Toremifene Citrate is the active ingredient in a drug with the brand name Fareston (an anti-estrogen drug designed to treat breast cancer in post-menopausal women). Because of its estrogen-inhibiting effects, Toremifene has also become a desirable drug for people who use steroids, more specifically when used as a post-cycle therapy (PCT) drug to prevent estrogen levels in men from rising. At the same time, natural testosterone function is stimulated back to its normal levels after being suppressed by the use of steroids that have aromatizing activity (conversion of testosterone to estrogen).
Toremifene might be the hidden gem of SERMs for bodybuilders. Not because it’s an unknown drug or because no one wants to use it. It just doesn’t have the same popularity status as Clomid or Nolvadex. But is there a reason for this? Or is Toremifene as good as other SERMs for your ancillary steroid cycle needs? If you want to know what Toremifene is all about, where and how it can benefit you, and how it compares to some of our other AAS and SARM ancillary options, then this guide is for you!
Medical disclaimer: The following guide is based on personal experience and does NOT promote the illegal use of steroids (PEDs). Consult a healthcare professional before using PEDs.
What is Toremifene?
Toremifene is a SERM that was developed primarily for treating advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women. This gives us an indication of what this SERM might excel at – mitigating gynecomastia. Many users find it a tremendous on-cycle gyno reversal and prevention SERM. That’s not all, though. Toremifene is also clinically proven to stimulate testosterone production. That makes this a SERM that can be very useful for our on-cycle and PCT needs.
This is a very effective Selective Estrogen Receptor modulator (SERM) drug for breast cancer in women due to the way Fareston can block estrogen from getting to cancer cells, which can feed the cells and make the cancer grow. So, how does this benefit a male who uses anabolic steroids? We know that estrogen is an enemy of male steroid users, but its increase during steroid use is a common problem.
Additionally, elevated estrogen after a steroid cycle, combined with low testosterone, can bring about some drastic health effects. This makes Toremifene a potentially powerful anti-estrogen drug for use during a steroid cycle. While, in theory, it could also be useful for PCT, some aspects make it less useful than other medications.
Because Toremifene is a selective estrogen blocker and its main target is estrogen receptors in the breast tissue, it does not work to lower overall estrogen levels in the body. It is not one of the more well-known anti-estrogens or PCT drugs in use by steroid users, with other SERMs like Clomid and Nolvadex being more common due to the way they work more effectively to stimulate natural testosterone.
The full spectrum of Fareston’s advantages and disadvantages is still not as fully understood as other more established drugs like Clomid and Nolvadex, simply because Fareston is a newer drug and is less likely to be used by steroid users who prefer the more well-known products. Fareston certainly shows promising signs that it can have its place in a steroid user’s bag as long as he understands its benefits and limitations.
A Quick Look at Toremifene
- Other Names: Toremifene Citrate, Torem, Chlorotamoxifen, Fareston, others.
- Primary Use: Breast cancer treatment. Off-label use for Post-Cycle Therapy (PCT) to restore natural testosterone production and manage estrogenic side effects.
- Administration: Oral form (tablets). Typical PCT Dosage: week 1-2: 60-120 mg/day, week 3-4: 60 mg/day (tapering optional). Half-life: ~5 days (once-daily dosing).
- Cycle Length: 4-6 weeks (as part of PCT). Often stacked with Clomid or HCG for enhanced recovery.
- Benefits: Restores natural testosterone post-cycle, prevents/treats gynecomastia (gyno) by blocking estrogen in breast tissue, fewer visual disturbances and mood swings compared to Clomid, improves cholesterol levels (beneficial for cardiovascular health).
- Side Effects: Hot flashes, mild nausea or fatigue, headaches, blood clots or stroke (similar to other SERMs), liver enzyme elevation (with prolonged use).
Note: Toremifene is a viable alternative to Nolvadex in PCT, offering similar estrogen-blocking benefits with a milder side effect profile. While less popular than Clomid or Nolvadex, it is particularly useful for users sensitive to other SERMs. Always pair with bloodwork to monitor hormone recovery. Misuse can still lead to hormonal imbalances or cardiovascular risks.
History and Overview
Toremifene is a much newer SERM than the more famous names. It was approved for use in the US in 1997, while Nolvadex goes back to the 1970s. This means Toremifene has had much fewer studies and clinical trials undertaken with it. Fareston is the primary brand name of Toremifene, which is marketed worldwide, and generic versions also exist.
Toremifene’s primary medical use is as a treatment for post-menopausal women with metastatic breast cancer, and it’s often prescribed at very high doses for that purpose (much higher than we would want to take it). It’s also been investigated as a possible treatment for the side effects that come along with some prostate cancer treatments (including gynecomastia) and for directly treating or preventing prostate treatment – but this line of research has now been discontinued.
