Andarine is an early-generation SARM whose defining feature in user reports — yellow-tinted vision and impaired night adaptation — has no adequate human safety study behind it. Development did not progress to late-phase trials.
Key points
- Preclinical work showed anabolic activity on muscle and bone with partial androgen receptor agonism.
- Dose-related visual disturbance is the most consistently reported effect in user accounts.
- There is no published controlled human trial establishing safe dosing.
- Suppression of endogenous testosterone is expected as with other androgen receptor ligands.
What the literature shows
Animal studies characterised S-4 as a partial agonist with tissue-selective anabolic effects, forming the basis for later SARM development.
Case and toxicology literature on SARMs generally includes andarine among compounds found in products linked to adverse events, including hepatotoxicity.
The visual effects widely described by users are not characterised in any published human trial; mechanistic explanations remain speculative.
Analytical studies of internet SARM products include andarine among compounds detected in items labelled as something else.
What remains unknown
- Whether visual changes are fully reversible in all users, and over what timeframe, is undocumented.
- No dose-response safety data exist in humans.
- Hepatic and cardiovascular risk profiles are unquantified.
Safety and monitoring implications
- Any change in vision, particularly night vision or colour perception, warrants stopping and seeking assessment rather than dose adjustment.
- Standard androgen monitoring applies: lipids, liver function and hormonal panels.
- Product identity is unreliable; several documented adverse events involved products containing compounds not on the label.
Cited literature
- 1.Gao W, Kearbey JD, Nair VA, et al. (2004). Comparison of the pharmacological effects of a novel selective androgen receptor modulator, the 5α-reductase inhibitor finasteride, and the antiandrogen hydroxyflutamide. Endocrinology. Find on PubMed
- 2.Van Wagoner RM, Eichner A, Bhasin S, et al. (2017). Chemical composition and labeling of substances marketed as selective androgen receptor modulators and sold via the internet. JAMA. Find on PubMed
- 3.Efimenko IV, Chertman W, Masterson TA, et al. (2022). Adverse effects and potential benefits among selective androgen receptor modulators users: a cross-sectional survey. International Journal of Impotence Research. Find on PubMed
Community reports
Anecdotal — not scientific evidence
Lived experience is valuable context and often surfaces problems before the literature does. It is also uncontrolled, unverified and subject to bias, so it never overrides published findings here.
Aggregated community threads
NegativeYellow vision and difficulty driving at night are described often enough to be treated as an expected effect rather than a rarity.
Vendor review sections
MixedReports of dryness in joints and strong strength effects, with wide variability between suppliers.
Buying Andarine / S-4 in Australia: what to check first
APEDRA does not sell Andarine / S-4 or any other product, and takes no commission from suppliers. If you are researching where to buy it, the biggest practical risk is not the compound itself but what is actually in the bottle: under-dosing, substitution with a different compound, and contamination are all documented in independent testing of online research chemicals.
- Ask for a batch-specific third-party lab report (HPLC/mass spectrometry), not a generic certificate.
- Check independent review platforms, not only reviews hosted on the seller's own site.
- Read the shipping, returns and refund policies before ordering.
- Be wary of prices far below the market or exaggerated results claims.
Compare Australian vendors independently · how we assess suppliers
Terms used here are defined in our glossary, and the evidence-grading scale explains what this analysis's grade means. If you believe something here is wrong, tell us.
This analysis is educational. It is not medical advice, a dosing recommendation, or an endorsement of use. Speak with a qualified medical practitioner about your circumstances.