Benzbromarone is a powerful pharmaceutical drug that is often misunderstood within the athletic and bodybuilding community. While it is not an anabolic, stimulant, or fat burner, some individuals in strength sports have shown interest in it. This article explains what Benzbromarone is, its medical use, and the reasons it is sometimes used off-label by athletes, along with the significant risks involved.
What Benzbromarone Is?
Drug Class: Uricosuric agent
Main Medical Use: Treatment of chronic gout and hyperuricemia (high uric acid levels).
Mechanism: Benzbromarone works by inhibiting the reabsorption of uric acid in the kidneys (via the URAT1 transporter), which increases the amount of uric acid excreted in urine and lowers serum uric acid levels.
Why Athletes or Bodybuilders Might Use It
Benzbromarone is not a mainstream performance enhancer. However, its use has been explored by some athletes for specific reasons:
Steroid-Induced Hyperuricemia: Some anabolic steroids, growth hormone, and high-protein diets can lead to increased uric acid levels and an elevated risk of gout. Benzbromarone can be used to lower uric acid and, in theory, prevent gout flare-ups during intense training cycles.
Reduction of Oxidative Stress: Elevated uric acid can contribute to oxidative stress. Some speculate that by keeping uric acid levels lower, the drug might support cardiovascular health during cycles, though this benefit is not clinically established.
Alternative to Allopurinol: Allopurinol, another common uric acid-lowering drug, can have drug interactions. Benzbromarone provides an alternative mechanism of action and is sometimes preferred in off-label use.
Risks and Downsides
Despite its potential for managing uric acid, Benzbromarone is not a safe sports supplement and carries significant risks.
Hepatotoxicity: Benzbromarone has been linked to rare but severe liver injury, which led to its withdrawal from many major markets, including the US and parts of the EU.
Drug Interactions: It can interfere with medications such as warfarin and other drugs.
No Direct Anabolic Benefit: It does not build muscle, burn fat, or improve endurance. Its use is purely for managing a side effect, not for enhancing performance.
Limited Availability: Because it has been withdrawn from the US market, any available sources are typically unregulated and of questionable quality.
Benzbromarone vs. Allopurinol
Benzbromarone is often compared to Allopurinol, the more common drug for uric acid management. The two drugs operate on different mechanisms.
In Practice for athletes Allopurinol remains the safer, more accessible option for lowering uric acid during cycles.
Benzbromarone may lower uric acid more strongly in “under-excreters” but is hard to source legally and carries a real liver-toxicity warning.
The Bottom Line for Athletes
Benzbromarone is not a standard sports supplement. While athletes who use high doses of steroids or growth hormone may develop high uric acid and a risk of gout, Benzbromarone is used off-label to manage this side effect, not to enhance performance directly. Allopurinol is generally considered a safer and more accessible choice for lowering uric acid during cycles. Benzbromarone may be more effective for "under-excreters" but is difficult to source legally and carries a significant liver-toxicity warning.