Clenbuterol
KLEN-byoo-ter-ohl
Category
Compound type
Phase / Status
Not approved for human use in USA
Standard Dose
As directed
Half-life
Plasma elimination
Route(s)
Oral, Injectable or Topical
Research Stage
Research phase not specified; exercise appropriate caution.
Overview
Clenbuterol is a beta-2 agonist that can increase metabolic activity. Because it directly affects the heart and nervous system, side effects like tremor, palpitations, and anxiety are well known. It's also not an over-the-counter supplement - quality, dosing, and legal status vary widely depending on where you live. If you're reading about it for performance or weight-loss, the safest guidance is: don't treat it like a fitness product, and consult a clinician if you have any cardiovascular history or are taking other stimulatory medications.
Plain-language summary
Clenbuterol is a beta-2 agonist that can increase metabolic activity. Because it directly affects the heart and nervous system, side effects like tremor, palpitations, and anxiety are well known. It's also not an over-the-counter supplement - quality, dosing, and legal status vary widely depending on where you live. If you're reading about it for performance or weight-loss, the safest guidance is: don't treat it like a fitness product, and consult a clinician if you have any cardiovascular history or are taking other stimulatory medications.
Administration Routes
- Oral
- Injectable
- Topical
Also known as
Mechanisms
Beta-2 adrenergic agonist
Detailed mechanism
Clenbuterol selectively activates beta-2 adrenergic receptors in bronchial smooth muscle and adipose tissue, triggering adenylyl cyclase-mediated cAMP elevation that causes smooth muscle relaxation and enhanced lipolysis. In skeletal muscle, beta-2 receptor activation also engages protein kinase A pathways, which can attenuate protein degradation and promote anabolic signaling under certain conditions. These combined effects on bronchodilation, thermogenesis, and muscle protein turnover underlie both its clinical use in respiratory conditions and its documented off-label use in body composition contexts.
Safety
Side effects
- Tremors
- Tachycardia
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
Reported benefits
- Fat burning
- Muscle preservation
- Bronchodilation
Safety profile
Consult medical professional before use
Clinical trials
See research status
Structure
Verified structure
Clenbuterol
Exact 2D structure can be rendered from a PubChem-backed canonical SMILES string.
- Chemical Formula
- C12H18Cl2N2O
- Molecular Weight
- 277.19 g/mol
- CAS Number
- 37148-27-9
- InChIKey
- STJMRWALKKWQGH-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Stack Context
No stack data available.
References
- 1View source
Beta-2 agonists as misusing drugs: assessment of clenbuterol- and salbutamol-related EMA pharmacovigilance reports (Drug Safety)
2018
- 2View source
Beta 2-adrenergic agonist clenbuterol increases energy expenditure and improves glucose metabolism in mice (J Endocrinol)
2019
- 3View source
FDA Alert: Clenbuterol is an unapproved drug that can cause serious health problems (FDA Animal and Veterinary)
2021
This profile summarizes research literature for education only. It is not medical advice, and it does not diagnose, treat, or recommend a dose. Consult a qualified professional before changing a protocol.