“Yohimbe” is the common name for the Pausinystalia yohimbe tree. Its bark or bark extract is used in supplements marketed for libido, erectile dysfunction, weight loss and bodybuilding. The bark of the yohimbe tree contains many chemicals, including yohimbine, which is also found in a variety of other plants. It can also be manufactured synthetically, that is, it can be manufactured in a laboratory. Teloken C, Rhoden EL, Sogari P, et al. Therapeutic effects of high-dose yohimbine hydrochloride on organic erectile dysfunction. J Urol 1998;159:122-4. He would like to see yohimbine-containing products sourced from the U.S. and swap shelves. Cohen said he is not aware of any studies showing that yohimbine actually improves athletic performance or accelerates weight loss. Perhaps it`s added to supplements “so that a consumer feels rush, tingling or other sensation when taking the supplement,” leading them to think it must work, he suggested. Mann, K., Klingler, T., Noe, S., Roschke, J., Muller, S.
and Benkert, O. Effects of yohimbine on sexual experiences and nocturnal penile circumconescence and rigidity in erectile dysfunction. Arch.Sex Behav. 1996;25(1):1-16. See the summary. Yohimbe is on the market as a dietary ingredient in the United States, but not without controversy. Yohimbe tree extracts (Pausinystalia johimbe) are used as vasodilators in sexual and physical performance products; two categories that receive special attention from the FDA. Products often list the ingredient as yohimbe extract, yohimbe bark extract, or yohimbine – the key alkaloid in the bark of the tree. Scheinin H, Virtanen R. Effects of yohimbine and idazoxane on monoamine metabolites in rat cerebrospinal fluid. 1986 Oct 20;39(16):1439-46.
Ward said the Food and Drug Administration regulates “this category of products” under the Dietary Supplement Health Education Act. “The sale of these products is legal and considered safe when used according to the guidelines,” he said. In the United States, “yohimbe” supplements are sold as dietary supplements to increase libido, lose weight, and as a bodybuilding aid. But “there is virtually no published research on Yohimbe that supports these or other claims.” [9]:861 Often these products explicitly claim to contain yohimbine. [8] Yohimbe, a complex mixture, has been studied much less extensively than yohimbine, the pure compound. [9] Pharmaceutical grade yohimbine is usually presented as hydrochloride,[10]:3, 14,34[9] which is more soluble. Bagheri, H., Schmitt, L., Berlan, M., and Montastruc, J. L. A comparative study of the effects of yohimbine and trithion anethole on saliva secretion in depressed patients treated with psychotropic drugs. Eur.J Clin Pharmacol.
1997;52(5):339-342. See the summary. Major Chris Berman, a pharmacist at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, said in an email that yohimbine is administered orally to treat erectile dysfunction and for its “purported aphrodisiac properties,” but there is no convincing evidence that it is effective. “Kunellius P, Häkkinen J, Lukkarinen O. Is high-dose yohimbine hydrochloride effective in treating mixed impotence? A prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind and cross-over study. Urol 1997;49:441-4. Betz, J. M., White, K. D., and Marderosian, A.
H. Gas chromatographic determination of yohimbine in commercial yohimbe products. J AOAC Int 1995;78(5):1189-1194. Swann, A. C., Birnbaum, D., Jagar, A. A., Dougherty, D. M. and Moeller, F.
G. Acute yohimbine increases the impulsivity measured in the laboratory in normal subjects. Biol.Psychiatry 5-15-2005;57(10):1209-1211. Bolme, P., Corrodi, H., Fuxe, K., Hokfelt, T., Lidbrink, P. and Goldstein, M. Possible involvement of central adrenaline neurons in vasomotor and respiratory control. Studies with clonidine and its interactions with piperoxan and yohimbine. Eur J Pharmacol 1974;28(1):89-94.
Some over-the-counter brands contained more yohimbine per serving than a standard pharmaceutical dose; [8]:368 In the United States, however, drugs are subject to the strict drug regulatory system. It is illegal to introduce or supply “drugs” into interstate commerce without FDA approval. The FDA has asserted that certain yohimbine-containing products are “drugs” because they are advertised to show that they are “intended to cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent disease”: 21 U.S.C. § 321(g)(1)(B). [24] However, the legal situation is not straightforward,[25] and as of February 1, 2019, there do not appear to be any successful prosecution files. Galitzky, J., Taouis, M., Berlan, M., Riviere, D., Garrigues, M. and Lafontan, M. Alpha-2-antagonistic compounds and lipid mobilization: evidence for a lipid-mobilizing effect of oral yohimbine in healthy male volunteers.
Eur.J Clin Invest 1988;18(6):587-594. Andrejak, M., Ward, M. and Schmitt, H. Cardiovascular effects of yohimbine in anesthetized dogs. Eur.J Pharmacol 10-28-1983;94(3-4):219-228. See the summary. Berlin, I., Crespo-Laumonnier, B., Cournot, A., Landault, C., Aubin, F., Legrand, J. C., and Puech, A. J. The alpha-2-adrenergic receptor antagonist yohimbine inhibits epinephrine-induced platelet aggregation in healthy volunteers.
Clin Pharmacol.Ther. 1991;49(4):362-369. See the summary. Sanacora G, Berman RM, Cappiello A, et al. Addition of alpha2 antagonist yohimbine to fluoxetine: effects on rate of antidepressant response. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2004;29(6):1166-71. See the summary. Serious side effects of taking yohimbe or yohimbine have been reported, and yohimbine is banned for use in supplements in a number of countries. Yohimbe and yohimbine may interact with other supplements such as caffeine (including caffeine in herbal ingredients such as coffee, guarana, and tea) and other stimulants. People who suffer from anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, hypotension, or PTSD should avoid using yohimbine.
Military personnel should be aware of the potentially harmful effects of this ingredient in dietary supplements. Charney, D. S., Price, L. H. and Heninger, G. R. Combined treatment of desipramine-yohimbine for refractory depression. Implications for the beta-adrenergic receptor hypothesis of the antidepressant effect. Arch.Gen.Psychiatry 1986;43(12):1155-1161. It is not known how these supplement manufacturers obtained such high doses of yohimbine. Theoretically, pills should contain only natural ingredients.
But when these manufacturers synthesize yohimbine in a lab, they are clearly selling mislabeled pharmaceuticals, which is illegal. The FDA removed yohimbine from prescription status in the mid-90s because of its potential for harm, he said. But it was never banned in the U.S., and “it found its way back into the market for herbal supplements and dietary aids,” Berman said. Papeschi, R. and Theiss, P. The effect of yohimbine on catecholamine and serotonin renewal in the brain. Eur J Pharmacol 1975;33(1):1-12. Corazza, O., Martinotti, G., Santacroce, R., Chillemi, E., Di Giannantonio, M., Schifano, F., & Cellek, S. (2014). Sexual enhancement products for sale online: Raising awareness of the psychoactive effects of yohimbine, maca, goat grass and ginkgo biloba. BioMed Research International, 2014, 1-13. doi:10.1155/2014/841798 Herman AM, Critchley HD, Duka T.
The influence of yohimbine-induced arousal on facets of behavioral impulsivity. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2019;236(6):1783-1795. See the summary. It has also been studied as a possible treatment for erectile dysfunction, but there is insufficient evidence to assess its effectiveness. [42] [43] [44] In the United States, it is illegal to market an over-the-counter product containing yohimbine for the treatment of erectile dysfunction without FDA approval. [45] Nevertheless, the amount of yohimbine in supplements, often advertised as promoting sexual function, has been found to overlap with prescription doses of yohimbine. [46] Metz S, Waiblinger-Grigull T, Schulreich S, et al.
