The prescription-only S4
drug Clenbuterol, used as a
bronchodilator in horses and
by athletes as a performance
enhancer, is increasingly being used
by the general public.
A study published in the Medical
Journal of Australia found 63
cases of clenbuterol exposures
over nine years of data from the
NSW Poisons Information Centre,
with a “dramatic increase” from
three cases in 2008 to 27 in 2012,
with 84% of patients requiring
hospitalisation.
Researcher Dr Jonathan Brett said
there were arguments to restrict
sales by puting the drug into the
same category as benzodiazepines
and anabolic steroids.
