAD-150 is esterified, meaning it has an extended half-life.” Thus, RAD-150 can cause more stable serum levels. Gemelli says that an extended half-life is advantageous for some users who prefer to take SARMs every two days, rather than every day.

Ryan Ankrom, a certified personal trainer, has firsthand experience with RAD-140 and RAD-150, and he says they are “very similar.” He adds, “RAD-150 mimics the same effects as RAD-140 but with added potency” due to its structural advantage of containing an additional benzoate ester.

Conclusion

RAD-140 bottle
Based on our experience, RAD-150 appears to offer a more favorable risk–benefit ratio. However, limited research exists on RAD-150; therefore, its effects remain unknown, particularly in comparison with RAD-140.

Researchers should obtain RAD-140 and RAD-150 from reputable suppliers that have their products third-party tested to ensure high purity levels. Chemyo and Sports Technology Labs are two such providers that adhere to these standards.

RAD-140 certificate of analysis

RAD-150 certificate of analysis

  1. 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 letters2(2), 124–129. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24900290/
  2. D. K. Hamson, S. R. Wainwright, J. R. Taylor, B. A. Jones, N. V. Watson, & L. A. M. Galea (2018). Androgens Increase Survival of Adult-Born Neurons in the Dentate Gyrus by an Androgen Receptor-Dependent Mechanism in Male Rats, Endocrinology, Volume 154, Issue 9, Pages 3294–3304, https://academic.oup.com/endo/article/154/9/3294/2423518
  3. Brown, A. M., Ganjayi, M. S., & Baumann, C. W. (2023). RAD140 (Testolone) negatively impacts skeletal muscle adaptation, frailty status and mortality risk in female mice. Clinical and experimental pharmacology & physiology50(12), 973–983. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37758180/
  4. 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. Endocrinology155(4), 1398–1406. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24428527/
  5. Pan, X. L., Zhao, L., Li, L., Li, A. H., Ye, J., Yang, L., Xu, K. S., & Hou, X. H. (2013). Efficacy and safety of tauroursodeoxycholic acid in the treatment of liver cirrhosis: a double-blind randomized controlled trial. Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Medical sciences. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23592128/

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