Albuterol (AKA Salbutamol, Ventolin)
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Chemical Name |
(RS)-4-[2-(tert-butylamino)-1-hydroxyethyl]-2-(hydroxymethyl)phenol |
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Molecular Weight |
239.311 g/mol |
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Formula |
C13H21NO3 |
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Original Manufacturer |
Allen & Hanburys |
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Half Life |
4 – 6 hours
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Detection Time |
48 – 72 hours |
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Anabolic Rating |
N/A |
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Androgenic Rating |
N/A |
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Overview and History of Albuterol
Albuterol is a compound that belongs to the class of sympathomimetics (also known as stimulants).
Albuterol is a selective beta-2 adrenergic agonist, and is a very close sibling to the well-known clenbuterol, and both have the same role in medicine (primarily for the treatment of asthma).
However, clenbuterol is primarily an international and European asthma medication, while albuterol is only used as an asthma medication in the United States, but is readily available internationally.
Other sympathomimetics with similar properties include Caffeine, albuterol, ephedrine, dextroamphetamine, methamphetamine, cocaine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and many others.
These sympathomimetics all work through alpha and beta adrenergic receptors to act on the nervous system and various cells and tissues in the body.
Albuterol, like clenbuterol, selectively acts only on the body's beta-2 receptors.
This action allows it to be used as an ingredient in asthma inhalers, where it acts directly on the smooth muscle of the bronchial pathways by interacting with beta-2 receptors on smooth muscle cells.
The result is bronchodilation (opening of the airways), allowing you to breathe again after bronchoconstriction or bronchospasm caused by asthma, allergies, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) [1].
Albuterol can also be administered orally, which has a systemic effect on the body but takes longer to act on the bronchial pathway, so it is preferred to be administered via inhalation for asthma patients.
Oral albuterol is the most sought-after variant of albuterol in bodybuilding and performance enhancing drugs due to its systemic effects on the body, including fat loss.
The fat reduction effects are achieved through albuterol's action on beta-2 receptors located on fat cells, and this interaction initiates lipolysis (breakdown of fat) and free fatty acids are mobilized from fat cells and released to be consumed by the body as fuel/energy [2].
Interestingly, albuterol was actually the first selective beta-2 adrenergic agonist, marketed by Allen & Hanburys in 1968 under the trade name Ventolin [3].
It entered the U.S. prescription drug market in 1980 and is still the most widely used asthma treatment in North America, along with many generic albuterol products.
With a few differences, albuterol and clenbuterol share nearly identical chemical structures and are very closely related.
Albuterol differs from clenbuterol in its half-life (4-6 hours vs. 37 hours, respectively) and in the intensity of some of its effects on the body, with many athletes and bodybuilders reporting that albuterol is “milder” than clenbuterol in many areas of effectiveness.
Beyond this, there are a few other distinct differences between Clen and Albuterol that are worth noting.
The first is that while clenbuterol has only been proven to be anabolic in animals, albuterol has been clinically proven to be anabolic in human muscle tissue [4].
Specifically, a study in human athletes chronically administered with albuterol showed an increase in maximal anaerobic power, regardless of the athlete's training status!
In animal studies, a study in pigs showed that albuterol administration resulted in a 14% increase in muscle mass and a 25% decrease in fat mass[6].
In addition to these significant effects of albuterol on muscle mass and fat loss, there are numerous studies that have demonstrated its amazing effects on fat loss in both humans and animals[7] [8] [9] [10].
Chemical Properties of Albuterol
Albuterol belongs to the class of sympathomimetic drugs and is known as a racemic drug. It is a short-acting beta-2 adrenergic receptor agonist that is very similar in structure and relationship to clenbuterol.
Properties of Albuterol
Albuterol exerts a variety of effects on the body in different tissues through its interaction with beta-2 receptors on the cells of those tissues.
As mentioned earlier, these include fat loss, increased metabolic rate, and some anabolic effects in muscle tissue.
The fat loss and slight anabolic effects are highly sought after by athletes, bodybuilders, and general performance enhancing drug users.
While albuterol has been proven to be anabolic in humans, it is important to note that the muscle gains expected from albuterol should not be the same as the muscle gains and increases typical of anabolic steroids, especially if the user is in a caloric deficit for the purpose of fat loss.
At best, in these situations, albuterol will help preserve muscle tissue during a calorie deficit rather than significantly add new muscle mass.
Nevertheless, albuterol is a very promising compound (perhaps even more promising than clenbuterol) if fat loss and/or slight muscle gain is your goal.
It should be noted that anecdotally, many people who have experienced clenbuterol generally claim that the fat burning properties of albuterol are slightly less effective than its close sibling.
Experiences may vary depending on the individual and the user.
Albuterol References
[1] “Albuterol”. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Retrieved April 3, 2011.
[2] Comparison of the effects of salbutamol and clenbuterol on skeletal muscle mass and carcass composition in aged rats. Carter WJ, Lynch ME (September 1994). Metab. Clin. Exp. 43 (9): 1119-25. doi:10.1016/0026-0495(94)90054-X. PMID 7916118.
[3] After 40 years, Ventolin remains a breath of fresh air for asthma patients. The pharmaceutical journal 279 (7473). pp: 404-405.
[4] Drugs and sport. Research findings and limitations. P M Clarkson, H S Thompson. Department of Exercise Science, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA. Sports Med. 1997 Dec ;24 (6):366-84 9421862.
[5] Effects of short-term salbutamol ingestion during the Wingate test. Le Panse B, Colombe K, Portier H, Lecoq AM, Jaffre C, Beaufait H, Richard O, Benhamou L, de Cerise J, Courteix D. Int J Sports Med. 2005 Sep;26(7):518-23.
[6] Meat intake in pigs treated with the beta-adrenergic agonist salbutamol. Waris PD, Nutt GR, Rolfe TP, Brown SN, Kestin SC. 1991;30(1):75-80. doi: 10.1016/0309-1740(91)90036-P.
[7] Multiple symmetrical lipomatosis (Launois-Bensaude syndrome): effect of oral salbutamol. Leung NW, Gair J, Beggs D, Kark AE, Holloway B, Peters TJ. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1987 Nov;27(5):601-6.
[8] Beta2-adrenoceptor polymorphisms and salbutamol-stimulated energy expenditure. Omen JM, Van Rossum CT, Hovey B, Saris WH, Van Bark MA. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005 Apr;90(4):2301-7. Epub 2005 Feb 1.
[9] Reduction of visceral fat is closely associated with improvement of vascular endothelial dysfunction in obese women: Assessment of endothelial function by radial artery pulse wave analysis. Park SH, Shim KW. 2005 Aug 31;46(4):511-8.
[10] Beta-adrenergic-stimulated lipolysis in pony adipocytes is exclusively via beta2 subtype and is unaffected by lactation. Carrington EF, Desautels M, Naylor JM. 2003 Oct;136(2):311-20.
