Can you buy yohimbine supplements in Canada or has this herbal stimulant been banned?
In tropical African countries like Gabon, Nigeria, Cogo and others, people have used the bark of the yohimbe tree as a general tonic, an aphrodisiac and an athletic performance enhancer. It was traditionally prepared into an herbal tea and used as a natural remedy.
In some countries, Yohimbine – which is an alkaloid derived from yohimbe bark – is also available as a prescription drug for impotence in men. In other countries, like the US, yohimbe bark extract can be purchased without a prescription as a dietary supplement.
However, strict supplement laws forbid the sale of many herbal remedies in Canada. Yohimbe and yohimbine are effectively banned in Canada and, for this reason, difficult to acquire without a prescription.
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Yohimbine Laws in Canada
What is the legal status of yohimbine in Canada? Presently, it has not been approved as a natural health product under Health Canada regulations.
In 1990s, Canadian lawmakers began working on a framework for regulating natural supplements in the country.
The Natural Health Product Regulations (NHP), a part of Canada’s Food and Drugs Act, were passed in 2004.
Under the new law, only products that meet pre-marketing registration requirements can be sold. Because of a backlog, a number of products do qualify for an exemption.
However, the health minister will ban products that they deem to contain ingredients likely to result in injury.
Is Yohimbine Legal in Canada?
Canada does not allow the sale of yohimbine supplements without a prescription and will not allow it to be imported for commercial purposes.
The same is true for yohimbe bark extract products, including tinctures, bulk powders and teas.
Health Canada requests that companies importing non-approved yohimbine stop and asks that stores that stock non-approved yohimbine supplements remove them. Health Canada says that it takes further action when suppliers and retailers do not comply.
For instance, in February, 2015, Canadian authorities removed “Altimate Fat Burner Maximum Fat Burn” from the shelves of a health food store in Ontario because the supplement contained yohimbe and other banned substances.
Incidents like this are recorded on the Healthy Canadians website under the Recalls & Alerts section.
Top Yohimbine Supplements
Can You Buy Yohimbine in Canada?
Canadian consumers cannot legally buy yohimbe or yohimbine supplements in the country without a prescription. It is not considered a controlled substance, but it does appear on the New Drugs List compiled by the Canadian Therapeutic Products Directorate (TPD).
While individuals could bring the product back with them for personal use if travelling outside of Canada, shipping the product through the mail could result in customs seizing the package.
However, weight-lifting and bodybuilding forums contain a number of anecdotal reports of finding yohimbe for sale in Canada in area health and fitness stores. However, Health Canada has removed several unapproved yohimbine supplements from the market.
Other users report attempting to purchase yohimbine supplements online and having packages seized by customs or Health Canada.
Yohimbine HCL is available through a number of Canadian medication websites, but requires a prescription to order.
Yohimbine Effects
One of the primary reasons why yohimbine is banned in Canada is due to the high risk of side effects associated with its use.
Yohimbine is popular both as a bodybuilding and sexual enhancement supplement and research studies have shown benefits for both of these applications.
However, the Natural Medicines Database states that its use as a supplement is “Possibly Unsafe.” They warn that it should only be taken under medical supervision, as it has been used safely for up to 10 weeks in medically supervised settings.
Yohimbine demand remains high because it has been clinically shown to have a number of benefits. Athletes who took 20 mg of yohimbine per day as part of a study experienced a decrease in body fat.
In a series of 10 randomized trials, yohimbine helped 30% of test subjects with erectile dysfunction. Only 14% of those taking a placebo were able to gain satisfactory erections.
However, it is important to note that this success rate is much lower than the success rates associated with taking a prescription drug, like Viagara.
Additionally, people take yohimbine for a number of other effects, including:
- Improved athletic performance
- Increased energy
- Weight loss
- Aphrodisiac effects
- Helps promote fat loss with regular exercise and diet
- Can help keep appetite levels in check
- Promotes maximum sexual energy
How to Take Yohimbine
For anyone using yohimbine or yohimbe supplements, it is important to follow dosage guidelines closely to prevent side effects. There is a significant increase in the risk of adverse effects when excess dosages are taken.
Yohimbine is taken orally, usually in capsule or tablet form. The recommended dose depends on body weight and the reason it is being used.
For fat-burning, the recommended dose is .2 mg for every kilogram of body weight. For individuals that weigh 90 kilograms, the suggested fat burning dose is 18 mg.
Twenty milligrams of yohimbine taken in two doses per day is the clinically tested dose for increased athletic performance.
In a study on anxiety and fear conditioning, participants took 20 mg yohimbine 30 minutes before therapy. In another study on anxiety, participants took 10 mg yohimbine at least once a week before engaging in exposure therapy.
For erectile dysfunction, study participants took doses that ranged from 1 to 100 mg. These amounts were taken in divided doses and given two to four hours before sexual activity.
Yohimbine Side Effects and Adverse Effects
Canadian health authorities warn of a number of potential yohimbine side effects, including anxiety, elevated heart rate, increased blood pressure, dizziness, tremors, nausea, sleep issues and headaches.
The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center has recorded a number of cases of severe adverse effects:
- A 42-year-old male took yohimbine for erectile dysfunction and experienced a painful and persistent erection that needed to be treated surgically.
- A 39-year-old male experienced vomiting, loss of concentration, seizures and other severe neurotoxic effects after taking yohimbine. The effects abated 12 hours after being treated for yohimbine toxicity.
- A 42-year-old male taking yohimbine for erectile dysfunction experienced lupus-like symptoms, skin eruptions and kidney failure.
- Additionally, two unrelated deaths have been attributed to overdoses of yohimbine.
In a study of adverse drug events between 2000 and 2006 in California, over 98% of adverse events involved herbal yohimbine supplements instead of prescribed medication.
Yohimbine exposure was more likely to result in medical treatment than the average substance exposure.
Yohimbine is not recommended for a number of people, including children, those with a history of cardiac issues, those with a sensitivity to stimulants, those who are pregnant or nursing and those who suffer from anxiety.
If you live in Canada and are looking for an alternative to yohimbe and yohimbine, there are a number of pro-sexual supplements that can boost libido and erectile function, with a lower risk of side effects.
Ginseng, Horny Goat Weed, and Tongkat Ali are three supplements that have shown benefits in clinical trials.
- About Yohimbine – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Health Canada advises consumers not to use unapproved products containing yohimbine or yohimbe bark – Healthy Canadians
- Natural Health Products (Unprocessed Product License Applications) Regulations – Canada Gazette
- Yohimbine – Natural Medicines Database
- http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2015/43745a-eng.php
- https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/yohimbe
- http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2006/13091a-eng.php
- http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/prodnatur/about-apropos/history-historique-eng.php
- https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/supplement-regulation-be-careful-what-you-wish-for/
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17214405
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20442348