Mechanism of Action
Toremifene’s mechanisms of action will be very similar to those of all SERMs: Specifically, it targets only selective estrogen receptors in the body instead of lowering your circulating estrogen levels (as aromatase inhibitors do). And like all SERMs, Toremifene is an agonist and antagonist of estrogen receptors – depending on where those receptors are in the body. Its primary purpose is to be anti-estrogenic in breast tissue (which is why we want to use it for preventing gynecomastia). At the same time, Toremifene produces estrogen effects in other areas, such as the bones.
Toremifene works to block estrogen, specifically within the breast cells, because the tumors of breast cancer will continue to grow and spread with the activity of estrogen. Another mechanism of action of Toremifene relates to its effects on SHBG (Sex Hormone Binding Globulin), which I’ll go into more detail below.
Effects of Toremifene (Benefits) for Men
Toremifene does not come with a long list of benefits for men. But what it does do is that it does it well, and we will always have just a few specific reasons for wanting to use a SERM like this. Even though these effects are not the original intention behind the development of Toremifene as a medical drug, they are very convenient and valuable to us steroid users. Here’s what Toremifene can do for you:
Testosterone stimulation
Toremifene is effective at stimulating and raising your testosterone levels. Studies on men have shown that Toremifene successfully raises FSH levels, total testosterone levels, and sperm concentrations.
One of the most important arguments against Toremifene for PCT use is that it’s shown to raise levels of SHBG. The higher your SHBG levels are, the more testosterone will bind to it, and the less free or total testosterone you’ll have available. This has the opposite effect of what we want – reduced testosterone levels.
The SHBG-raising effects of Toremifene should not impact its ability to stimulate testosterone at the doses we use this SERM at. This is backed up by the medical evidence of Torem being effective at increasing testosterone.
Prevent and reverse gynecomastia
For the low number of men who have used legitimately to reverse the symptoms of gyno that have developed on cycle, Torem has shown to be possibly the best SERM for the job. Once signs like nipple puffiness begin, you need a good SERM to reverse the gyno and keep it away effectively.
Torem has been shown in cell culture studies to inhibit breast tissue growth, stopping breast cell division and even bringing about selective cell death. Even though we have very little scientific data available on Toremifene, these promising studies and (even more importantly) anecdotal experiences have undoubtedly shown that Toremifene effectively prevents and reverses gynecomastia.
Positive effects on cholesterol
An unexpected benefit of this medication is its effect on cholesterol due to its function in the liver. Many anabolic steroids hurt cholesterol levels, causing great concern to users. Fareston may help mitigate this risk somewhat by improving lipid profiles so that LDL, or bad cholesterol levels, are reduced while encouraging the increase in HDL or good cholesterol levels. Many steroids have the opposite effect on cholesterol, making this a particularly useful drug for those steroid users who are concerned about their cholesterol health during a cycle.
Doesn’t impact IGF-1
Another benefit that Fareston has when compared with Nolvadex is that Fareston is not known to impact IGF-1 negatively. This makes it much more suitable to use during a steroid cycle when you do not want to see your IGF-1 levels decrease. While Fareston is a younger drug than Nolvadex, and this same effect might still yet be found in the future, for now, it is strongly believed that Fareston does not exhibit the same negative impact on IGF-1 levels when used for estrogen mitigation during a steroid cycle.
What is Estrogen?
We can think of estrogen to females as testosterone to males. It’s the primary female sex hormone responsible for:
- The female reproductive system
- Secondary sex characteristics (such as wider hips and breast development)
So what, you say? What has this got to with men?
Well, as steroid users, we run the high risk of getting our estrogen out of balance. Using steroids that aromatize (convert testosterone to estrogen) makes it a certainty that your estrogen will spike—too much estrogen results in gynecomastia and water retention, as well as other issues like mood changes. And while a spike in estrogen isn’t going to impact your short-term health seriously, it can result in distressing symptoms that we all want to avoid – the most notable is gynecomastia.
As a male steroid user, you don’t only have to worry about having too much estrogen. There’s also the risk of crushing your estrogen levels by misusing an aromatase inhibitor during your cycle (the standard way of minimizing water retention). The symptoms of low or crashed estrogen can be similar to those of low testosterone, and you might not even know it’s happening without bloodwork. Understanding estrogen and how it can fluctuate during a steroid cycle – and which steroids are going to contribute to it – is critical to knowing which ancillaries to use. A SERM like Toremifene works VERY differently from an aromatase inhibitor in controlling your estrogenic side effects.
