🚨 CRITICAL WARNING: Cardarine is a Schedule 4 Prescription-Only medicine in Australia (often captured under “Analogues of S4 Substances”). It is widely mislabeled as a SARM, but it is actually a PPAR-delta Agonist. It is strictly Prohibited by WADA under Category S4 (Hormone and Metabolic Modulators). It is arguably the most controversial compound in fitness because the original pharmaceutical developer (GSK) abandoned it in 2007 due to cancer development in animal trials.
✅ Executive Summary: Key Takeaways for Cardarine
- What is it? An oral drug that forces your body to switch its fuel source from glucose (sugar) to fatty acids (fat) during exercise.
- Best Use: Massive increases in cardiovascular endurance and stripping body fat without “stimulant” jitters.
- The “Magic”: It can arguably double your endurance capacity. Mice treated with Cardarine ran 70% longer than untreated mice. It is “exercise in a pill.”
- The Catch: The safety data is scary. While human users rarely report issues, the rat studies showed rapid tumor development at high doses.
- Cost Estimate: $90 – $150 AUD per bottle.
The Science Behind “Endurobol”
Cardarine (GW-501516) acts on the PPAR-delta (Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-delta) pathway.
When you exercise, your body normally burns glycogen (sugar) first. Only when the sugar runs out do you start burning fat heavily. This is why “hitting the wall” happens—you run out of sugar.
Cardarine hacks this system. It activates the PPAR-delta nuclear receptors, which turn on the genes responsible for fat oxidation. It effectively tells your muscles: “Stop burning sugar. Burn fat immediately.”
This has two profound effects:
- Infinite Energy: Because you have 50,000+ calories of fat stored on your body (even if you are skinny), but only 2,000 calories of sugar, switching to fat fuel means you don’t “bonk.” Your gas tank becomes massive.
- Lipid Profile: It was originally designed to cure cholesterol issues. It drastically lowers LDL (Bad Cholesterol) and raises HDL (Good Cholesterol), making it one of the few performance enhancers that actually improves heart health markers.
🧠 Did You Know?
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had to develop a special test for Cardarine in 2009 because so many cyclists and Olympic walkers were using it. It provides such a distinct advantage that it is considered “sport-breaking.”
Who Is Talking About Cardarine?
- The Cycling World: Although no pro will admit to using it now, Cardarine is the “open secret” of amateur cycling and triathlons. It allows riders to push higher wattages for hours without the lactic acid burn.
- More Plates More Dates: Has analyzed the “Cancer Study” in depth. He argues that while the cancer risk is real in rodents, the doses used were astronomical for the human lifespan equivalent. However, he still advises extreme caution.
- CrossFitters: It is popular in the CrossFit community for “Metcons.” Users report they can finish a workout that usually takes 20 minutes in 15 minutes because they simply don’t need to rest.
Disclaimer: These figures discuss the science and their personal protocols. They are not prescribing this to you.
Real World Applications: Why Australians Use It
In Australia, Cardarine is used by two specific groups who don’t care about the risks.
The “Cutting” Bodybuilder
Bodybuilders use it in the final 4 weeks of prep.
- The Goal: They are eating very few calories and doing hours of cardio. Cardarine prevents muscle catabolism (breakdown) because it forces the body to burn fat for fuel, sparing the protein (muscle) for the stage.
The “Beep Test” Candidate
People preparing for police or military fitness tests.
- The Goal: They take it for 4 weeks prior to the test to drastically improve their running times. It essentially eliminates the “burning lungs” sensation during high-intensity cardio.
The How-To Guide for Using Cardarine Correctly
Cardarine is taken orally. It has a half-life of roughly 16-24 hours.
The Protocol: Simple & Effective
- Format: Liquid dropper or capsule.
- Dosage:
- Beginner: 10mg per day.
- Advanced: 20mg per day.
- Note: There is a “ceiling effect.” Taking 30mg+ does not provide more endurance, it just increases health risks.
- Timing: Take it 1-2 hours pre-workout.
- Why? While it builds up in the system, having peak blood concentration during your training session maximizes the fat-burning effect.
- Cycle Length: 8 to 12 weeks maximum. Do not run this year-round.
The “Stack”
Cardarine is rarely run alone.
- Bulking: Stack with MK-677 (to prevent fat gain while eating big).
- Cutting: Stack with Ostarine (to keep muscle while losing fat).
⚡ Don’t Forget To…
Train Cardio. Cardarine works best when the heart rate is elevated. If you take Cardarine and just sit on the couch, you won’t lose much fat. If you take Cardarine and go for a run, you will melt.
Costs, Legality & Troubleshooting
Cost Analysis
It is cheap because it is a research chemical, not a complex peptide.
- Price: A 30ml bottle (20mg/ml) costs $90 – $150 AUD.
- Daily Cost: At 10mg/day, one bottle lasts 60 days. That is ~$2.00 per day.
Troubleshooting: “I don’t feel stimulated”
- The Reality: Cardarine is non-stimulant. It is not Clenbuterol or Caffeine. It won’t make your hands shake. You only “feel” it when you are 20 minutes into a run and realize you aren’t tired yet.
Troubleshooting: “Liver Pain?”
- The Reality: While Cardarine isn’t as toxic as oral steroids (like Anavar), it is still processed by the liver.
- The Fix: Take a liver support supplement (NAC or TUDCA) while on cycle. Avoid alcohol.
The Dealbreaker Safety Check
The Cancer Elephant in the Room
This is the reason GSK dropped the drug.
- The Study: In 2007, mice given Cardarine for 2 years (their entire lifespan) developed cancer in multiple organs.
- The Counter-Argument: The dosage was equivalent to a human taking ~45mg every day for 80 years.
- The Verdict: We don’t know. Short-term human trials (12 weeks) showed no issues, but no long-term data exists. Use at your own risk. If you have a family history of cancer, stay away.
Side Effects (Short Term)
- None? Surprisingly, short-term users rarely report side effects. No hair loss, no gyno, no rage. This “lack of feeling” is what makes it dangerous—you might think it’s harmless while it affects cells silently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a PCT?
No. Cardarine is non-hormonal. It does not suppress Testosterone. You can stop cold turkey without a crash.
Can women use it?
Yes. It is very popular with women because it causes zero virilization (no beard growth, no voice deepening). It is purely metabolic.
Is it better than SR-9009 (Stenabolic)?
Yes. SR-9009 has terrible oral bioavailability (your gut destroys it). Unless you inject SR-9009, Cardarine is far superior.
Does it burn muscle?
No, it is muscle sparing. By shifting fuel use to fatty acids, it protects your glucose/glycogen stores and muscle protein from being broken down for energy.
Will I fail a drug test?
YES. It is S4. It is detectable for weeks. Do not use if you are a competitive athlete.