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Clenbuterol Information

Clenbuterol is a stimulant used to treat breathing problems in animals. It also has potent fat burning properties, making it a popular weight loss aid. While not much is known about the effects of clenbuterol in humans, it is generally considered unsafe when taken in the doses required for weight loss.

  1. What Is Clenbuterol?

    • Clenbuterol is a stimulant from the same family as the popular asthma medication albuterol. It can be compared to ephedrine, but with more potent and long-lasting effects. It has smooth muscle relaxant properties and increases the rate at which fat is burned, as well as raising blood pressure, heart rate and body temperature. Clenbuterol is available by prescription in Europe for treating asthma but is not approved for human use in the United States.

    Uses

    • In the U.S., clenbuterol is mainly used in veterinary medicine for treating breathing problems in horses. It is sometimes used by farmers to increase meat production in livestock, though this practice has been banned by the FDA because of cases of human poisoning from tainted meat. Outside the U.S., clenbuterol is prescribed to treat asthma and other breathing problems in humans and is generally considered safe and effective for this purpose.

      The off-label use of clenbuterol as a weight loss supplement is an increasingly popular phenomenon among body builders and celebrities, according to CBSNews.com. This practice is generally considered unsafe because of the higher doses required for weight loss and the risks associated with obtaining clenbuterol from black market sources.

    Side Effects

    • When taken as an asthma treatment, clenbuterol can cause symptoms similar to those of albuterol, including rapid heartbeat, insomnia and jitteriness. Because it affects the central and peripheral nervous system, clenbuterol can also cause mental and emotional symptoms like irritability, anxiety, insomnia and nervousness. Higher doses may cause high blood pressure and an increase in adrenaline.

      The long-term effects of clenbuterol as a weight loss supplement are less clear. According to Fass.org, rats given high doses of clenbuterol experienced enlarged heart size after only 10 days on the drug. It has also been reported to increase the rate of cardiac death in horses, though the implications of clenbuterol use on human health are still unclear.

    Abuse and Addiction

    • Like other stimulants, clenbuterol can be abused as a weight loss drug or energy supplement. According to USDOJ.gov, clenbuterol is most frequently used by female athletes for its ability to decrease fat without the androgenic effects of most steroids. It is popular among body builders and professional athletes, several of whom have tested positive for the drug in recent years, causing it to be banned by anti-doping agencies worldwide. It is also reportedly used by Hollywood celebrities for its rapid fat-burning effects. Clenbuterol is marketed openly online for its stimulating and weight-loss effects under the names Spiropent, Oxyflux, Ventipulmin, and Novegam.

      Because it's not approved for humans in the U.S., clenbuterol use as a weight loss aid is considered illicit, though legal loopholes allow it to be easily obtained online from overseas sources.

    Warning

    • The effects of clenbuterol on humans are not well understood. Taking clenbuterol as a weight loss aid can lead to serious health effects, especially in those with pre-existing conditions. According to IFitAndHealthy.com, reports of cardiac-related deaths caused by clenbuterol exist, suggesting it can be dangerous when taken in the doses required for weight loss.

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