What is the Best PCT Cycle to Keep Gains from Prohormones & SARMs?

The Ultimate PCT Blueprint: How to Keep Your Gains After Your Prohormone or SARM Cycle

You crushed your cycle. Your strength skyrocketed, your shirts got tighter (in all the right places), and your confidence? Untouchable. But now that you're wrapping up your run with prohormones or SARMs, one big question stands between you and long-term gains:

What do I take for PCT to Keep Those Gains?

Let’s be real — if you don’t recover right, your hard-earned progress could go poof faster than a scoop of pre-workout on leg day. But don’t worry. We’re going to break down exactly what your Post Cycle Therapy (PCT) should look like: from science-backed supplements, to dosing strategies, to why your hormones act like jealous toddlers post-cycle.

Let’s get into it.

Why a PCT is Non-Negotiable

When you’re on SARMs or prohormones, your body’s testosterone production takes a hit big time. The more potent the compound, the more suppression you're likely dealing with afterwards. Even “mild” SARMs like Ostarine (MK-2866) can suppress endogenous testosterone and stronger prohormones like 1-Andro or 4-Andro? They don’t mess around either. You need a good PCT.

Here’s what happens when you run any sort of prohormone or sarm cycle:

• Your body senses external androgens (SARMs/prohormones).

• It dials back or halts natural testosterone production (via HPTA suppression).

• Once the cycle ends, you’re left with low T, elevated estrogen, and cortisol creeping in.

That’s a cocktail for muscle loss, fatigue, low libido, and mood swings that’d make a 2000s emo band jealous.

Best PCT Supplements & Stacks (with Dosage & Strategy)

Let’s build your gains recovery stack like a pro. Here are your essential weapons:

Test Booster Ingredients (Natural T-Up Regulation)

• D-Aspartic Acid (DAA) – 3,000 mg/day

• Fenugreek Extract – 500–600 mg/day

• Ashwagandha (KSM-66) – 600 mg/day

• Boron – 6 mg/day

• Maca - 1500 to 300mg/day

• Tongkat Ali - 200 to 400mg/day

• Fadogia Agrestis - 300 to 600mg/day

What It Does:

Kickstarts luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which signal your testes to fire back up the testosterone factory.

Science Check:

DAA has been shown in human studies to significantly increase T levels over 12 days. Ashwagandha? Not only boosts T but reduces cortisol, your gains’ worst enemy.

Recommendation:

You can also purchase more holistic PCT supplements that include many of the best ingredients. One of our favorites is Arimiplex by Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals. And if you were doing a very aggressive SARM or prohormone cycle, also add Testosterone 21.

Estrogen Control (Aromatase Inhibition)

Options:

• Arimistane (Androsta-3,5-diene-7,17-dione) – 25–75 mg/day

• DIM (Diindolylmethane) – 100–200 mg/day

Purpose:

During PCT, your estrogen can spike as your body tries to rebalance. Too much E2 = water retention, fat gain, mood swings, and man boobs. Estrogen control helps avoid all that.

Note:

Don’t go too hard, crashing estrogen is just as bad as having too much. Arimistane is mild and effective, ideal for SARMs and moderate prohormone cycles.

Most users of prohormones take Arimistane during their cycle, as many holistic PCT supplements have Arimistane included in the formula, so an additional supplement is not needed.

Liver & Organ Support

Stack Suggestions:

• TUDCA – 250–500 mg/day

• Milk Thistle (Silymarin) – 200 mg/day

• NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine) – 600–1,200 mg/day

Why It Matters:

Especially important if your cycle involved methylated prohormones. PCT is about recovering not just hormones, but your entire internal system. Give your liver some love. Again, many products such as Arimiplex have these types of ingredients in them already, so no need to pick up multiple products.

Important Note:

If you are on a very aggressive prohormone or SARM cycle, you should take liver support on-cycle as well. We recommend a product such as Liver-Rx or Tudca.

Libido & Mood Enhancers (Optional But Powerful)

If you feel like your libido took a hit, you could also add some of these compounds to help improve your libido on-cycle and post-cycle.

Popular Add-Ons:

• Mucuna Pruriens (L-DOPA) – 300 mg/day

• Horny Goat Weed – 500 mg/day

• L-Citrulline – 6,000–8,000 mg pre-workout

Benefit:

Helps with dopamine, nitric oxide, and sexual health. These aren’t mandatory, but they definitely help bridge that awkward libido-dip that can happen post-cycle.

Post Cycle Lengths

While 4 weeks is probably fine for most, it really depends on how long you are cycled the SARM or prohormone, and how strong they were. Here are some of our recommendations.

• For mild SARMs / Prohormones (like Ostarine, 1-Andro, Epi-Andro or LGD-3303): 4-week PCT is enough.

• For stronger SARMs / Prohormones (like RAD-140, YK-11 or prohormone stacks: 6–8 week PCT recommended.

Real Talk: What & How You Might Feel During PCT

Side Effects:

• Fatigue (especially early on after your cycle)

• Mood swings

• Slight decrease in strength or motivation

• “Flat” muscles (less pump)

• Loss of libido

Don’t panic though. It’s all temporary. These symptoms are common as your natural testosterone revs back up. By Week 3 or 4, you should start feeling like a lion again...as long as you take the proper PCT supplements we spoke about above.

Benefits of a Proper PCT

✅ Retain Your Gains
✅ Restore Hormonal Balance
✅ Prevent Estrogen Rebound
✅ Boost Libido and Mood
✅ Keep Energy High and Cortisol Low

When Can You Begin Another Cycle After Your PCT?

General Rule of Thumb for Mild Cycle:

Time On = Time Off

So if you ran a:

• 8-week SARM or prohormone cycle

• Followed by a 4-week PCT

Then you should wait at least 8 weeks from your cycle end date before beginning your next cycle — meaning another full 4 weeks of "off" time after PCT ends.

General Rule of Thumb for Aggressive Cycle:

Time On + PCT = Time Off

So if you ran a:

• 8-week SARM or prohormone cycle

• Followed by a 4-week PCT

Then you should wait at least 12 weeks from your cycle end date before beginning your next cycle — meaning another full 8 weeks of "off" time after PCT ends.

Signs You’re Ready for Your Next Cycle:

Before starting another round, check that:

• Libido is back

• Energy & strength have normalized

• Mood is stable

• Bloodwork (if possible) shows natural T is back in normal range

Want to Be 100% Sure?

Get bloodwork done 4–6 weeks after PCT. If your:

• Total Testosterone,

• Free T,

• LH,

• and FSH

...are back to normal levels, you're good to go.

Final Thoughts: You Trained Like a Beast, Now Recover Like One & Keep Those Gains!

PCT isn’t optional, it’s your secret weapon to keep what you earned. Whether you just wrapped up an 8-week cycle of LGD and MK-677 or crushed a 8-week 1-Andro + Epi stack, your body needs support to reboot and rebuild.

So go ahead. Treat your PCT like your cycle: serious, smart, and strategic.
Because the real flex?

Keeping the gains long after the cycle ends.

Author

Jeff has been in the fitness and supplement industry for almost 20 years. He is an avid bodybuilder and helps others with lifting techniques, as well as the best vitamins and supplements they should take for the goals they have. You can find him on LinkedIn and Youtube.

Jeff Moriarty