Andarine — Safety, Research, Risks & Legal Status

Not medical advice. Andarine is discussed here for informational and harm-reduction purposes only. We do not endorse use, and any dosing context is informational, not a protocol.

Also known as	S-4, S4, GTx-007, acetamidoxolutamide
Category	SARM
vision_effect	Distinctive reported yellow tint and night vision disturbance, reversible upon stopping
gtx_developer	One of the earliest SARMs from GTx Inc., alongside ostarine
partial_agonist	Demonstrates tissue-specific partial agonism, explaining both effects and off-target activity
US legal status	Andarine is not approved by the FDA for any use, and it is illegal to market or sell it as a dietary supplement. The FDA has warned that SARMs are associated with serious risks including liver injury, heart attack, and stroke, and products are sold as research chemicals not for human consumption. It is prohibited at all times in sport under the WADA list.

What is Andarine?

Andarine (S-4) is an early investigational selective androgen receptor modulator studied for muscle and bone effects. It was an earlier-generation compound and did not advance to approval.

How it works

Andarine is a selective nonsteroidal androgen receptor agonist with partial agonist activity in some tissues and full agonism in others. It demonstrates selectivity for muscle androgen receptors but retains activity in the prostate and eye, which likely explains both anabolic and visual adverse effects. The partial agonism profile differed from later SARMs.

Background & history

Andarine (S-4, GTx-007) was developed by GTx Inc. in the early 2000s as one of the first investigational SARMs. It entered early clinical development for benign prostate hyperplasia and bone health but was abandoned before large trials. The vision disturbance signal and lack of competitive advantage versus later compounds led to discontinuation of development.

What the research says

Research suggests andarine has anabolic activity on muscle and bone in animal models. Human data are very limited, development did not progress, and a distinctive reported side effect is yellow-tinted or disturbed vision linked to its action on the eye.

Reported effects

Reported increases in lean mass in animal models
Studied effects on bone density in preclinical research
Reported fat-loss effects by users
Studied muscle-preserving effects in early research
Reported improvements in joint health in some user accounts
Studied partial androgen-receptor agonism on prostate tissue in models

Dosing & administration (informational)

In limited preclinical and early human exploration, doses ranged from low milligram amounts upward. No published human dose-response or safety studies exist in peer-reviewed literature. Any contemporary claims of human dosing are speculative and lack scientific support.

This is general research/context information, not medical advice or a recommended protocol.

Safety & side effects

Reported to cause vision disturbances such as a yellow tint and difficulty adjusting to low light
Reported to suppress natural testosterone production
Can adversely affect cholesterol and cardiovascular risk markers
Lacks large human safety trials and was an abandoned compound
Prohibited at all times in sport under the WADA list
May cause mild hepatic stress and elevated transaminases in some users

Drug & supplement interactions

May interact with agents affecting androgen signaling or prostate health
Potential for additive hormonal suppression if combined with other androgenic compounds
Possible visual effects if combined with other compounds affecting ocular tissues
Limited data on interactions with ophthalmologic medications
Unknown interactions with most drug classes given minimal human use

Who should avoid it

Avoid if there is a personal history of prostate disease or significant risk factors
Avoid concurrent use with other SARMs or anabolic steroids
Avoid in those with pre-existing vision problems or at risk for retinal disease
Avoid if driving or operating machinery, given reported vision disturbances
Avoid in tested sport or under workplace drug-testing requirements

How it is commonly combined

Andarine is occasionally mentioned in stacking discussions, but its vision effects and lack of human data make combination use especially problematic. Stacking amplifies both hormonal and tissue-specific risks, and the vision disturbance becomes harder to attribute or manage safely with multiple compounds.

Legal & regulatory. Andarine is not approved by the FDA for any use, and it is illegal to market or sell it as a dietary supplement. The FDA has warned that SARMs are associated with serious risks including liver injury, heart attack, and stroke, and products are sold as research chemicals not for human consumption. It is prohibited at all times in sport under the WADA list.

Quality & harm reduction

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Lab testing & harm-reduction tools

If you are going to research a compound, verifying identity and purity is the single most protective step. Independent analytical testing and sterile-handling supplies reduce risk.

Compare testing options

Frequently asked questions

Why do people report yellow vision on andarine?

Andarine is reported to affect the eye, causing a yellow tint and trouble seeing in dim light; the changes are reported to reverse after stopping, but it signals off-target activity.

What dose is safe?

We do not provide human dosing guidance. Andarine is unapproved and any use should involve a qualified clinician.

Is andarine well studied in humans?

No. Human data are very limited and the compound was not developed further, so its safety profile is poorly defined.

Can I prevent the vision side effects?

No reliable preventive strategy exists; the vision effects appear to be dose and time-dependent and reversible upon cessation, but they are unpredictable.

Does vision normalize after stopping andarine?

Users report vision returns to normal weeks after stopping, but individual timelines vary and this is not guaranteed.

References & further reading

PubMed: andarine S-4 GTx-007 selective androgen receptor modulator vision
PubMed: S-4 muscle bone effects preclinical androgen receptor
FDA warning on SARMs selective androgen receptor modulator safety
WADA Prohibited List: andarine S-4 and related SARMs
GTx Inc. development history and compound portfolio