is Clenbuterol?
Clenbuterol
is a beta-2 agonist and is used in many countries as a broncodilator
for the treatment of asthma. Because of it's long half life,
clenbuterol is not
FDA approved for medical use. It is a central nervous system
stimulant and acts
like adrenaline. It shares many of the same side effects as
other CNS stimulants
like ephedrine. Contrary to popular belief, Clenbuterol has
a half life of 35
hours and not 48 hours.
Dosing
and Cycling
Clenbuterol
comes in 20mcg tablets, although it is also available in syrup,
pump
and injectable form. It's also available as a powder in some
areas. Doses are
very dependent on how well the user responds to the side effects,
but somewhere
in the range of 4-8 tablets per day for men and 2-4 tablets
a day for women is
most common. Clenbuterol loses its thermogenic effects after
around 8 weeks when
body temperature drops back to normal. Its anabolic/anti-catabolic
properties
fade away at around the 18 day mark. Taking the long half
life into
consideration, the most effective way of cycling clen is 2
weeks on/ 2 weeks off
for no more than 12 weeks. Ephedrine or Yohimbine can be used
in the off weeks.
Clenbuterol
vs Ephedrine vs DNP
Ephedrine
will raise metabolic levels by about 2-3 percent and 200mg
of DNP
raises metabolic levels by about 30 percent. Clenbuterol raises
metabolic levels
about 10 percent and it can raise body temperature several
degrees.
DNP
is by far the most effective fat burner but many people will
never use it
because of the risks associated with it. It also offers no
anti-catabolic
benefit. Although it does have anti-catabolic effect, ephedrine's
short
half-life prevents it from being all that effective.
As
far as side effects, Clenbuterol's are certainly milder than
DNP's, and some
would even say milder than an ECA stack. There is no ECA-style
crash on
Clenbuterol and many users find it easier on the prostate
and sex drive. This
may in part be due to the fact that Clen is generally used
for only 2 weeks at a
time.
Side
effects
NAUSEA
NERVOUSNESS
DIZZINESS
DROWSINESS
DRY MOUTH
FACIAL FLUSHING
HEADACHE
HEARTBURN
INCREASED BLOOD PRESSURE
INCREASED SWEATING
INSOMNIA
LIGHTHEADEDNESS
MUSCLE CRAMPS
TREMORS
VOMITING
CHEST PAIN
The
most significant side effects are muscle cramps, nervousness,
headaches, and
increased blood pressure.
Muscle
cramps can be avoided by drinking 1.5-2 gallons of water and
consuming
bananas and oranges or supplementing with potassium tablets
at 200-400mg a
day taken before bed on an empty stomach. Taurine at 3-5grams
is a necessity in
minimizing cramps.
Headaches
can easily be avoided with Tylenol Extra Strength taking at
the first
signs of a headache.
Common
Uses
Post-Cycle
Therapy: Clen is used post cycle to aid in recovery. It allows
the
user to continue eating large amounts of food, without worrying
about adding
body fat. It also helps the user maintain more of his strength
as well as his
intensity in the gym. Diet: Roughly the same as on cycle.
Fat
loss: The most popular use for Clen, it also increases muscle
hardness,
vascularity, strength and size on a caloric deficit. For the
most significant
fat loss, Clen can be stacked with T3. Diet: A high protein(1.5g
per lb of
bodyweight), moderate carb(0.5g to 1g per lb of bodyweight),
low fat diet(0.25g
per lb of bodyweight) seems to work best with Clen.
Alternative
to Steroids: Clenbuterol has mild steroid-like properties
and can be
used by non-AS using bodybuilder to increase LBM as well as
strength and muscle
hardness. Diet: A moderate carb, high protein, moderate fat
diet work well.
Stimulant/Performance
Enhancement: It can be used as a stimulant, but an ECA
stack may be a better choice because of it's much shorter
half-life. Diet: To
take full advantage of the stimulatory effects of Clen, carbohydrates
must be
included in the diet. Ketogenic diets do not work well in
this case.
Precautions:
Is Clen for you?
The
same precautions that apply to Ephedrine must be applied to
Clen, although
some people find ECA stacks are harsher than Clen. It should
not be stacked
with other CNS stimulants such as Ephedrine and Yohimbine.
These combinations
are unnecessary and potentially dangerous. Caffeine can be
used in moderation
before a workout for an extra quick. burst of energy.
A
word on Ketotifen
Ketotifen
is safe antihistamine used extensively some European countries
to
treat asthma and allergies. It can up regulate beta-2-receptors
that Clen down
regulates. Basically, it allows users to extend their use
of Clen for 6-8 weeks
at a time. 2-3mg a day is ideal, 10mg as found in "superclen"
can make users
extremely drowsy. It also increases the effectiveness of Clen
so doses must be
adjusted accordingly. The downfall of this drug is its ability
to induce
extreme hunger is some people, which is not a desirable state
to be in when
dieting.
Cycling
Clenbuterol
Most
users that report bad side effects and discontinue use are
those who use
high doses right at the start of the cycle. The worst side
effects occur within
the first 3-4 days of use.
A
first time user should not exceed 40mcg the first day. Increase
by one tab
until the side effects are not tolerable
Example
of a first cycle:
Day1:
20mcg
Day2: 40mcg
Day3: 60mcg
Day4: 80mcg
Day5: 80mcg(Note: Increase the dose only when the side effects
are tolerable)
Day6-Day12: 100mcg
Day13: 80 mcg (Tapering is not necessary, but it helps some
users get back to
normal gradually)
Day14: 60 mcgs
Day15: off
Day16: off
Day 17: ECA/ NYC stack
Example
of a second cycle:
Day1:
60mcg
Day2: 80mcg
Day3: 80mcg
Day4: 100mcg
Day5: 100mcg
Day6-Day12: 120mcg
Day13: 100 mcg
Day14: 80 mcgs
Day15: off
Day16: off
Day 17: ECA/ NYC stack
What
else do I need to know?
Taurine
MUST be used with Clen at 3-5g daily. Clenbuterol depletes
taurine
levels in the liver which stops the conversion of T4 to T3
in the liver.
Taurine allows the user to avoid the dreaded rebound effect
and painful muscle
cramps. It's a must with Clen.
Clenbuterol
should not be taken too close to a workout. It can interfere
with
your breathing and complete ruin your workout. When doing
cardio, it's
advisable to stay at a consistent pace and avoid HIIT style
routines.
Do
not take Clen Past 4pm and drink plenty of water; 1.5-2 gallons
a day.
If
you have any questions or comments on this article, email
me at [email protected]
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