Clenbuterol
Metabolic Health · Beta-2 agonist
Tier C+
Bottom line
Read Off Label grades Clenbuterol as C+ (5.6/10) based on strong evidence, high benefit magnitude, and a high-risk safety profile.
Primarily a veterinary/livestock drug.
Typical use: 20-120 mcg PO daily in cycled dosing — Not approved in US for human use; Rx elsewhere for asthma; banned in sport.
What this is
Primarily a veterinary/livestock drug. Used illicitly in bodybuilding and by celebrities for rapid fat loss. Cardiac hypertrophy and arrhythmias are real concerns — not benign. WADA banned substance. High Benefit reflects acute fat-loss potential; low Safety should be read as a major limiter.
Mechanism
Selective β2-adrenoceptor agonist; increases lipolysis and thermogenesis; nutrient partitioning toward muscle in animal studies; sympathetic activation
Dose & route
20-120 mcg PO daily in cycled dosing
Citations
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22001707/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19766743/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3955336/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40859598/
Links go to the source. If a link is dead or you want something re-checked, let me know.
Common questions
- Does Clenbuterol work?
- Read Off Label rates the evidence for Clenbuterol as Strong and the benefit magnitude as high, producing an overall grade of C+ (5.6/10). Primarily a veterinary/livestock drug.
- Is Clenbuterol safe?
- Clenbuterol has a high risk profile in published human data. Legal status: Not approved in US for human use; Rx elsewhere for asthma; banned in sport. This is not medical advice — see the disclaimer.
- What is the typical dose for Clenbuterol?
- 20-120 mcg PO daily in cycled dosing
- How does Clenbuterol work?
- Selective β2-adrenoceptor agonist; increases lipolysis and thermogenesis; nutrient partitioning toward muscle in animal studies; sympathetic activation
This is an independent synthesis of published research by a non-clinician. Scores are opinions supported by citations, not prescriptions. See the full disclaimer and methodology for how this score was produced and what it does and doesn't mean.