What is it?
What Ligandrol is
1Ligandrol is the common name for LGD-4033, a nonsteroidal selective androgen receptor modulator. It is best understood as a hormone-axis research compound appearing in performance-enhancement markets, not as a conventional cognition, focus, memory, or mood supplement.
Human evidence is not cognitive evidence
2Human LGD-4033 evidence is limited and population-specific. A healthy-men trial showed androgen-receptor pharmacology and lean-mass changes over a short period, while VK5211 registry data concern older adults recovering from hip fracture. Neither context establishes focus, memory, motivation, mood, or productivity benefits for supplement users.
Names, aliases and forms
Mechanisms of action
Selective androgen receptor modulation
2Ligandrol binds androgen receptors and is designed to produce tissue-selective anabolic signaling. That mechanism explains the muscle-market interest, but it also explains why hormone-axis, lipid, fertility, pregnancy, and anti-doping cautions dominate the page.
Potential effects and evidence map
Ligandrol evidence does not support a nootropic profile. The main human LGD-4033 study was a 21-day randomized trial in healthy men focused on safety, pharmacokinetics, lean body mass, hormones, lipids, and physical outcomes; it did not validate cognitive benefits. ClinicalTrials.gov also lists VK5211 development in older adults recovering from hip fracture, which is a population-specific muscle/bone context rather than a consumer cognition context. Safety evidence includes hormone and lipid changes in the human trial, FDA warnings for the SARM class, and multiple PubMed-indexed liver-injury case reports involving LGD-4033 and/or other SARMs.
No reliable human evidence was found that Ligandrol improves focus or attention.
No reliable human memory or learning benefit has been established for Ligandrol.
Short-term clinical data support only a limited muscle/lean-mass pharmacology signal, not a consumer energy or cognition claim.
Typical dosages and timing
Do not use trial arms, vendor labels, forum cycles, or research-chemical serving claims as a public Ligandrol dose. The available human data do not establish a safe nootropic dose, cycle length, washout, monitoring plan, or long-term use pattern.
Timing & effect horizon
A short pharmacokinetic study can support research context, but it does not create a consumer timing guide. There is no reliable public nootropic onset, effect duration, cycle, post-cycle, or monitoring schedule for Ligandrol.
Safety, side effects and risk profile
LGD-4033 is hormone-axis active and the healthy-men study reported dose-dependent suppression of total testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin, with additional suppression signals at the highest studied arm.
Multiple PubMed-indexed reports describe liver injury after LGD-4033 and/or SARM products, sometimes with post-cycle products or mixed-product confounding.
FDA warnings for the SARM class include serious cardiovascular concerns, and the short LGD-4033 trial reported lipid changes.
FDA states SARMs cannot be legally marketed in the U.S. as dietary supplements or drugs at this time, and USADA/WADA prohibit SARMs in sport.
Hormone-active compounds, post-cycle products, anabolic agents, liver-stressing substances, and complex medication regimens create avoidable uncertainty around Ligandrol.
Pregnancy, attempts to conceive, lactation, adolescence, and fertility-sensitive contexts are inappropriate for unsupervised SARM exposure.
There is no established nootropic dose, no validated cognitive outcome evidence, and substantial uncertainty around commercial product identity and purity.
Published case reports describe liver injury after LGD-4033 and other SARM products, sometimes with post-cycle products or mixed-product exposure. These reports do not define incidence, but they are enough to make liver history, abnormal labs, alcohol-heavy use, and hepatotoxic co-exposures major caution flags.
A hormone-active SARM is a poor fit for pregnancy, attempts to conceive, lactation, adolescence, endocrine disorders, prostate concerns, fertility concerns, or any setting where hormone changes would be unacceptable.
Legal and regulatory status
FDA states that SARMs are not FDA-approved and cannot be legally marketed in the United States as dietary supplements or drugs at this time. USADA states that SARMs, including LGD-4033/ligandrol, are prohibited at all times under the WADA Prohibited List. Other legal questions depend on the exact country, product, seller, and use case.
Practical buying and quality notes
- Online availability does not establish identity, purity, legality, importability, absence of banned-substance risk, or suitability for human use. For Ligandrol, missing third-party analytical testing and unclear chain of custody should be considered central buying risks.5
- Product rows and price links can document market availability, but they should not be read as a recommendation to buy or use Ligandrol. The evidence, legal, anti-doping, liver, and endocrine cautions should be read before comparing offers.4
FAQ
Is Ligandrol a reliable nootropic supplement?
2No. The public human evidence is not a cognition program, and no reliable focus, memory, mood, or productivity benefit was found.
What Ligandrol dose is established?
2No public supplement or nootropic dose is established. Trial arms and vendor claims should not be converted into a self-use dose, cycle, or timing plan.
Is Ligandrol legal in the United States?
4FDA says SARMs cannot be legally marketed in the U.S. as dietary supplements or drugs at this time. That is a U.S.-scoped statement; other countries and product categories require their own checks.
Is Ligandrol banned in sport?
5Yes for WADA-code sport contexts. USADA identifies LGD-4033/ligandrol as an example SARM and states SARMs are prohibited at all times under the WADA Prohibited List.
Why are post-cycle products mentioned?
8Some liver-injury reports involve SARMs plus post-cycle products or mixed exposures. That does not clear Ligandrol; it means real-world use often adds confounding and additional safety uncertainty.
References
- PubChem. LGD-4033, CID 44137686. Accessed 2026-06-30.
- Basaria S, Collins L, Dillon EL, et al. The safety, pharmacokinetics, and effects of LGD-4033, a novel nonsteroidal oral, selective androgen receptor modulator, in healthy young men. Journal of Gerontology: Series A. 2013;68(1):87-95.
- ClinicalTrials.gov. Acute Hip Fracture Study in Patients 65 Years or Greater. NCT02578095. Accessed 2026-06-30.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Warns of Use of Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) Among Teens, Young Adults. Accessed 2026-06-30.
- U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs). Accessed 2026-06-30.
- World Anti-Doping Agency. The 2026 Prohibited List: International Standard. Version effective 1 January 2026.
- Barbara M, Dhingra S, Mindikoglu AL. Ligandrol (LGD-4033)-Induced Liver Injury. ACG Case Reports Journal. 2020;7(6):e00370.
- Koller T, Vrbova P, Meciarova I, et al. Liver injury associated with the use of selective androgen receptor modulators and post-cycle therapy: Two case reports and literature review. World Journal of Clinical Cases. 2021;9(16):4062-4071.
- Barbara M, Dhingra S, Mindikoglu AL. Drug-Induced Liver Injury Associated With Alpha Bolic (RAD-140) and Alpha Elite (RAD-140 and LGD-4033). ACG Case Reports Journal. 2020;7(6):e00409.
- Labban H, et al. LGD-4033 and a Case of Drug-Induced Liver Injury: Exploring the Clinical Implications of Off-Label Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator Use in Healthy Adults. Cureus. 2024;16:e69601.