Are you looking at adding S23 into your next SARMs stack? With all the hype around this compound’s potency, it’s not surprising to see more people interested in including it in their protocol.
S23 is highly orally available, achieving up to 96% bioavailability in the body. This feature of the compound gives S23 a fast uptake into your system, with results showing up in the first few days of use.
S23 is one of the strongest SARMs currently under development. Created by GTX Inc, S23 is a potent muscle-builder displaying a level of tissue selectivity similar to anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS).
Adding S23 into your SARMs stack supercharges the effect of other compounds like Ligandrol and YK-11. The impressive hardening characteristics of S23 are superior to S4, without the vision side effects.
So, how do you use S23 in your stack? What’s the best S23 dosage and cycle length? What side effects can you expect on-cycle, and do you need a PCT for S23?
We’ll unpack the answers in our review of this highly-rated SARM.
What are the effects of using S23?
S23 Effects
According to user reviews on S23, reports show the com[pound has a hardening and drying effect on your physique. It’s a great choice for contest prep cycles where the user needs a drier, harder, leaner look for the stage.
Many AAS users compare its effects to Winstrol V, and the state it’s stronger in impact than Anavar. S23 comes with a binding affinity for androgen receptors that’s four-times stronger than RAD-140.
Since RAD-140 already has an impressive binding affinity; in fact, S23 is four-times more effective is quite astounding.
However, since S23 is more androgenic than RAD-140, it also comes with a higher affinity for producing side effects in users. The only other SARM with such a strong binding affinity is LGD-4033, and combining these compounds on cycle yields some crazy results.
S23 has a tremendous effect on cycle performance, offering you the following advantages:
- It assists with lean tissue gains.
- It provides noticeable increases in strength.
- It enhances body composition, reducing fat mass while increasing lean muscle mass.
- It mitigates the effects of catabolism in a calorie deficit.
- It improves the dryness and hardness of muscles, similar to DHT derivative compounds.
- Users experience a boost in vascularity.
- Users experience no water retention.
Many S23 users compare the compound to the next generation of S4. While S23 does produce a similar drying and hardening effect as Andarine, it has a far stronger androgenic response in the body.
While S23 might not come with the same vision side effects as S4, it has its share of dose-dependent sides. That said, S23 is much more of a potent muscle builder than S4 and more androgenic activity gram-for-gram than S4.
DISCLAIMER: The author and publishing website does not endorse or condone the use of SARMs. We bear no responsibility for your use of these compounds. All information in this post is for educational and entertainment purposes only.
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Is it safe to stack S23 and other SARMs?
Safety of Stacking
S23 is an effective SARM, with high levels of androgenic activity. It’s also one of the worst SARMs for side effects. Therefore, if you’re planning on dropping S23 into your cycle, get some experience running the compound solo before you start stacking.
The side effects with S23 are dose-dependent, meaning they only show up at a specific dose. By running a solo cycle, you understand the distinct sides and how your body reacts to each drug dose.
Applying that information to your stack helps you mitigate the occurrence of side effects on-cycle. If you’re a newbie to SARMs or SARM stacks, rather look for a different starting point than S4.
So, is it safe to stack S23 with other SARMs? The reality is some people can handle side effects better than others. Since S23 is dose-dependent when it comes to the emergence of sides, try adjusting your dose if you feel something’s wrong.
It’s for this reason that we structure SARMs cycles using the pyramiding or tapering concept. Using this method, you build into your peak dose.
Users typically reach the peak dose in week four or five and then run that dose hard for four weeks. Some users might up the dose in the last week or two to get as much as they can out of their androgen receptors before they reach the point of diminishing returns.
Three example S23 Stacks for bulking, cutting, and recomp cycles
S23 Stacks
Here are our top three S23 stacks. We choose a stack to suit your cycle goals. Whether you want to bulk, cut for the stage, or recomp with S23, we have a stack for you.
It’s important to note that we stuck to a maximum dose of 30mg per day for S23. The half-life is unknown in humans, but it’s 12-hours in rats.
Since S23 is somewhat suppressive at these doses, and you’re stacking with other compounds, we want to keep cycles as short as possible.
The following stacks are all eight weeks, and you’ll need to run a 4-week PCT after completing your cycle (more on that later).
#1 Bulking / Muscle Building
S23 is a potent muscle builder, and combining it with the myostatin inhibitor, YK-11, leads to some huge gains. Best of all, thanks to the dry, lean gains you get with YK-11 and S23, you won’t put on any water bloat. That fact means no blood pressure side effects on-cycle.
Ligandrol is another potent muscle builder, and we expect this stack to deliver outstanding results, with up to an 8-lb gain in lean mass over an 8-week cycle.
Advanced users can add MK 677 to their stack to take advantage of this GH secretagogue’s recovery benefits.
