Albuterol (Salbutamol)

Also known as: salbutamol, beta-2 adrenergic agonist, Ventolin/ProAir

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In plain English

Albuterol (salbutamol) is an FDA-approved medicine that relaxes airway muscles and is best known as a rescue inhaler for asthma. Because it is a beta-2 stimulant, it also has mild effects on metabolism and muscle, which is why it appears in some body-composition and thermogenic products (an off-label use). Oral use as a stimulant/fat-loss aid can cause a fast heart rate, tremor, low potassium, and jitteriness, and it is not an approved use.

The science

Albuterol is a short-acting beta-2 adrenergic agonist that relaxes bronchial smooth muscle; it is FDA-approved for bronchospasm in asthma and COPD. Beta-2 agonism also has anabolic/anti-catabolic effects on skeletal muscle: oral salbutamol increased quadriceps strength in healthy young men (Martineau et al., 1992) and increased lean body mass in ambulatory boys with muscular dystrophy (Skura et al., 2008), which underlies its off-label use for body composition and performance. Oral systemic use causes tremor, tachycardia, palpitations, hypokalemia, and anxiety, and beta-2 agonists are prohibited in sport above defined thresholds. Body-composition/weight use is off-label and not FDA-approved.

References

• Martineau L et al., Clin Sci (Lond) 1992 (salbutamol increases muscle strength)
• Skura CL et al., Neurology 2008 (albuterol increases lean body mass in muscular dystrophy)