Meldonium vs MK-677
Moderate Research vs Well Studied
monitor Mechanism-based · 51% Both Meldonium and MK-677 can raise blood pressure. Monitor BP regularly and consider adding cardiovascular support (cardarine, telmisartan, or similar).
Molecular Data
Meldonium MK-677
Weight 146.19 Da 624.77 Da
Half-life ~4-6 hours ~24 hours
Type Hydrazinium derivative (C6H14N2O2) Non-peptide ghrelin receptor agonist
Key Benefits
Meldonium
01 Cardioprotective effects through metabolic optimization under ischemic conditions
02 Shifts cardiac energy metabolism from fatty acid oxidation to more oxygen-efficient glucose oxidation
03 Reduces accumulation of toxic fatty acid intermediates (long-chain acylcarnitines) in heart tissue
04 Promotes nitric oxide synthesis and endothelial function via GBB accumulation
05 May improve exercise capacity and reduce recovery time through enhanced glucose utilization
06 Used as adjunctive cardiac protection during anabolic steroid cycles to mitigate androgen-induced cardiotoxicity
07 Well-established safety profile in Eastern European clinical use spanning over 30 years
MK-677
01 97% increase in 24-hour growth hormone secretion
02 40-72% elevation in IGF-1 levels
03 Enhanced sleep quality with improved REM patterns
04 Preferential lean tissue gains of 1.1-2.7kg over 8-12 months
05 15% basal metabolic rate increase within 2 weeks
06 Oral administration (no injections required)
Side Effects
Meldonium
Mild gastrointestinal discomfort (nausea, dyspepsia, or stomach upset -- typically transient and dose-dependent)
Occasional heartburn or acid reflux, especially at higher doses or when taken on an empty stomach
MK-677
Appetite stimulation (>50% of users)
Water retention (30-40%)
Lethargy (20-30%)
Fasting glucose elevation (5-15mg/dL)
Note on testosterone suppression: at doses up to 20 mg daily, MK-677 is unlikely to cause significant testosterone suppression on its own. Above 20 mg daily, the likelihood of suppression and other side effects (insulin resistance, water retention, lethargy) increases. The case report documenting 85.7% testosterone suppression involved co-administration with LGD-4033, a SARM known to be profoundly suppressive, making the SARM the likely primary driver of that suppression.
Contraindications
Known hypersensitivity to meldonium or any excipients
Pregnancy or breastfeeding (insufficient safety data)
Individuals under 18 years of age
Severe hepatic or renal impairment (limited pharmacokinetic data in these populations)
Increased intracranial pressure (listed as a contraindication in some regional prescribing information)
Heart disease or congestive heart failure
Diabetes or pre-diabetes
Active cancer
Severe cardiovascular disease
Pregnancy or breastfeeding
Research Evidence
Meldonium MK-677
Status Moderate Research Well Studied
References 4 studies 7 studies
Latest 2016 July 2024
FDA Approved No No
This comparison is for educational and research purposes only. Consult a healthcare professional before use.