Clenbuterol Research Paper

CLENBUTEROL

Clenbuterol History and Overview

Clenbuterol isn’t an anabolic steroid, but rather a stimulant belonging to a class of compounds known as sympathomimetic. This classification contains other similar compounds an average individual might be more familiar with, such as: ephedrine, amphetamines, cocaine, caffeine, albuterol, and many others. This drug category is quite broad with each compound in the family being related, having many similarities and operating in a same manner through similar pathways. The effect of Clenbuterol on the nervous system involves an interaction with adrenoreceptors, located in different tissues and cell types in the body. The resulting effect of Clenbuterol binding with adrenoreceptors in different tissues

varies with the type of tissue or depends on the type of tissues being stimulated. Our major concern in particular is the effect of Clenbuterol on adipose (fat) tissue.
There exist two different types of adrenoreceptors in the body known as “Alpha” and “Beta” receptors and within these two receptors there are 9 subtypes. Examples are alpha-1, alpha 2, beta-1, beta-2 receptors etc. The difference between Clenbuterol and other stimulant compounds in its family lies in their ability to stimulate different subtypes, focus on a particular subtype or multiple subtypes. Clenbuterol in particular is better known for its strong and exclusive stimulation of the beta-2 adrenoreceptors, and therefore commonly referred to as a beta-2 receptor agonist. Within fat tissues (adipose), beta-2 receptors stimulated by Clenbuterol results in lipolysis, which is the breakdown of fat into free fatty-acids. Over the years Clenbuterol has gained popularity amongst bodybuilders, athletes, entertainment celebrities and people looking to shed a few pounds of fat.
Clenbuterol was originally (and still is) used as a medicine in prescription drug market.

It is used as a bronchodilator in the treatment of asthma. It is also frequently administered in asthma inhalers as the primary active drug of the inhaler. The use of Clenbuterol as a medication for asthma is primarily a European medical practice while in North America, Clenbuterol’s sister compound “Albuterol”, is utilized instead. The activation of beta-2 receptors in the cell-lining of the bronchial tubes initiates the opening and expansion of the airways (bronchial dilation) in the nose, throat and lungs. Many sympathomimetic stimulants exert this effect however Clenbuterol and Albuterol are better effective in particular for this purpose. Clenbuterol is also used in the treatment of other medical conditions, such as cardiovascular shock, heart arrhythmias, hypertension, allergic reactions and swelling, migraine headaches, anaphylactic shock and histamine

reactions.

Even though Clenbuterol is a beta-2 receptor agonist, it exhibits effects on different receptor subtypes with emphasis on the beta-2 subtype. When comparing Ephedrine to other stimulants, they are better known for stimulating multiple alpha and beta receptors by an equal degree rather than stimulating a receptor subtype by a large degree. According to many in the body-building community, Clenbuterol is anabolic in muscle tissue. However, Clenbuterol is slightly anabolic in muscle tissue and this has been found to be the case in animals rather than humans (which requires a long period of usage before the effects rise to a significant measurable level).
An interesting point to note is that through consistent usage, Clenbuterol downregulates beta-2 receptors in response to its stimulation of those receptors in the body and it occurs quickly. The result of this effect is diminished fat loss during usage until the fat loss completely stops. There are two methods used as remedy to this effect. The first is the introduction of time-off in the usage of these drug (minimum of 2 weeks). Second is the use of an anti-histamine drug “Ketotifen Fumarate” that is known for the upregulation of beta-2 receptors. There are rumors of Benadryl having the same effects as Ketotifen Fumarate on beta-2 receptors however, this was found to be untrue because even though Benadryl is an anti-histamine like Ketotifen Fumarate, it operates on a different pathway.
Clenbuterol Side Effects
Since Clenbuterol is not an anabolic steroid, it doesn’t exhibit or express any of the known side-effects that are associated with anabolic steroid.

Instead, Clenbuterol expresses side-effects that are common to drugs and compounds of the stimulant class. Meaning that many Clenbuterol side-effects are similar to that of Ephedrine, Caffeine and other stimulants to varying degrees. Clenbuterol side-effect includes those that are considered somehow unique to the compounds that are unseen with other stimulants.

Perhaps the most unique side-effect of Clenbuterol is the commonly reported muscle cramping side-effect. It is also a reported side-effect of Clenbuterol’s close sister compound, Albuterol. This results from Clenbuterol’s depletion of Taurine in the body. Studies have shown that the use of Clenbuterol depletes the level of amino-acid Taurine both in muscle tissue and serum blood plasma. Taurine alongside Sodium, Magnesium and Potassium play crucial roles in the regulation of bio-electrical nerve impulse and signals that govern contraction and relaxation of all types of muscle tissue. The depletion of Taurine results in intense, involuntary and painful muscle contractions that leads to cramps. Studies have shown that supplementing with Taurine at 2.5 – 5 grams each day can reduce this

side-effect.