Salbutamol (albuterol)

Description

Salbutamol (known in the U.S. as albuterol) is a bronchodilator — a drug primarily used to treat asthma and other respiratory conditions — but it’s also sometimes used (and misused) in sports and fitness for its fat-burning and performance-enhancing properties.

💊 What Salbutamol Is

• Drug type: Short-acting beta-2 adrenergic agonist (SABA)
• Main brand names: Ventolin, ProAir, Salamol, Asmol
• Medical use:
  • Opens airways in asthma, COPD, or exercise-induced bronchospasm
  • Relieves symptoms like wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath

The substance name of Salbutamol is:

(RS)-1-(4-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethylphenyl)-2-(tert-butylamino)ethanol

🧠 How It Works

Salbutamol binds to beta-2 receptors in the lungs → causes smooth muscle relaxation → bronchodilation (airways open).

At higher doses, it also affects skeletal muscle and fat cells, leading to:

• Increased oxygen uptake
• Slight metabolic boost
• Fat mobilization (lipolysis)
  These are the reasons why some athletes experiment with it.

🏋️ Use in Sports and Fitness

Although it’s not a true anabolic, salbutamol has mild ergogenic (performance-enhancing) and thermogenic (fat-burning) properties.

✳️ Potential Effects:

• Improved breathing efficiency (especially in endurance sports)
• Slight increase in VO₂ max and oxygen delivery
• Increased alertness and focus (mild stimulant effect)
• Reduced fat mass (through beta-2 activation)
• Possible preservation of lean muscle during calorie restriction

🚫 Limitations:

• Effects are much weaker than clenbuterol (a stronger, longer-acting beta-2 agonist).
• Benefits appear mainly at high systemic doses, which often cause side effects.

⚙️ Dosage and Forms

Inhaled salbutamol has fewer systemic effects. Oral or injectable use significantly increases risk of side effects.

⚠️ Side Effects

Common:

• Tremors (shaky hands)
• Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
• Nervousness, anxiety
• Headache
• Muscle cramps
• Insomnia

Serious (high doses):

• Heart palpitations or arrhythmia
• Elevated blood pressure
• Hypokalemia (low potassium)
• Nausea and dehydration
• In severe misuse — cardiac complications

🧬 Doping and Legal Status

• WADA status: Restricted, not fully banned.
  • Permitted by inhalation up to 1600 µg over 24 hours (no more than 600 µg in 8 hours).
  • Oral or injectable forms are prohibited.
• Athletes often need a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) if they use it regularly for medical asthma.

If levels above the allowed limit are detected in urine, it’s treated as doping, since that suggests non-therapeutic use.

✅ Summary Table