Toremifene for PCT
It’s possible to do a successful PCT with Toremifene as the sole compound and ultimately recover your testosterone. Unfortunately, we haven’t heard much about this because Toremifene is hard to buy.
I’ve heard guys asking whether you should add Clomid or another SERM to PCT when using Toremifene. I would say not! Toremifene is capable of testosterone recovery when used right (as long as it’s legitimate or high purity Toremifene). If you need an extra kick, HCG can always be added in, but I would avoid combining Toremifene with other SERMs like Clomid – it’s simply not necessary.
While Fareston has some attributes that can make it potentially useful for post-cycle therapy use, for most steroid users, the more commonly used drugs of Clomid and Nolvadex are usually more appealing. There are good reasons for this, and it relates to the stimulation of certain hormones, which leads to the outcome we are trying to achieve with PCT: To get natural testosterone working normally again. Luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones need to be released to restore testosterone function.
SERM drugs are good at stimulating the release of these hormones, increasing the amount of free testosterone circulating. Fareston, however, becomes a roadblock to enhancing these hormones because it causes a large increase in SHBG (sex hormone-binding globulin). SHBG reduces the amount of free testosterone in circulation, which is exactly the opposite effect of what you need to be happening during post-cycle therapy, as your testosterone will already be critically low coming off a steroid cycle.
So while on the surface Fareston does seem to be a good choice for PCT, once we understand the further details of its functions as it relates to SHBG, it becomes clear that Toremifene is, in fact, a less than ideal choice for PCT, and could indeed send your progress backward when used for this purpose. Steroid users are, therefore, advised to stick with other SERMs that do not increase SHGB, such as Nolvadex and Clomid.
For users who might have difficulty obtaining other drugs or who prefer Fareston for other reasons, it is still possible to use it for PCT as long as close attention is paid to your testosterone progress. Studies have shown that testosterone can be increased but only when high doses of this drug are used – around 60mg daily at a minimum and up to 120mg. A drug like Nolvadex requires a dose of about 20mg daily as a comparison.
Doses
For breast cancer treatment, Toremifene doses will start at 60mg in some cases, but it can vary wildly depending on the individual’s need. Many women will be prescribed much higher doses.
One study involving women with advanced breast cancer made use of very high doses – up to more than 600mg per day[1]. While Toremifene has been proven safe at high doses, we do not need to take such significant doses.
Toremifene dosage on-cycle
We know that Toremifene works very well for reversing the symptoms of gyno. This can be done at a very moderate dose – 60mg per day should be enough to eliminate those gyno symptoms, provided you keep taking Toremifene until the signs have completely disappeared.
If you’re worried that your gyno is already too well developed, you could begin with 90mg or 120mg (prepare for some potential side effects like fatigue) for a short time before dropping the dose to 60mg.
Would lower doses work to stop gyno?
I’ve seen some guys successfully prevent gyno on only 30mg/day, but if you’re using an aromatizing steroid at high doses or you’re just more prone to gyno, I’d still stick with 60mg/day to be on the safe side. Worth noting is that Toremifene won’t affect that other estrogenic side effect – water retention – and for that, you’ll need an AI.
Toremifene dosage for PCT
The standard Toremifene dosage of 60mg per day is all we should need for PCT use, and if that doesn’t work effectively enough, then the addition of hCG might be needed (for more suppressive cycles). People estimate that 60mg of Toremifene is around the equivalent strength of 20mg of Nolvadex, so if you’re used to using Nolvadex, adjust your Torem dose as needed.
Tapering the dose is what we usually do with all other SERMs, and you can do so with Toremifene if desired: 60mg daily for three weeks, followed by 30mg daily for one week. While I’ve seen some users start at 120mg for the first week before reducing the dosage for the rest of PCT, I wouldn’t recommend such a high dose. Of interest is a study with post-menopausal women taking 120mg of Toremifene, resulting in increased fatigue, nausea, and night sweats at this dose[2].
Dosing schedule, half-life, and PCT length
Toremifene has a half-life of about six days, so it can be taken once daily without any issues, considering the long half-life. This SERM is prescribed as a once-daily dosing schedule when used medically. Toremifene can be used for the standard length of a PCT protocol – 4 to 6 weeks, depending on how suppressive your steroid or SARMs cycle was.
Proper administration and timing
Whether you’re using Fareston during your steroid cycle to combat gyno and other estrogenic side effects or as a PCT drug, you’ll want to be using it properly to get the greatest benefit. That means getting your dosage right and knowing the timing of each dose.