- Ligandrol, YK-11, S23
- Additional for Advanced Users: MK 677
Week 1 – 10mg Ligandrol / 10mg YK-11 / 10mg S23 / 10mg MK 677
Week 2 – 10mg Ligandrol / 10mg YK-11 / 10mg S23 / 10mg MK 677
Week 3 – 10mg Ligandrol / 10mg YK-11 / 20mg S23 / 20mg MK 677
Week 4 – 10mg Ligandrol / 15mg YK-11 / 20mg S23 / 20mg MK 677
Week 5 – 20mg Ligandrol / 15mg YK-11 / 25mg S23 / 20mg MK 677
Week 6 – 20mg Ligandrol / 15mg YK-11 / 25mg S23 / 20mg MK 677
Week 7 – 20mg Ligandrol / 15mg YK-11 / 30mg S23 / 20mg MK 677
Week 8 – 20mg Ligandrol / 15mg YK-11 / 30mg S23 / 20mg MK 677
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#2 Dieting / Contest Prep
Contest prep is where S23 shines. This compound is ready to shred you for the stage. Stacking it with Cardarine and Ostarine provides impressive results, and the fat melts off you as fast as a clenbuterol cycle.
You can expect a steady 2-lb body fat loss per week with this stack while maintaining your muscle, even in a caloric deficit.
The hardening and drying effect of the stack gives you that grainy look under the stage lights, and your vascularity is through the roof.
Using this S23 stack also helps you keep your pumps in the gym, even when you’re running a low-carb day.
Week 1 – 10mg Cardarine / 20mg Ostarine / 10mg S23 / 10mg MK 677
Week 2 – 10mg Cardarine / 20mg Ostarine / 15mg S23 / 10mg MK 677
Week 3 – 10mg Cardarine / 20mg Ostarine / 20mg S23 / 20mg MK 677
Week 4 – 10mg Cardarine / 20mg Ostarine / 20mg S23 / 20mg MK 677
Week 5 – 20mg Cardarine / 20mg Ostarine / 25mg S23 / 20mg MK 677
Week 6 – 20mg Cardarine / 25mg Ostarine / 25mg S23 / 20mg MK 677
Week 7 – 20mg Cardarine / 25mg Ostarine / 30mg S23 / 20mg MK 677
Week 8 – 20mg Cardarine / 25mg Ostarine / 30mg S23 / 20mg MK 677
#3 Recomposition / Muscle Hardening
S23 stacks are a great choice for recomping your body. If you let your last bulking cycle get out of hand, get back in shape with this stack.
We combine RAD-140 and Ostarine with S23 to produce a growth stack that shreds fat. Many users report they stay the same weight using this stack, but their body composition changes dramatically.
Advanced users can add in MK 677 for the added benefits for the nervous system and sleep.
- RAD-140, S23, Ostarine
- Additional for Advanced Users: MK 677
Week 1 – 10mg RAD-140 / 10mg S23 / 10mg Ostarine / 10mg MK 677
Week 2 – 10mg RAD-140 / 10mg S23 / 15mg Ostarine / 10mg MK 677
Week 3 – 10mg RAD-140 / 15mg S23 / 20mg Ostarine / 20mg MK 677
Week 4 – 10mg RAD-140 / 15mg S23 / 20mg Ostarine / 20mg MK 677
Week 5 – 15mg RAD-140 / 20mg S23 / 25mg Ostarine / 20mg MK 677
Week 6 – 15mg RAD-140 / 20mg S23 / 25mg Ostarine / 20mg MK 677
Week 7 – 20mg RAD-140 / 25mg S23 / 30mg Ostarine / 20mg MK 677
Week 8 – 20mg RAD-140 / 30mg S23 / 30mg Ostarine / 20mg MK 677
Can I Stack S23 with Anabolic Androgenic Steroids and Prohormones?
Since S23 is an aggressive and potent SARM, it’s a great choice for AAS users. S23 can replace the use of oral hardeners like Anavar and Winstrol V.
With S23, you get similar effects, without the same level of toxicity as the AAS counterparts.
AAS like Winny and Anavar, and even Proviron, all come with 17-aa methylation in the compound’s formulation.
This 17-aa position acts aggressively on the liver, increasing liver enzymes, and the possibility of liver cirrhosis and fibrosis.
Therefore, adding S23 into the last 6 to 8-weeks of your precontest stack is a great option for replacing the outdated and risky side effects of AAS.
What results can you expect to see after stacking S23?
Results
Following any of the SARMs stacks mentioned above will net you some impressive results in the gym and the mirror.
S23 Stacks typically gear more toward dieting or precontest goals, where the user wants to shred as much fat as possible while retaining their lean muscle mass.
The muscle-hardening effect of S23 dries our your subcutaneous water while boosting vascularity. The result is a skin-splitting pump in the gym, even when you’re running low-carb and low-calorie days.
Running S23 solo provides impressive results, but stacking it with other compounds makes it supercharge the effects of other SARMs like YK-11 and Ligandrol.
IF this is your first stack, stick to adding two or three compounds to your S23. Taper your dose for the first four weeks to give your body time to adapt to the drugs before stepping on the gas pedal around the four-week mark.
