Yohimbe Side Effects
Yohimbe Side Effects
Yohimbe (Pausinystalia yohimbe), a tree bark, is marketed in a number of products for body
building and "enchanced male performance." It is believed that yohimbe enhance blood flow into
penis consequently, yohimbe may cause an erection. It was found that yohimbine, the active
ingredient of yohimbe, performed better in combination of arginine. [16]
One study showed that yohimbine combined with arginine could increase physical arousal among
23 women with female sexual arousal disorder. [17]. Yohimbe may also help depression, but more
studies are needed to prove this claim.
Yohimbe side effects are serious and include dizziness, anxiety, hyperstimulation, nausea, renal
failure and seizures. Over-dosage may cause weakness and nervous stimulation followed by
paralysis, fatigue, stomach disorders, blood pressure alternation and ultimately death. Currently, a
few products containing yohimbe are under FDA investigation.
Yohimbine, the yohimbe major alkaloid, is a vasodilator to lower blood pressure. Yohimbine is
also a prescription drug in the US. Yohimbine side effects include anxiety attacks via CNS
stimulation. High dose of yohimbine can cause serious side effects when taken together with
tyramine-containing foods such as liver, cheeses, red wine or with products containing
phenylpropanolamine [1-15].
Yomhimbe should not be taken by pregnant or nursing women, or those with kidney, liver or blood
pressure problems or sexual organ inflammation. Yomhimbe should not be taken together with
tricyclic antidepressants, phenothiazines, clonidine, other drugs or supplements for lowering blood
pressure.
Self-medication is discouraged because of yohimbeÂ’s side effects. Yohimbe can produce
significant side effects even in a small dose, especially if taken over a long period of time.
Yohimbe side effects are close to its toxic effects.
Dosage of Yomhimbe
Yohimbe bark is taken in a form standardized to yohimbine content. The usual dose of yohimbine
is 15-30 mg daily. Lower dose of yohimbe may work even better for some people. Because of its
serious side effects, one should consult doctor before taking this herb.
References 1. Charney DS et al. Alpha 2-adrenergic and opiate receptor blockade. Synergistic effects on anxiety
in healthy subjects. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1986;43:1037–1041. 2. Charney DS, Heninger GR, Sternberg DE.
Assessment of alpha 2 adrenergic autoreceptor function in humans: effects of oral yohimbine. Life Sci. 1982;30:
2033–2041. 3. Charney DS, Heninger GR, Redmond DE. Yohimbine induced anxiety and increased
noradrenergic function in humans: effects of diazepam and clonidine. Life Sci. 1983;33:19–29. 4. Charney DS,
Breier A, Jatlow PI, et al. Behavioral, biochemical, and blood pressure responses to alprazolam in healthy
subjects: interactions with yohimbine. Psychopharmacology. 1986;88:133–140. 5. Charney DS, Price LH,
Heninger GR. Desipramine-yohimbine combination treatment of refractory depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1986;
43:1155–1161. 6. De Smet PA, Smeets OS. Potential risks of health food products containing yohimbe extracts.
BMJ. 1994;309:958. 7. Grossman E, Rosenthal T, Peleg E, et al. Oral yohimbine increases blood pressure and
sympathetic nervous outflow in hypertensive patients. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 1993;22:22–26. 8. Lacomblez L,
Bensimon G, Isnard F, et al. Effect of yohimbine on blood pressure in patients with depression and orthostatic
hypotension induced by clomipramine. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1989;45:241–251. 9. Murburg MM, Villacres EC, Ko
GN, et al. Effects of yohimbine on human sympathetic nervous system function. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1991;73:
861–865. 10. Musso NR, Vergassola C, Pende A. Yohimbine effects on blood pressure and plasma
catecholamines in human hypertension. Am J Hypertens. 1995;8:565–571. 15. Illnesses and Injuries
Associated With the Use of Selected Dietary Supplements. U. S. Food and Drug Administration
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition 1993. 16. Lebret T, Herve JM, Gorny P, et al. Efficacy and safety of a
novel combination of L-arginine glutamate and yohimbine hydrochloride: a new oral therapy for erectile
dysfunction. Eur Urol. 2002;41:608-613. 17. Meston CM, Worcel M. The effects of yohimbine plus L-arginine
glutamate on sexual arousal in postmenopausal women with sexual arousal disorder. Arch Sex Behav. 2002;31:
323-332.