The good news is that Fareston doesn’t have a strict timing schedule; it can be easily slotted into your daily routine with little planning or interruption. There are no specific requirements to take it with food, so it can be taken with a meal or any other time of day as it suits you. The whole dose can be taken immediately, and you can take it morning, night, or anywhere between. This makes Fareston a very simple drug to use for any steroid user.
As I said, the time of day you take this SERM will depend on personal preference. However, taking higher doses can potentially bring on fatigue and nausea; in those cases, I’d prefer to take the dose in the evening so my workouts aren’t impacted.
Toremifene vs. Other PCT Options
Some might say that we have too many PCT options to choose from now. It’s not easy to pick which SERM or other type of drug to use to get your testosterone function back to where it should be. So, I thought I’d briefly compare the significant differences between Toremifene and some of the other ancillaries we can use on-cycle or PCT.
Toremifene vs. Raloxifene
Many users consider Raloxifene to be the best SERM for on-cycle gynecomastia mitigation. But before making that claim, you’d want to have experience with all other SERMs to compare, including Toremifene. And the difficulty in obtaining Torem means that most guys haven’t had a chance to compare these two SERMs.
One thing is sure: Both will be excellent for gyno control. Ralox is often used by males with non-AAS-related gynecomastia, and it effectively reverses often advanced symptoms. I’d have no issues with using either of these SERMs for on-cycle anti-gyno purposes. However, PCT is different: Raloxifene isn’t an effective testosterone stimulator, while Toremifene is one of the best PCT SERMs.
Toremifene vs. Nolvadex
First of all, it is the simple fact that Nolvadex is MUCH easier to get your hands on than Toremifene. And it’s cheap. This alone will be the decision-maker for most of us between these two SERMs.
Structurally, Torem and Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) are almost identical, with only one atom difference. Breast cancer treatment studies have shown similar outcomes with these SERMs[3]. Regarding gyno control on-cycle, some users will say that Toremifene is a better version of Nolvadex and does a better job at stopping or reversing gyno signs.
But here’s the kicker:
For every few thousand guys using Nolvadex for gyno control, there might be one or two using real pharma Toremifene. This will always skew the opinion towards Nolvadex because it DOES work brilliantly. Could Torem be better for gynecomastia? At the very least, I believe it’s equal to Nolvadex.
Both these SERMs are useful for PCT, and again, if more of us had access to Toremifene, we’d be using it as often (if not more) than Nolvadex for restarting testosterone. Overall, there is very little to differentiate Toremifene and Nolvadex, and you can’t go wrong with using either of these SERMs on-cycle and for PCT.
Toremifene vs. Letrozole
The big difference between Letrozole and Toremifene is that Letrozole is an aromatase inhibitor, so it works very differently from a SERM like Torem.
Letrozole won’t target estrogen receptors in breast tissue – instead, it will lower your production of estrogen. While men might think this is a great thing, it can go too far and crash your estrogen levels – and that’s when guys experience some atrocious symptoms (even worse than low testosterone). For that reason, Letrozole is not what you would use for PCT. Toremifene, on the other hand, is brilliant for PCT.
Letrozole is what you’ll need to reduce water retention on the cycle, as well as gyno. Toremifene won’t help you with fluid retention because it only targets breast tissue, but it is an excellent gynecomastia prevention and reversal ancillary.
Toremifene Side Effects in Men
All drugs come with possible side effects, and Fareston is no exception. Many potential side effects are listed for this prescription medication when it’s used for its intended purpose of breast cancer treatment, and many of these are the same possible side effects for steroid users who make use of Toremifene.
The good news is that most anecdotal reports of Toremifene use among men rarely come with concerning side effects, mainly where low or moderate doses are used. Higher doses above 100mg/day are known to bring on some fatigue and possible nausea, hot flashes, and night sweats.
The medical literature has revealed various side effects that some women on Torem experience – but we will find that few, if any, of these apply to men due to the different roles estrogen plays in female and male bodies. These side effects can include:
- Depression
- Gastrointestinal upset
- Loss of strength
- Muscle stiffness
- Shortness of breath
- Visual disturbances
If any of the above symptoms start occurring and are causing concern, you can consider lowering your dosage of Fareston or stopping it altogether. It should be known that it’s not uncommon for some dizziness to be experienced at the start of using Fareston, but this should subside within a short period. More serious side effects, considered very rare, can include a reduction in white blood cell count, a decrease in strength, breathing difficulties, hair loss, and depression.
Most guys who have used Clomid and had negative experiences with mood and mental side effects find that Toremifene does not cause the same issues. But we don’t have enough anecdotal reporting by male Toremifene users to build up a solid side-effect profile. As always, if you purchase Toremifene, which is not genuine pharmaceutical grade (very hard to find) and isn’t high purity, then you run the risk of suffering side effects that aren’t necessarily expected with this drug.