If you start noticing side effects emerge, back off your dose and note your response. Stacking is a wild experience, and you need to collect as much data as possible to refine your knowledge for your next stack.
Make sure your record every step of your experience, from your diet, training, and supplementation.
What are the side effects caused by stacking S23 with other SARMs?
Side Effects
S23 is one of the strongest SARMs in terms of its muscle-building and fat loss effects. However, it’s also one of the worst compounds for side effects. S23 users report a slew of sides from the product.
However, it’s important to note that the majority of S23 sides are dose-dependent. This term means that the sides increase as you step-up the dose. Running S23 at low doses is unlikely to cause any side effects to appear.
However, running S23 at doses over 30mg or stacking with other SARMs at doses over 20mg will likely increase side effects and the possibility of “shutdown” (more on that later).
One of the interesting side effects of S23 is that clinical studies show it decreases prostate size during use, the exact opposite effect of the response of prostate tissue to Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS).
Some of the other side effects experienced by S23 users include the following.
- An increase in body temperature and sleeping “hot.”
- Night sweats and extreme sweating during the day in hot weather.
- Muscle cramps due to dehydration and mineral loss.
- Increased levels of aggression.
- An increase in acne breakouts in prone individuals.
- Male pattern baldness in people with a genetic predisposition to the condition.
- A lowering of lipid levels, including a drop in HDL cholesterol (the good kind of cholesterol).
- A slight elevation in liver enzymes.
It’s important to note that stacking additional compounds into your cycle may increase these sides’ intensity and cause the occurrence of side effects from other compounds.
Does S23 require an aromatase inhibitor?
Aromatase Inhibitors
SARMs interact with the HPTA, causing unnatural imbalances in hormones and androgens in the body. As a result of the suppressive effect of S23, its possible for the user to develop issues with estrogen management.
When estrogen activity increases, there’s a possibility that estrogenic sides like gynecomastia might be a problem for the user.
If you notice a tingling sensation behind your nipple while on cycle, it’s a sign of mammary tissue stimulation and the early onset of gynecomastia.
You can mitigate these estrogenic sides on-cycle using an Aromatase Inhibitor (AI). Brands include Aromasin and Letrozole.
However, reports of gyno in S23 users are rare. Stacking with other compounds may increase its risk, but it’s still unlikely you’ll experience any gyno-related issues with your S23 SARMs stack.
Will I need a PCT after stacking multiple SARMs?
Post Cycle Therapy
Yes, you need a pharmaceutical-grade PCT when using S23. S23 is possibly the most suppressive SARM available. What is suppression?
It’s when the body shuts down the Hypothalamic Pituitary Testicular Axis (HPTA). The HPTA governs your natural testosterone production, and when it detects the input of exogenous androgens into your system, it slows the production of DHT.
S23 might not totally shut down the HPTA. Still, the addition of other compounds like YK-11 and SARMs with suppressive effects might cause the need to recover the HPTA using pharmaceutical-grade post-cycle therapy drugs like Nolvadex and Clomid.
The only way to know for sure if the HPTA recovers function is through bloodwork analysis. Visit a life extension clinic or your doctor for a hormone panel.
It’s advisable to take a bloodwork test before your cycle to get your baseline and 2-weeks post PCT to check on your recovery.
If you do need a pharma-grade PCT, the structure of your therapy might look like this.
- Week 1 and 2 – Nolvadex 50mg per day
- Week 3 and 4 – Clomid 50mg to 100mg per day
How often can I stack S23 during the year?
Frequency
S23 is one of the most toxic and suppressive SARMs. Therefore, it’s a sensible idea to minimize its use in a single calendar year. Doing one 8-week cycle twice a year is more than enough to see impressive gains.
Doing more than two cycles of S23 each year may cause problems with recovering the HPTA post-cycle. S23 is one of the more potent compounds, and it’s only suitable for advanced users.
If you’re a new SARMs user, trying a solo cycle with S23 is a good idea before you start stacking multiple compounds with it.
Stacking several SARMs for your first performance-enhancing experience might end up causing massive suppression of the HPTA, and you might never recover.
Always ensure you’re using a PCT when running an aggressive SARM like S23.
Taking time off is vital for clearing your androgen receptors and resetting your body in preparation for the next cycle.
Overdoing your cycle length saturates your androgen receptors. As a result, taking more drugs isn’t going to help you gain more performance, size, or fat loss.
When you reach saturation, you start experiencing more side effects, and taking more drugs increases these sides.
Your time off should equal your cycle length, plus your PCT. Therefore, if you do an 8-week cycle with a 4-week PCT, you should take off at least 12-weeks before starting your next cycle.
Where can I purchase an S23 stack?
Buy S23 Stacks
So, how do you find the best SARMs sources for your cycle? Check out our Verified Sources Program. We conducted a deep-dive on SARMs sources that ship all over the world. Review the top sources on our list, and place your order with confidence.
