How to manage retinopathy caused by performance-enhancing drugs?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 22-year-old male competitive athlete who recently completed a 12-week SARMs (selective androgen receptor modulators) cycle, followed by a 4-week post-cycle therapy (PCT) with Clomid (Clomiphene citrate) to reverse testosterone suppression. During this period, I also used MK-677 (Ibutamoren Mesylate) at 30mg/day. After about a week of Clomid and MK-677 use, I began experiencing vision problems, which worsened into retinopathy, with swelling and bleeding in both retinas. After seeing a retina specialist, it was suggested that Clomid might be the cause, but I later learned that MK-677 could also contribute, especially due to its effects on blood glucose and insulin. I am now undergoing monthly Avastin injections for the retinopathy and trying to determine if hyperglycemia, induced by MK-677, caused the issue.

Given the potential risks to my vision, I want to pinpoint whether Clomid or MK-677 is the likely cause. I am considering continuing MK-677 due to its benefits on sleep and recovery but need to understand if it is safe to use without risking further retinal damage.

If hyperglycemia is the mechanism, is there a way to manage it, such as insulin?
What are your insights on whether Clomid or MK-677 is more likely to have caused my retinal problems?
Are there any precautions I can take to avoid future complications while using performance-enhancing substances?

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query about your performance enhancing drugs 3 different types and the retinopathy incurred by you.

You asked me whether your high blood sugar could have been the cause of your retinopathy. Well I researched a lot about your issue to be sure in answering your questions and I found that the retinopathy caused here was multi factorial. It was the result of the three of the drugs used one by one .

Let us call them PED or performance enhancing drugs and anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS).

They cause individual problems in each person
They cause cerebrovascular problems which are associated with transient ischemic attacks that is sudden narrowing of the arteries supplying the brain tissue causing hemorrhage small or large or ischemic changes in the particular region of the brain.To be more clear the retina or the entire eye is developed from the brain tissue in layman terms to be easy for you.So all these changes which you have noticed are due to the same reason.
They cause cardiovascular problems in the sense there is a sudden rise in blood pressure giving rise to micro vascular arteries to rupture giving rise to retinal arterial hypertension and subsequent rupture.
Once you have retinopathy then it is highly likely that future use of any of these PED or AAS could cause permanent blindness or stroke in future.
PED and AAS usually do not follow the advice of doctors and do not believe in the truth we try to convey and suffer permanent physical disabilities.
In addition to their direct effects on cardiac tissue, AAS cause dyslipidemia, characterized by decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and increased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)—an established risk profile for atherosclerotic disease causing further microvascular tissue damage as in your case the retinopathy.
AAS abuse can increase hypercoagulopathy and cause cerebrovascular disease.
AAS causes cerebroembolic stroke leading to sudden vision loss .
MK-677 has a lesser percentage of contribution to this with major contributions from SARM and Clomid.
Mind you the doses were also higher than medically prescribed for the conditions for which these are actually meant for.
I do not agree that high blood sugar can cause retinopathy in this case of yours and it is my personal opinion.

I hope I have answered your query.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Thank you.