Clenbuterol, better known as Clen, has a long history. It is used as a decongestant. Used to help those with asthma. But it has another use. Within the fitness community, Clen is used as a cutting drug. Its thermogenic properties help you control fat, losing weight to better show off your muscles.
But there are a few things you need to know to take this drug safely. For example, you need to know the Clen half-life to estimate the right dosage. You should know the side effects, to evaluate if the risks are worth it. Here’s everything you need to know before using Clenbuterol.
How Clenbuterol Affects Your Body
Let’s start by running through the basics of Clen. Learning why so many people choose to take it.
Enhancing Your Athletic Performance
This is one of the most popular reasons why people turn to Clen. Expect to get more endurance. Boosting your aerobic capacity, which increases the amount of oxygen available to your body. This will allow you to push yourself harder in the gym.
Helping You Lose Weight
Clen has thermogenic properties. Put simply, you’ll be raising your body’s core temperature which, in turn, will boost your metabolism rate. This will let you increase the amount of fat that you are burning off. Allowing you to lose weight faster.
Even better, this drug might make it easier for you to stick to a diet. Some people report that it suppresses their diet. Helping to control their cravings for junk food. Studies have shown just how effective this drug can be. One study put two groups of overweight men on a diet. The control lost 8.7 kilograms. Impressive. But the group that took Clen lost 11.4 kilograms in just ten weeks without intense gym workouts.
It’s not just fitness fanatics that have used Clen. Some high-profile celebrities have also been rumored to use the drug. They include Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears. Plenty of professional sports stars have been caught using the drug, derailing their careers.
No Need To Worry About Androgenic Effects
Women need to be careful about which bodybuilding drugs they take. Some will start a process called virilization. Raising your testosterone levels. This produces strong muscle gains. But it has unintended side effects. It can lead to embarrassing changes in your appearance. For example, you might find that you have facial hair. Or you might get a lower voice. Even worse, you might be stuck with these changes. The good news is that Clen is fairly mild. At least compared to other anabolic steroids. It isn’t likely to cause any of these problems.
Preserving Lean Muscle
Burning through fat is important. But the reason why bodybuilders love Clen is because it allows you to maintain and build lean muscle. This makes it ideal to use during the cutting cycle. The result should be a ripped body. All the gains you made during your bulking cycle will be present. But, thanks to the low body fat, your muscles will be more clearly defined.
How To Take Clen Safely
Like all drugs, there is an element of risk to Clen. However, getting the right dosage levels will help you manage the risks. Let’s look at everything you need to know.
Finding The Right Form
Clen is available in a wide range of forms. Here are some of the options that you can explore:
- Tablet
- Injectable, through a syringe
- Liquid
There are a few things to consider when deciding which form is best for you. Each will come with different costs. They will also have a slightly different Clen half-life. Generally, it’s best to stick to an oral form. That way you don’t need to worry about the dangers that can come from an infected needle.
Cycle Length
Clen can be a tricky drug, requiring a more complex schedule. You’ll need to have two weeks on. Increasing the dose every few days. After 14 days, though, you can stop taking the drug. Give it a rest for two weeks. Providing plenty of time for your body to recover. Limiting the side effects.
Choosing The Right Dose
If this is your first cycle, you should start with a lower dose. Giving your body some time to get used to the drug. It’s often a good idea to start with 20 mcg per day. But this might not be right for you. Consider your weight, fitness levels, and tolerance for drugs before deciding what you want your first dose to be.
As time goes on, you can increase the dose that you are taking. The maximum dose varies a little, depending on your gender. Men can go up to 140mcg per day. Women should aim for a maximum of 100mcg per day. Going over this limit isn’t a good idea. You will be putting your health at risk. Increasing the chances that you will face severe side effects.
Consuming Clen
Most people opt to take Clen in its oral form. Most often they pick tablets. This makes taking the drug easier. You can choose to take the dose daily. Or you can opt to break it up into smaller doses. Keeping the amount of Clen in your blood consistent. This might help you mitigate the side effects.
Stacking With Clen
Clen can deliver powerful results by itself. But if you want to take things to the next level, you can stack it with other drugs. The most popular stacking option is Cytomel T3. Or you can try combining Winstrol and Clen. Both of these stacks will deliver powerful cutting results, burning through fat.
Just be aware that this method isn’t without its risks. By combining two or more drugs, you’ll be increasing the number of side effects that you expose yourself to. Because of this, you should always start with a lower dose. Get your body used to the drugs first. Know what kind of side effects to expect. Then, see if you want to take a higher dose.
Sample Clen Schedule
Picking the right dosing schedule for Clen can be tricky. Here is an example of what an experienced male schedule might look like:
- 40mcg for the first three days
- 75mcg for the next three days
- Bump up the dose to 100mcg per day for the next three days
- Between 10 to 14, use between 120 to 140 mcg per day
Women will need a slightly lower dosage. Here is what a sample experienced female Clen schedule might look like:
- 20 mcg for the first three days
- Raise the dose to 40mcg per day for the next three days
- 60mcg for the next three days
- Reach the maximum dose of 100 mcg per day between days 10 and 14.
