No specific drugs have been approved for the treatment of sarcopenia. Testosterone treatment may increase muscle mass and strength in older men with low serum testosterone levels (<200–300 ng/mL) and muscle weakness.[1] In addition, preliminary evidence suggests that myostatin inhibitors, which block the actions of myostatin — a protein secreted by muscle cells that inhibits protein synthesis and hypertrophy — may increase muscle mass and some measures of physical performance.[2][3] However, the medical use of myostatin inhibitors as a treatment of sarcopenia is currently limited to clinical trials.
What are some of the main medical treatments for sarcopenia?
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•Last Updated: May 16, 2025
There are no approved drugs specifically for sarcopenia, but testosterone treatment may help increase muscle mass and strength in older men with low testosterone levels. Additionally, selective androgen receptor modulators have shown potential for similar benefits and have fewer side effects than testosterone, although they are not FDA approved for sarcopenia either. Myostatin inhibitors also show promise in increasing muscle mass and physical performance, though their use for sarcopenia is currently limited to clinical trials.