Where to Buy Toremifene?
It’s disappointing that Toremifene is one of the most difficult SERMs to find (possibly THE most difficult). This no doubt contributes greatly to its relatively low use among steroid users. If you can find equally good or better SERMs for a low cost and higher quality, most of us will do that. That does not mean getting Toremifene is impossible, but you will find it challenging to buy.
Availability of Toremifene
Many of our favorite steroid and SERM suppliers will often not have Toremifene. This is not because of its lack of effectiveness but rather simply due to the lack of available supply and its higher cost compared to the very popular SERMs, which are easier for suppliers to obtain. So this means that legitimate Toremifene is challenging to get. Research chemical suppliers and underground labs are our main options for this SERM.
And let’s not forget:
Buying fake Torem (known to be counterfeited much more than other SERMs) can result in poor performance and puts you at risk of unknown and unexpected side effects and health risks. The standard per-tablet dosage of pharma-grade Toremifene is 60mg.
Is Toremifene legal?
There’s only one approved medical use for this SERM in the US and other countries, and that’s for breast cancer treatment. So, there’s zero chance of you being able to get a legitimate doctor’s prescription for Toremifene.
Technically, the only legal way to possess or buy Toremifene is at a pharmacy with your prescription. Black market Toremifene (imported overseas and sold through non-official suppliers) is illegal in most major countries. Buying through underground labs or research chemical suppliers (which is technically legal) is the only option for most of us.
Typical pricing
Genuine branded Toremifene under Fareston is the best version of this SERM we can get. As I’ve said, it’s one of the most difficult to come by without a prescription. Fareston is prescribed all over the world for breast cancer, and arrangements in different countries will determine pricing – but again, without a prescription, you’re going to be at the mercy of black-market suppliers.
But here’s the deal:
With the lack of availability of genuine pharma-grade Toremifene, if you come across black market products, they will be priced very high compared to other SERMs. Currently, generic Toremifene 60mg tablets in a bottle of 30 tablets can be found for over $1000 without insurance in the US.
With most other ancillaries, we could research chemical suppliers and expect a reasonable quality product for an affordable price. Toremifene Citrate is again an exception, with even research grade (usually in liquid form) costing $100 or more for a 25mg vial. Unfortunately, the cost of Toremifene rules it out for so many of us. Still, as many drugs do over time become cheaper, it’s well worth checking back in on the pricing and availability of Toremifene in the future.
Toremifene FAQs
What is Fareston used for?
Toremifene citrate (Fareston) is used as a breast cancer treatment drug in post-menopause women. Because it is a selective estrogen receptor modifier, it can specifically target receptors in the breast tissue to treat and reduce the risk of breast cancer in women.
Fareston has some clear benefits for anabolic steroid users. Most importantly, it is highly useful in your efforts to combat estrogenic side effects that are caused by many steroids. These include the development of gyno, as well as water retention and increased blood pressure. The growth of male breast tissue, called gynecomastia, is the main reason for the use of Fareston. It is made to target breast tissue receptors, so it is here specifically that we see its greatest benefit.
Does Fareston have any side effects?
As a prescription medication, Fareston comes with its risk of side effects, but these are considered very mild and uncommon. Only a small minority of users have been shown to experience side effects, including increased sweating and dizziness. More serious side effects may include decreased white blood cell count, hair loss, and depression, as steroid users are likely to use higher doses of Fareston, keeping an eye out for any side effects and stopping usage of the drug if any concerning problems arise.
Does Fareston cause weight gain?
Weight gain is listed as a possible side effect for women who use Fareston as a breast cancer treatment. It has not shown to be an issue for bodybuilders and other athletes who might be using it for other purposes.
Who makes Fareston?
The Fareston brand name of Toremifene citrate is made by a Japanese pharmaceutical company called Kyowa Kirin, and it is sold as a prescription medication around the world.
Final Thoughts
Toremifene is a great SERM. For a lot of us, it doesn’t cause the mental side effects that often come with Clomid and Nolvadex, and this is enough to make the switch. And it is fantastic at kickstarting testosterone and controlling gynecomastia – which is all we can ask of any SERM.
But if you ask any steroid user why they aren’t using Toremifene on-cycle or for PCT, there’s usually one answer: It costs too much, and I can’t find it for sale. It is a more costly SERM, and this is a big reason why it’s not used as widely as the more available and cheaper drugs. Some will claim this is the best PCT SERM, and I won’t hesitate to use Toremifene for both PCT and my on-cycle needs – if I can find it.
— Furious Joe