Clenbuterol is an adrenergic agonist that is used in horses and other animals in the United States. Humans may be exposed to it in several ways.
Drug: long-acting beta-2 adrenergic agonist
Human exposures:
(1) adulterant in heroin or cocaine
(2) performance enhancement in body builders (enlarges muscles fibers and promotes lipolysis)
(3) intentional for weight loss
Adverse effects:
(1) headache
(2) dizziness
(3) vertigo
(4) nervousness
(5) palpitations
(6) nausea
(7) muscle tremors
(8) chest pain
(9) tachycardia
(10) hypotension
(11) tachydysrhythmia (supraventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation)
(12) pulmonary edema
(13) myocardial ischemia and/or myocarditis
(14) hyperglycemia
(15) electrolyte abnormalities (hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, hypophosphatemia)
(16) elevated serum lactate
