As with almost all sympathomimetic based fat loss compounds (and most fat loss compounds in general), the dosage of albuterol for athletic performance and physique enhancement purposes is generally inflexible.
Albuterol is used in much the same way as clenbuterol or ephedrine.
While the effects of albuterol at the cellular level are the same as a beta-2 receptor adrenergic agonist, the dosage and usage protocols for albuterol are actually more similar to ephedrine than clenbuterol.
The albuterol dosing regimen is closer to ephedrine in that the two compounds have very similar half-lives (3-6 hours).
However, the general dosing regimen for all stimulants intended for fat loss is generally uniform in the following ways You choose a peak dose, which is the maximum daily dose you will use during your fat loss cycle.
During the first few days of use (typically the first week or two), you slowly increase the dose until you reach your final peak dose, after which you maintain the peak dose for the duration of use.
Unlike clenbuterol, which is measured in micrograms (mcg), albuterol doses are measured in milligrams (mg).
This is an important thing to remember as the different dosage measurements between many stimulants as well as various performance enhancing drugs can sometimes be very confusing (especially if you are unfamiliar with chemistry and dosing instructions and measurements).
Albuterol, like clenbuterol (and all beta-2 receptor agonists), is a beta-2 receptor agonist, meaning it slowly modulates beta-2 receptors over time [1].
This is especially true with chronic daily dosing, which is necessary for the fat loss effects of albuterol.
Beta-2 receptor downregulation manifests as a decrease in effective fat loss over time until no additional fat loss from albuterol occurs (typically 2-4 weeks depending on the individual).
There are two ways to upregulate these receptors, the first is to not take the drug (for at least two weeks).
The second way is to actively upregulate these beta-2 receptors using ketotifen, an antihistamine commonly used to treat allergies [2].
In this case, if there is significant beta-2 receptor downregulation, ketotifen can be taken at a dose of 2 mg every night before bed for 7 days.
This way, albuterol can be used continuously without a break.
Neither albuterol nor any other stimulant should be used chronically in fat loss doses for more than 8 weeks.
Medical Albuterol Dosage
Albuterol is used medicinally for the treatment and management of asthma, bronchospasm, and to a lesser extent, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
For these treatments, the usual albuterol dose is 2 to 4 mg administered three to four times daily in tablet/oral form.
Each albuterol dose should be taken at regular intervals to avoid unnecessary overlapping buildup of stimulant concentrations in the plasma.
Albuterol Dosage for Fat Loss
Although albuterol has shown higher levels of proven anabolic activity in humans, it has been utilized almost exclusively as a fat loss agent.
Nevertheless, the albuterol dosage required for anabolic effects is exactly the same as the dosage required for fat loss effects.
The albuterol dosage for both goals is usually the same for all three user classes - beginner, intermediate, and advanced - because there is little flexibility in the dosage required for the various effects of a stimulant like albuterol.
As mentioned earlier, albuterol should be slowly increased in dosage until a peak dose is reached, and the optimal maximum dose may vary from person to person (some people may be more sensitive to stimulants than others).
Therefore, you may want to crank up your dose slowly to assess your tolerance and determine the most effective albuterol dose for you.
The maximum fat burning albuterol dose is typically 16 to 24 mg per day.
Since almost all albuterol tablets have a dose of 4 mg per tablet, you should take a total of 4 to 8 tablets per day.
This maximum dose should be divided into evenly spaced doses throughout the day.
For example, if the maximum daily dose is 16 mg, users typically take 8 mg twice a day or 4 mg four times a day.
Examples of these types of albuterol doses include
Albuterol total use of 24 mg per day (maximum dose)
- 8 AM: Take 8 mg of albuterol
- 12:00 PM: Take 8 mg of albuterol
- 4:00 PM: Take 8 mg of albuterol
Albuterol doses can be split into much more frequent doses than the examples listed above if the individual so desires.
It has already been mentioned twice that beginners in particular, or those who are very sensitive to stimulants, should increase their dosage slowly at the beginning of use.
How quickly you increase your dosage can also depend on your personal preference (some people prefer to increase their albuterol dosage every 3 days, while others prefer to increase their dosage every 6 days).
Here is a common example of a titration (also known as an upward titration)
Albuterol doses
Overview of a proper ramp-up dose increase protocol (for a total maximum daily dose of 24 mg of albuterol)
- Day 1: 8 mg albuterol
- Day 4: 16 mg albuterol
- Day 8: 24mg of albuterol
The user will now maintain 24mg per day for the duration of the albuterol cycle.
Female Albuterol Dosage
Women's response to albuterol is exactly the same as men's, although there may be differences in peak dose and/or a slower ascent period.
Women tend to have a lower overall body mass and weight, which may make them more sensitive to albuterol doses.
Women should follow the same escalation protocol, and more attention should be paid to individual response and comfort level. Once a comfortable and tolerable albuterol dose is reached, women can discontinue at that dose and maintain the highest dose for the duration of use.
Proper dosing and timing of albuterol
Because albuterol has a half-life of 4 to 6 hours, it should be administered more frequently, several times a day, as described above.
Users typically dose albuterol three to four times (or more depending on user preference) evenly throughout the day.
