Anabolic Insider

Q: What’s your opinion on clenbuterol as an anti-catabolic? As a fat burner?

A: Clenbuterol is a beta-agonist drug (a selective beta-2 agonist, to be precise). This is a class of medications with potentially strong stimulant and fat-loss properties. These drugs work by triggering lipolysis (the breakdown of fat stores) in adipose tissues, thereby directly helping to regulate the amount of body fat you hold. Clenbuterol is a prominent drug of this class. Its potency and long half-life have allowed it to become a standard “cutting” drug among many bodybuilders and competitors in weight-restricted sports. It seems to be the most widely used drug of this category, in fact. This undoubtedly is based on actual real-world positive results (though all drugs, including beta-agonists, do have their risks as well).
The use of clenbuterol as an anti-catabolic is less clear. This application stems from reviews of agricultural studies with the use of beta-agonists in cattle. These medications have been shown to have strong metabolic effects in some animals, most notably improving lean tissue content (muscularity). This has caught the attention of many bodybuilders, who have attempted to use clenbuterol in this context ever since. While these medications do offer such effects in animals, I don’t believe they translate well to humans. We use much smaller doses, and I think our bodies (especially those of developed athletes) are much less responsive to the potential anabolic/anti-catabolic properties of beta agonists. While these properties may indeed be there “on paper” for clenbuterol, I’ve never found them to be of importance in the real world. While clenbuterol is indeed an effective fat-loss drug, I don’t think it’s highly effective for building muscle.