Clenbuterol in Bodybuilding: An Overview of the Sympathomimetic Drug

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Clenbuterol does not belong to anabolic steroids, this drug is a stimulant that belongs to the sympathomimetic group. This family includes compounds well known to most people, such as caffeine, ephedrine, albuterol, amphetamines, cocaine and many others. This is actually a huge group of drugs, all of which are interconnected. All stimulants are similar to each other and work the same way. The effect of clenbuterol on the nervous system is manifested by interaction with adrenergic receptors in various tissues and cells of the body. Due to the affinity of clenbuterol for these receptors, various effects are manifested, the nature of which depends on the type of tissues stimulated. Particular attention is paid to the role of clenbuterol in adipose tissue.

There are two main types of adrenergic receptors in the body: alpha and beta receptors. Within these two distinct types, there are 9 subtypes, namely alpha 1, alpha 2, beta 1, beta 2, etc. Clenbuterol and other stimulants differ in their ability to stimulate different receptor subtypes. Clenbuterol has a pronounced selective stimulatory effect on beta-2 adrenergic receptors and is therefore known as a beta-2 receptor agonist.

Due to the effect of clenbuterol on beta-2 adrenergic receptors, the process of fat breakdown with the release of free fatty acids (lipolysis) is initiated. This has made the drug popular among bodybuilders and athletes, as well as celebrities and anyone looking to shed extra pounds.

In medicine, clenbuterol is used in the treatment of bronchial asthma as a bronchodilator. It can be used in inhaled form to relieve asthma attacks. For the treatment of asthma, Clenbuterol is commonly used in European countries; In North America, it is customary to prescribe a clenbuterol-related compound, albuterol, for this purpose. Stimulation of beta-2 receptors located in the bronchi by the drug causes bronchial dilation (expansion of the airways). The impact is also felt on receptors located in the lungs, throat and nasal mucosa. Almost all sympathomimetics have this effect, but clenbuterol and albuterol are the most effective in this regard and are therefore used to relieve asthma attacks.

Clenbuterol once had other medical indications: it was prescribed to treat conditions such as hypotension, cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrhythmia, migraine, allergic reactions and edema, histamine reactions and anaphylactic shock.

Clenbuterol primarily affects beta-2 receptors, however, although to a lesser extent, it also stimulates other receptor subtypes. For comparison, ephedrine activates beta and alpha receptors to about the same extent, unlike clenbuterol, which primarily stimulates one receptor subtype. Clenbuterol is known in the bodybuilding community for its anabolic effects on muscle tissue.

But in fact, the drug has a minimal anabolic effect, which was found mainly in animals and to a lesser extent in humans (therefore, to achieve a noticeable effect, the drug must be used for a long time).

It should be noted that with prolonged use of Clenbuterol, the response of beta-2 receptors to stimulation will decrease. The addictive effect develops quite quickly. During the use of the drug, the rate of fat burning decreases until fat loss stops completely.

There are two ways to remove the habituation effect. First, include drug-free periods in the program (at least 2 weeks). Second, take the antihistamine Ketotifen fumarate, which has a regulating effect on beta-2 receptors.

Clenbuterol Side Effects

  • tachycardia (rapid heartbeat)
  • extrasystole (heart rhythm disturbances)
  • trembling fingers
  • anxiety
  • headaches
  • allergic reactions in the form of a rash.

Dry mouth, nausea and a decrease in blood pressure are possible.

Clenbuterol application course

Very often, Clenbuterol is used in training, pre-competitive and fat burning classes. It is very rarely used out of season or during the muscle building phase. Some bodybuilders may use Clenbuterol during the muscle building phase in an attempt (mostly unsuccessfully) to reduce fat storage during a period when more than normal calories are being consumed. But in essence, they are wasting time and money, because clenbuterol does not have such a pharmacological effect. As already stated, clenbuterol binds to fat cell receptors and causes lipolysis, as a result of which free fatty acids enter the bloodstream. These compounds must go through the second stage of fat burning: oxidation. During this process, fatty acids move from the bloodstream to the cells and mitochondria, where these substances are oxidized, but with excessive calorie intake, not all fat entering the body undergoes lipolysis.

Clenbuterol can be used alone or in combination with other compounds. Whether the medicine is used as monotherapy or with other medicines, the way it is used does not change. The usual clenbuterol regimen is 2 weeks on/2 weeks off (or for 8 weeks using ketotifen every other week). It is recommended that Clenbuterol be used for up to 12 weeks to reduce the risk of adverse effects on the cardiovascular and other systems.

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