What are ibutamoren’s main drawbacks?

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    Last Updated: May 16, 2025

    Ibutamoren's main drawbacks include common side effects, such as increased blood sugar, decreased insulin sensitivity, increased appetite, muscle pain, and mild swelling, as well as rare reports of hypertension and heart failure in older adults.

    Common side effects reported with 25 mg of ibutamoren taken by mouth daily include increased blood sugar (+5–10%), decreased insulin sensitivity, and increased appetite. Other reported side effects include muscle pain and mild swelling of lower extremities, which usually diminish with regular intake of ibutamoren.[1][2][3] Additionally, there were some reports of transient elevations in liver enzymes ALT and AST.[3] There were rare reports of hypertension and episodes of moderate heart failure in adults over 80 taking ibutamoren.[2] These safety issues resulted in the termination of clinical research with ibutamoren in older adults.

    What are ibutamoren’s main drawbacks? - Examine