Clenbuterol (Clen)

When most guys hop on their first anabolic steroid cycle, they have wrong expectations from it.

They expect to gain a truckload of muscle within few weeks. And end up eating like a pig calling it a ‘calorie surplus’.

To their surprise, they earn a wee bit of muscle and a truckload of fat and water.

That’s when they start to look at drugs that can help them cut during the PCT.

The first and commonest name that they come across is Clenbuterol or Clen.

This asthma prescription medicine became a fat burning staple when Ephedrine, a more powerful stimulant was banned in the United States after its use was linked with multiple deaths.

Clen is undoubtedly safer than Ephedrine but still a very powerful drug that can cause some serious side effects.

It is crucial that you know how to use it and how to manage some of the milder sides that will be unavoidable when you start using it.

Here’s a small guide that explains what Clenbuterol brings to the table.

What is Clenbuterol?

Clenbuterol is a prescription medicine that is used for controlling an asthma attack. It is also used in veterinary medicine as a decongestant, primarily for the treatment of horses.

It works by amplifying the effect of the beta-2 receptors in the sympathomimetic nervous system.

This in turn has a thermogenic effect and increases the body temperature, which helps in burning fat.

Clen also increases your metabolic rate by up to 10% which further helps in lipolysis.

Club it with a mild calorie deficit and normal workouts (not HIIT) and you can drop your body fat at the rate of knots.

HIIT increases the risk of overheating while you are using Clenbuterol or any stimulant for that matter.

When to use Clen and what results can you expect from it

Clenbuterol is a stimulant. Not an anabolic steroid, although it is commonly mentioned alongside other anabolic steroids.  

This means that you can use it even if you are not a steroid user.

And to be honest, you will burn fat with Clen even if your diet is crappy and you don’t lift.

But the results will be a lot more pronounced if you are dieting and exercising while using it.

Users who are lean to begin with (13-15% body fat) will find it most effective as it can easily help them drop to below 10% body fat, allowing those abdominal muscles to pop out.

Clenbuterol is normally used only in cutting cycles due to the amplified fat loss. It is also touted to be mildly anabolic which might help in preventing muscle loss as you lift in a deficit.

Many users add it along with a powerful mass building steroid, like Testosterone for body recomposition, particularly towards the end of the cycle. The results are phenomenal to say the least.

What are the risks of using Clenbuterol?

Well, if you are careful with it, you can use it with very few side effects and get some great results.

But if you go overboard with it, (very easy to overdo clen), then you start to experience some of the nasty side effects that can take a severe toll on your health and wellbeing.

In fact, there are tons of guys who hopped on to Clen and then dropped out of the cycle just as quickly because the sides were unmanageable.

Tremors:

Clenbuterol is typically dosed starting with a very low dose and increasing it every day until you hit your threshold of tolerance towards it. Once you do hit the threshold, the first thing that you notice will be the tremors. It can be pretty scary with your hands shivering all day. Some users even shake subconsciously. Thankfully, the tremors will stop when you discontinue the drug.

Insomnia:

Once again, the insomnia usually hits when you are dosing at your peak. But it can be so severe that you might be unable to sleep all night for a few days. Some users use Benadryl for a couple of weeks during their Clenbuterol cycles. It supposedly helps negate the insomnia. We have never tried it ourselves.

Muscle cramps:

Clenbuterol also depletes potassium levels in the body which can cause severe muscle cramps. That’s one of the reasons why HIIT is not recommended while you are on it. Drink plenty of water during the cycle and use any OTC joint supplement to minimize this. Clenbuterol also works compliments Deca Durabolin very well and the two are often stacked together.   

Ventricular Fibrillation:

After a few days of use, Clenbuterol can deplete the levels of Taurine in your liver, heart and lungs. Taurine protects these organs. But when users supplement with exogenous Taurine, it increases the risk of causing Ventricular Fibrillation, a severe condition which causes palpitations and erratic heartbeat patterns. In extreme cases, this can cause death. The risk of VF is higher in people who are predisposed towards cardiac conditions. Recently, a popular bodybuilder died in a Thai Sauna. He was using Clen and had an undiagnosed heart condition which might have contributed towards death.

Hypotension:

Clen can also drop your blood pressure to alarmingly low levels. A condition that requires immediate medical attention and may also be fatal.  

How to use Clenbuterol?

Start with the lowest recommended dose of 20mcg per day and then keep adding 20mcg each day until you reach a comfortable dose that doesn’t cause too many side effects.

You can use it for two to four weeks depending on your fat loss goals.

Many users use it at a steady dose for two weeks and then taper the dose for a couple of weeks to minimize the risk of side effects.

Others continue to use the same dose throughout their cycles. It depends on how you react to the drug to be honest.

If you find that the side effects are becoming bothersome, then come off Clen for a couple of weeks and then restart the cycle.

Closing thoughts

Clenbuterol is one of the most powerful fat burners in the world. But one that comes with severe ramifications.

Use it at your own discretion. And never use it until you have your diet in order.