At the end of these cycles, give your body two weeks to recover. With the longer Clen half-life, it can take a while to leave your system. Then, you can start your next Clen cycle.
Side Effects
There is a reason why Clen isn’t legal in the United States. It comes with a lot of dangerous side effects. Let’s break down some of the things you can expect.
Stimulant Effects
Clen can act as a stimulant. This can cause big problems. Here are some of the things that experienced users report:
- Headaches
- Feeling nauseous
- Having a higher heart rate
- Experiencing muscle tremors
- Dry mouth
- Excessive sweating
It should be noted that you don’t just need to worry about physical symptoms. You will also need to contend with mental health symptoms. The stimulant can make you feel nervous. You might also find that you start to have trouble sleeping. Lack of sleep can lead to other problems. It might also start to have an impact on your mood. Some people report feeling more easily irritated when they are taking the drug. For example, you might find it harder to focus. It also increases your risk of anxiety and depression.
Most of these negative side effects are caused because Clen acts as a stimulant. How much you will be affected will depend on how sensitive you are to these effects. That’s why you should use a low dose on your first cycle. Limiting the risks that you will experience serious downsides.
Long-Term Impacts Of Clen
So far, the list of side effects might sound manageable. But this isn’t the whole picture. As you continue to take the drug, your body will build resistance. Requiring a higher dose to feel the effects. Placing you at higher risk of serious side effects. Here are some of the things you might experience:
- Irregular heart rhythm
- Higher blood pressure
- Greater risk of having a heart attack or stroke
There are a few factors that determine your risk of these issues. First, the dosage levels. Higher doses mean a greater risk of having health problems. The next thing to consider is your family history. Genetic disorders, like a family history of heart attacks, will increase your risks.
If you start to experience any of these symptoms, stop taking Clen. You will also need to talk to your doctor. If you don’t, you could be facing a serious medical episode. In the worst-case scenario, like a heart attack, you could lose your life.
How Long Does Clen Last?
If you are worried about getting caught in a drug test, you need to know the Clen half-life. This is a fairly long-lasting drug. It can still be detected in your blood after 36 hours. However, depending on the dose, you can still feel the effects after 48 hours. Just because the effects have faded doesn’t mean that the drug is no longer detectable. Urine samples, the most common method employers use to test employees, can pick up on Clen for up to a week.
The long Clen half-life also shows why you gradually increase the dose through the cycle. You need to give your body some time to adjust to the high levels of the drug. Plus, if you have a bad reaction, the drugs will linger in your blood for up to two days. So, if you are having trouble, it’s important to stop early.
Is Clen Legal?
Unlike other steroids, Clen isn’t classed as a controlled substance by the DEA. But it is still regulated by the FDA. Currently, it’s only allowed for veterinary use. Taking Clen to boost your gym gains is outlawed. If you are caught, you could be facing a harsh fine.
Because it’s not approved by the FDA sourcing Clen can be a challenge. You might need to pay a vet to slip you some tablets. But, most of the time, they don’t want to risk the harsh legal penalties. So, you need to turn to unregulated black-market labs. With no oversight, it’s impossible to know what they are putting in your tablets.
The police aren’t the only people you need to worry about. You also need to consider your professional career. Bodybuilding competitions are more vigilant about testing for drugs. Get caught and you might be handed a ban. Blocked from competing. In some cases, you might have your previous wins stripped. The controversy could destroy your career. For example, Guillermo Mota was a professional baseball player. He got caught with Clen and received a 100-game ban. This is especially risky with this drug, considering the long Clen half-life.
Legal Alternatives To Clen
Clen can be a great cutting drug. But, when you factor in the legal and health implications, it just isn’t worth it. Especially when there are safe, legal alternatives available. That’s why many bodybuilders prefer the natural supplements from Crazy Mass. In particular, Clentrimix Elite, which is an alternative to Clen. It replicates the results from the drug. Burning through fat while maintaining lean muscle. But it doesn’t have any of the same side effects. Plus, it’s approved by the FDA and won’t get you in trouble during a drug test. Better yet, stack it with other cutting steroids and supercharge your results.
Conclusion
Beginners should be wary when taking Clen. Though it might not have the same dangerous side effects as other anabolic steroids, it can still pack a punch. If you’re not careful, you might end up with a heart attack or risk destroying your mental health. The good news is that there are natural alternatives available, eliminating the side effects.
Gary David is the founder and CEO of CrazyMass, one of the nation’s leading supplement companies. Before starting CrazyMass in 2006, Gary was a bodybuilder and personal trainer for several gyms throughout Northwest Michigan, helping clients meet their fitness goals. Gary happily worked in this profession for over 15 years. He saw that most weight gaining products to increase muscle were made with ingredients that were dangerous or of poor quality. He knew there was a safer and healthier way to do this, so he created a special blend of herbs, amino acids, and nutrients to help bodybuilders slim down and gain muscle.
Although Gary no longer participates in bodybuilding competitions, he continues to be involved in the community, helping others prep for shows and attending events where he can advertise CrazyMass products. When Gary isn’t working long hours, he likes to spend his time working out at the gym, boating on Lake Michigan, traveling the trails around Northern Michigan by four-wheeler, and spending time with his family. He also loves to take a yearly trip to Europe with his wife and children.