Yohimbe (Pausinystalia yohimbe), a tree bark, is marketed in a number of products for body
building and "enchanced male performance." It is believed that yohimbe enhance blood flow into
penis consequently, yohimbe may cause an erection. It was found that yohimbine, the active
ingredient of yohimbe, performed better in combination of arginine. [16]
One study showed that yohimbine combined with arginine could increase physical arousal among
23 women with female sexual arousal disorder. [17]. Yohimbe may also help depression, but more
studies are needed to prove this claim.
Yohimbe side effects are serious and include dizziness, anxiety, hyperstimulation, nausea, renal
failure and seizures. Over-dosage may cause weakness and nervous stimulation followed by
paralysis, fatigue, stomach disorders, blood pressure alternation and ultimately death. Currently, a
few products containing yohimbe are under FDA investigation.
Yohimbine, the yohimbe major alkaloid, is a vasodilator to lower blood pressure. Yohimbine is
also a prescription drug in the US. Yohimbine side effects include anxiety attacks via CNS
stimulation. High dose of yohimbine can cause serious side effects when taken together with
tyramine-containing foods such as liver, cheeses, red wine or with products containing
phenylpropanolamine [1-15].
Yomhimbe should not be taken by pregnant or nursing women, or those with kidney, liver or blood
pressure problems or sexual organ inflammation. Yomhimbe should not be taken together with
tricyclic antidepressants, phenothiazines, clonidine, other drugs or supplements for lowering blood
pressure.
Self-medication is discouraged because of yohimbeÂ’s side effects. Yohimbe can produce
significant side effects even in a small dose, especially if taken over a long period of time.
Yohimbe side effects are close to its toxic effects.
Dosage of Yomhimbe
Yohimbe bark is taken in a form standardized to yohimbine content. The usual dose of yohimbine
is 15-30 mg daily. Lower dose of yohimbe may work even better for some people. Because of its
serious side effects, one should consult doctor before taking this herb.
References 1. Charney DS et al. Alpha 2-adrenergic and opiate receptor blockade. Synergistic effects on anxiety
in healthy subjects. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1986;43:1037–1041. 2. Charney DS, Heninger GR, Sternberg DE.
Assessment of alpha 2 adrenergic autoreceptor function in humans: effects of oral yohimbine. Life Sci. 1982;30:
2033–2041. 3. Charney DS, Heninger GR, Redmond DE. Yohimbine induced anxiety and increased
noradrenergic function in humans: effects of diazepam and clonidine. Life Sci. 1983;33:19–29. 4. Charney DS,
Breier A, Jatlow PI, et al. Behavioral, biochemical, and blood pressure responses to alprazolam in healthy
subjects: interactions with yohimbine. Psychopharmacology. 1986;88:133–140. 5. Charney DS, Price LH,
Heninger GR. Desipramine-yohimbine combination treatment of refractory depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1986;
43:1155–1161. 6. De Smet PA, Smeets OS. Potential risks of health food products containing yohimbe extracts.
BMJ. 1994;309:958. 7. Grossman E, Rosenthal T, Peleg E, et al. Oral yohimbine increases blood pressure and
sympathetic nervous outflow in hypertensive patients. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 1993;22:22–26. 8. Lacomblez L,
Bensimon G, Isnard F, et al. Effect of yohimbine on blood pressure in patients with depression and orthostatic
hypotension induced by clomipramine. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1989;45:241–251. 9. Murburg MM, Villacres EC, Ko
GN, et al. Effects of yohimbine on human sympathetic nervous system function. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1991;73:
861–865. 10. Musso NR, Vergassola C, Pende A. Yohimbine effects on blood pressure and plasma
catecholamines in human hypertension. Am J Hypertens. 1995;8:565–571. 15. Illnesses and Injuries
Associated With the Use of Selected Dietary Supplements. U. S. Food and Drug Administration
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition 1993. 16. Lebret T, Herve JM, Gorny P, et al. Efficacy and safety of a
novel combination of L-arginine glutamate and yohimbine hydrochloride: a new oral therapy for erectile
dysfunction. Eur Urol. 2002;41:608-613. 17. Meston CM, Worcel M. The effects of yohimbine plus L-arginine
glutamate on sexual arousal in postmenopausal women with sexual arousal disorder. Arch Sex Behav. 2002;31:
323-332.
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Discuss with your doctor before taking any alternative medicine. This article is for
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