Clenbuterol for Bodybuilding: Side Effects, Benefits & Risks

Since the doctors could not control the overuse of this drug, it was finally banned. In these countries, you cannot buy clenbuterol as a supplement or weight-loss pill, but it is used for veterinary purposes. Learn more about these countries in the next section. While clenbuterol may offer the benefits mentioned above, you should never take it without medical supervision. Like other drugs, it may not be safe if you overuse or misuse it.
Due to these properties, clenbuterol has been used in livestock to increase the amount of lean muscle. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t approved clenbuterol for use in humans. Read on to learn more about the usage, safety, and side effects of this medication. In addition to being used to treat asthma, clenbuterol has become popular as a weight loss supplement. Clenbuterol is a compound that belongs to a class of drugs called beta2-agonists. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Persons self-administering the drug for weight loss or to improve athletic performance have experienced nausea, vomiting, diaphoresis, palpitations, tachycardia, and myocardial infarction. It is classified by the World Anti-Doping Agency as an anabolic agent, not as a β2 agonist. People with chronic breathing disorders such as asthma use this as a bronchodilator to make breathing easier. Clenbuterol is a sympathomimetic amine used by sufferers of breathing disorders as a decongestant and bronchodilator. To make matters worse, these side effects tend to linger—clenbuterol has a long half-life and remains in the body for quite a while.”
Other similar bronchodilators are albuterol and formoterol, which are approved in the U.S. for asthma and other lung conditions. This is why it is prescribed to treat asthma and breathing problems. ‌Clenbuterol is a bronchodilator, which means it relaxes the muscles around the airways and opens them to make breathing easier.
And thermogenic effectsi The process of heat production in the body that helps perform vital functions, such as digestion, absorption, and storage of food. It is a steroid-like substance, but not a steroid, and falls in the β2-agonist category. Clenbuterol, popularly known as Clen, is a bronchodilatori A drug that helps facilitate breathing by widening the bronchi or the airways and relaxing the muscles. If yes, what are the adverse effects that follow? Despite this, its use is gaining controversial traction among fitness freaks and bodybuilders for faster weight loss (2).
Clenbuterol used for weight loss or performance enhancement can be acquired as a tablet, liquid, or injection. Like many bronchodilators used for asthma treatment, you should use it as needed — up to the recommended dosage as opposed to regular daily use. Even though there is minimal evidence for clenbuterol weight loss dosage as a performance-enhancing drug, it’s listed on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Prohibited List. Clenbuterol has been observed to both increase muscle mass and reduce body fat. Clenbuterol has also been observed as an additive in illegal drugs, such as heroin. The drug can still be found in the meat of livestock after it has been butchered, and this has led to illness in Europe and Asia. A liquid form of the drug is approved by the FDA for treatment of airway obstruction in horses.
But the biggest question is, can you take clenbuterol for weight loss? Most weight loss pills and diets lead to loss of lean muscle mass. In December 2006, over 300 people suffered from food poisoning due to pork contaminated by clenbuterol. Self-administration can lead to harmful side effects and is illegal in many places.
However, use it only under medical supervision. Always consult a physician before considering Clenbuterol for bodybuilding. While some bodybuilders have used it for muscle growth and fat loss, the FDA has not not approved it for human use (10). A blogger shares his personal experience of using Clenbuterol and how it showed positive results in weight loss.