Side effects of clenbuterol as a repartitioning agent.

Clenbuterol, a synthetic beta-adrenergic agonist drug, can be used to increase the ratio of protein to fat in the carcase of meat animals. During the first one to three days of its administration to sheep or calves clenbuterol increased their heart rate, and in sheep it decreased blood pressure. Continued administration had no further effect on heart rate or blood pressure but in sheep dose levels above 1.5 mg/day depressed appetite for up to five days; at all dose levels clenbuterol brought about a long term increase in metabolic rate.