Often mistaken for a steroid because of its illicit use in athletics, clenbuterol is actually the drug that is meant more for veterinary than human use. It is the drug for horses. In human use, clenbuterol is often prescribed to the people suffering from breathing disorders as, such as decongestant and bronchodilator. Often used as a bronchodilator, clenbuterol helps to make breathing easier for the people suffering from chronic breathing disorders like asthma. Clenbuterol is most commonly available in salt form as Clenbuterol hydrochloride.
Clenbuterol is often promoted for its lean-muscle-mass benefits among bodybuilders. It is often used as weight loss drug and often advertised as safe drug in various countries, but the United States Food and Drug Administration documents don’t support clenbuterol as weight loss drug. The agency also does not endorse the use of clenbuterol among bodybuilders, and other jocks.
Clenbuterol was banned by the US FDA in 1991, as it was found to help add extra weight and muscle in show animals, and many cases of adverse reactions were reported in people who had consumed the clenbuterol-tainted meat; the people showed impaired heart and lung function. The US FDA however approved clenbuterol for the treatment of horses suffering with lung in 1998. But, the horse that received the drug could not later be slaughtered for food.
Yet, the Centers for Disease Control, in 2005, reported some 26 cases of people, who were hospitalized for cardiovascular side effects, such as a racing heart beat and palpitations, nausea and chest pain, reportedly taking heroin. However, these reactions were untypical, as heroin depresses the nervous system. So, when patients were tested, clenbuterol was found in their urine. The findings suggested that the heroin might have been laced with the stuff.
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.
In fact, the FDA considers clenbuterol as a poison, and has banned clenbuterol for all off-label use. As of fall, 2006, clenbuterol is not an ingredient of any therapeutic drug approved by the U.S. FDA. The product labeling for clenbuterol very clearly states: “For use in horses not intended for food.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the FDA monitor the illegal use of the substances in animals.
Clenbuterol has also been banned by the International Olympic Committee. Thus, unless you’re a horse with bum lungs, clenbuterol is illegal. Former Major League baseball pitcher, Jason Grimsley admitted that he was using clenbuterol. The tennis player Mariano Puerta was once penalized for use of clenbuterol. Australian wrestler Mitchil Mann was also suspended for testing positive for the clenbuterol.
