Clenbuterol

Clenbuterol is a drug prescribed to sufferers of breathing disorders as a decongestant and bronchodilator. People with chronic breathing disorders like asthma use this as a bronchodilator to make breathing easier. It is most commonly available in salt form as Clenbuterol hydrochloride. Clenbuterol is often mistaken for a steroid because of its illicit use in athletics.

Effects and Dosage
Clenbuterol is a β2 adrenergic agonist with some similarities to ephedrine, but its effects are more potent and longer-lasting as a stimulant and thermogenic drug. It causes an increase in aerobic capacity, CNS stimulation, and an increase in blood pressure and oxygen transportation. It increases the rate at which fat and protein is used up in the body at the same time as slowing down the storage of glycogen. It is commonly used for smooth muscle relaxant properties. This means that it is a bronchodilator and tocolytic. It is usually used in dosages anywhere from 20-60 micrograms a day when prescribed. A dose of about 150 μg should never be exceeded in a day. It is also prescribed for treatment of horses, however, equestrian usage is usually the liquid form of clenbuterol.

Human use
Recently clenbuterol has been touted as a weight loss drug and in some countries is prescribed as a bronchodilator for asthma patients. Human use can lead to side-effects.

Veterinary use
Clenbuterol is used worldwide for the treatment of allergic respiratory disease in horses as it is a bronchodilator. A common trade name is Ventipulmin. It can be used both orally and intravenously. It is also a non-steroidal anabolic and metabolism accelerator, through a mechanism not well understood. Its ability to induce weight gain and a greater proportion of muscle to fat makes its illegal use in livestock popular.

Food contamination
In September 2006 over 330 people in Shanghai were reported to have been poisoned by eating pork contaminated by Clenbuterol that had been fed to the animals to keep their meat lean.

Legal status
As of fall, 2006, Clenbuterol is not an ingredient of any therapeutic drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but is still used as an unproven slimming aid, and is now banned for IOC-tested athletes. Jason Grimsley, former Major League baseball pitcher, admitted to using this drug. The tennis player Mariano Puerta was once penalized for use of clenbuterol. Australian wrestler Mitchil Mann was also suspended for testing positive for the drug.