Yohimbine Side Effects and Dangers of Long-Term Use

Oral yohimbine (yohimbine hydrochloride, yohimbine HCL, or Yocon) is the standardized form of yohimbe, an indole alkaloid extracted from the African yohimbe plant.

Until Viagra became available to men suffering erectile dysfunction, yohimbine HCL was the first impotence medication approved by the U.S. FDA.

However, its use as a treatment for ED and sexual dysfunction is not as widespread any more, due to the risk of negative side effects. Oral yohimbine HCL may be unsafe for some individuals to use.

Yohimbine side effects can include agitation, nausea, dizziness, over-stimulation, insomnia or more serious dangers for the hearth. This compound may also interact with certain medications. Check with a doctor before using to determine whether Yohimbine supplements are safe for you.

Yohimbine

Herbal Supplement

Weight Loss

Energy

Libido

How It Works:

• Helps promote fat loss
• Increases energy & suppresses appetite
• Promotes sex drive & performance

Dosage:

Between 5-50 mg per day

Safety:

Rated Possibly Unsafe

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Yohimbine Health Risks

Indole alkaloids like yohimbine produce vasocontricting affect similar to an endothelin, resulting in an increase in blood pressure.

Yohimbine also increases production of nitric oxide in renal circulation and activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis to create an anxiogenic effect on human physiology. [1]

The ability of yohimbine to treat impotency in men is supporting by inhibiting alpha-2-adrenoreceptors, which stimulates blood flow to cavernous tissues and raises levels of noradrenaline in the blood stream. [2]

The safety of yohimbine (Yocon) prescribed by physicians is high, with only a few instances of serious illness or possible fatalities due to extenuating circumstances.

However, when used as a dietary supplement and not under medical supervision, it is linked to a greater risk of side effects. Adverse events may be the result of combining Yohimbine pills with other drugs or medications or using this supplement at excess dossages.

According to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, some serious side effects of yohimbine HCL include the following: [3]

• Two deaths unexplained by existing medical conditions and unrelated to each other have been caused by yohimbine overdose. [4]
• A body builder suffered “acute neurotoxic effects such as vomiting, malaise, repeated seizures and loss of consciousness”after taking a large dose of yohimbine. These symptoms diminished following 12 hours treatment. [5]
• A man in his 40s suffered kidney failure, lupus-like syndrome and skin eruptions after taking yohimbine for impotence. [6]

Yohimbine HCL Side Effects

Research suggests that yohimbine is generally well tolerated at low doses, when taken as directed by a medical professional. However, some people experience side effects even when using this recommended dosage.

Yohimbine hydrochloride may cause these non-life-threatening side effects:

• Agitation, anxiety, nervousness, restlessness
• Heart palpitations
• Elevated blood pressure
• Chest and/or abdominal pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting
• Flushing, warm skin, sweating
• Headache
• Muscle tremors

Most yohimbine side effects eventually disappear once the person begins taking this compound on a daily basis. Individuals prone to nervousness or those diagnosed with an anxiety disorder may experience only a slight reduction in symptom intensity.

To avoid more negative yohimbine side effects, users should always inform their physician of any allergies they may have, since certain inactive ingredients included in making yohimbine HCL may cause allergic reactions.

You should not operate machinery, drive a vehicle or perform activities requiring alertness and stability. Drinking alcohol with yohimbine may worsen anxiety.

Children and pregnant women should not take yohimbine HCL due to lack of research regarding how this drug affects them. [8]

Is Too Much Yohimbine HCL Dangerous?

As with any other medication, taking too much yohimbine HCL can cause dangerous side effects such as breathing difficulties, shock, tachycardia, coma and possibly death.

Never take a higher dosage than what is prescribed by your doctor and always seek immediate emergency treatment for uncommon or adverse reactions to yohimbine HCL.

Yohimbine in supplemental or standardized form is also known to interact with certain drugs and health problems: [9]

Hemophilia/bleeding conditions: Yohimbine may increase bleeding due to its stimulating effect on the peripheral and central nervous system.

Psychotic disorders/schizophrenia/post-traumatic stress disorder: People diagnosed with serious mental illnesses should not take yohimbine. It may worsen psychosis or induce a psychotic break.

Prostate disorders: Yohimbine may aggravate symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (painful urination or difficulty urinating).

Kidney or liver disease: In addition to interfering with urine flow and the ability of the kidneys to filter blood, yohimbine may not be processed properly when liver disease is present. Altering the way it is absorbed and eliminated by the body may cause unusual and adverse side effects.

High or low blood pressure: People with high blood pressure (systolic 160+, diastolic 100+) or low blood pressure (85/55 or lower) coupled with dizziness, fainting spells or infection, should not use yohimbe since it may increase blood pressure to dangerously high levels or reduce already low blood pressure enough to cause shock.

Heart disease: Stimulating effects of yohimbine can overload heart functioning and worsen existing heart conditions.

Diabetes: Interference by yohimbine hydrochloride with diabetic medications has been noted in research studies. Yohimbine may cause rapid reductions or spikes in blood glucose levels.

Foods containing tyramine: since yohimbine exhibits MAOI activity, foods such as cheese, fish, beer and cured meat should be avoided when taking yohimbine HCL. Combining tyramine-rich foods with this supplement may seriously disrupt neurotransmitter balance in the brain, worsen depression and possibly cause psychotic symptoms.

Using Yohimbine HCL Correctly

Literature examining side affects of standardized yohimbine on healthy men and women for treatment of sexual dysfunction indicates that this drug is safe to use when dosing amounts are followed.

Taking Yohimbine for weight loss seems to also be well-tolerated at low dosages under medical supervision.

However, some people should not use this supplement due to a heightened risk of side effects. Some people who are very sensitive to stimulant compounds may experience severe unwanted side effects from taking yohimbine or yohimbe pills.

Physicians typically prescribe between 15 and 30 milligrams daily of yohimbine for ED. Higher doses do not produce beneficial results, however, and some research indicates people may respond even better to yohimbine’s benefits when taking 10 milligrams per day. [10]

Users should also be aware they may not notice improvement of sexual dysfunction for up to two or three weeks. Additionally, missed doses should not be doubled.

Adverse yohimbine HCL side effects may occur if you take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.

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