Those who prefer albuterol over clen typically do so because its shorter half-life allows almost all of the dosing to be done in the early morning with little interference with sleep patterns at night compared to clenbuterol.
Expectations and Results from Taking Albuterol
With a calorie deficit and a proper training program, albuterol can increase fat metabolism and aid in body fat loss, typically an additional 2 to 4 pounds (1 to 2 kg) per month can be lost with albuterol alone.
If you have a caloric surplus, albuterol may actually lead to a small but noticeable (though by no means dramatic) increase in strength and muscle mass.
Albuterol Side Effects
Albuterol shares side effects that are common to almost all other sympathomimetic compounds.
In particular, albuterol side effects tend to be much closer to clenbuterol, which for all intents and purposes is albuterol's closest 'relative', so it makes logical sense that these side effects would be present.
However, albuterol has a reputation for having much less pronounced, milder, and more tolerable side effects than its sibling clenbuterol.
In this profile, we have previously mentioned that one of the desirable characteristics of albuterol is its short half-life, while a second desirable characteristic is its ability to exhibit a notable amount of anabolic activity.
The third desirable trait is the fact that many users report that albuterol side effects are tolerable and much milder than most other stimulant based fat loss agents, even ephedrine.
Albuterol side effects that are noticeably less severe than clenbuterol include “jitters” and tremors (hand tremors), and, as reported by many users, a significantly lesser effect on blood pressure.
Common Albuterol Side Effects (Common Stimulant Side Effects)
However, albuterol is not without potential side effects, and as mentioned earlier, these are common with stimulants.
These include increased blood pressure, headache, dizziness (lightheadedness, dizziness), sleep disturbances and/or insomnia, nausea, dry mouth, vomiting, anxiety, and increased sweating (usually caused by an increase in body temperature due to albuterol's effect on metabolism).
These albuterol side effects may vary depending on the dose, how quickly the dose was increased, and the individual's sensitivity to stimulants.
There are other less common and rare side effects (mostly associated with overdose) associated with albuterol and stimulants, including tachycardia (fast heart rate), irregular heartbeat, rapid breathing, severe anxiety, panic, severe nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Specific and notable albuterol side effects
Tremor
Also known as “hand tremors” or “hand shaking,” this is a common side effect of all beta-2 adrenergic receptor agonists, and it's also a common side effect of clenbuterol.
However, while albuterol side effects also include hand tremors, this is one of the side effects that has been reported to be much less severe than clenbuterol.
Many users have also reported that this side effect tends to subside much faster (compared to clenbuterol) as the body becomes acclimatized to albuterol with consistent use.
These side effects are mostly caused by the stimulant nature of the drug and will eventually subside as the body gets used to its use.
Sweating
Increased sweating (perspiration) is a common side effect of beta-2 adrenoceptor agonists, usually the result of an increase in body temperature due to increased fat metabolism.
This increase in body temperature should generally be no more than about 0.5 to 1 degree F above normal baseline body temperature, and sometimes slightly more.
This increase in body temperature is rarely uncomfortable, but it can often result in profuse sweating (especially if the environment is hot).
Bodybuilders and athletes actually look forward to this albuterol side effect, as an increase in body temperature often indicates increased fat metabolism.
Muscle cramps
This is actually a very unique albuterol side effect for selective beta-2 adrenoceptor agonists and is experienced on par with clenbuterol.
Muscle cramps are very common while using these compounds, especially in the weeks following use.
Studies have shown that the use of beta-2 agonists such as albuterol and clenbuterol depletes levels of the amino acid taurine in both muscle tissue and serum plasma [3] [4].
Taurine, magnesium, potassium, and sodium all play key roles in the regulation of bioelectric nerve impulses and nerve signaling that controls contraction and relaxation of all types of muscle tissue.
When taurine is depleted, these bodily functions are impaired, resulting in involuntary and often painful muscle spasms.
These spasms are often initiated by a voluntary contraction of the muscle, which then causes the muscle to contract further, often beyond the control of the individual.
A simple solution to this problem is to take a taurine supplement of approximately 2.5 to 5 grams per day while taking albuterol.
Individual response is also a factor in albuterol side effects.
Albuterol Resources
[1] Effects of dietary clenbuterol and simaterol on muscle composition, beta-adrenergic and androgen receptor concentrations in broiler chickens. Schiavone A, Tarantola M, Perona G, Pagliaso S, Badino P, Odore R, Cuniberti B, Luciana C. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl). 2004 Apr;88(3-4):94-100.
[2]Effects of ketotifen and clenbuterol on beta-adrenoceptor function on lymphocytes and plasma TXB-2 levels in asthmatic patients. Huzar E, Herzavetz I, Bozormeni-Nagy G, Slapke J, Schreiber J, Debreceni LA. Z Erkr Atmungsorgane. 1990;175(3):141-6.
[3] Effects of clenbuterol, a beta 2-agonist, on taurine levels in rat heart and other tissues. Amino Acids. Doheny MH, Waterfield CJ, Timbrell JA. 1998;15(1-2):13-25.
[4] Effects of beta-agonist treatment on tissue and urinary taurine levels in rats. Mechanisms and implications for protection. Waterfield CJ, Carvalho F, Timbrel JA. 1996;403:233-45.
