Yohimbine

From WikiMD's Food, Medicine & Wellness Encyclopedia

<languages /><translate>


Information about Yohimbine[edit source]

Yohimbine is an indole alkaloid derived from the bark of the Central African yohimbe tree (Pausinystalia yohimbe) that is widely used as therapy for erectile dysfunction. 

Yohimbine
Yohimbine


Liver safety of Yohimbine[edit source]

Yohimbine use has been associated with occasional severe adverse events, but has not been linked to serum enzyme elevations or clinically apparent acute liver injury.  

Mechanism of action of Yohimbine[edit source]

  • Yohimbine (yoe him' been) is a popular and widely used herbal which was traditionally used in Africa for multiple conditions including cough, fever, leprosy, heart disease and as an anesthetic, hallucinogen and aphrodisiac. 
  • In the West, yohimbe became popular as a sexual stimulant and used to treat erectile dysfunction. 

Plant derived[edit | edit source]

  • Yohimbe is derived from the bark of the African evergreen tree Pausinystalia yohimbe (synonym, P. johimbe). 
  • The bark extract has multiple constituents, but the focus of most interest has been yohimbine, an indole alkaloid which has been shown to be an alpha 2 adrenergic receptor antagonist. 
Yohimbine 3D
Yohimbine 3D

Aphrodisiac in animal models[edit | edit source]

  • In animal models, yohimbine increases sexual activity and is likely to act by engagement and inhibition of the alpha 2 adrenergic receptors in the corpus cavernosum, causing sustained engorgement of the corporeal tissue of the penis. 

Synthetic form[edit | edit source]

  • Yohimbine has been chemically synthesized and is the synthetic form is currently marketed in the United States. 
  • The herbal bark extract may have other active components and is purported to be more potent and have more side effects. 
  • In clinical trials, synthetic yohimbine has had a consistent, although limited effect on erectile dysfunction. 
  • Its effect on sexual desire is less well defined. 
Yohimbine-3D-balls
Yohimbine-3D-balls

Dose[edit | edit source]

  • The usual recommended dose of purified yohimbine is 5 to 10 mg three times a day. 
  • Drug tolerance or tachyphylaxis may occur. 

Side effects of Yohimbine[edit source]

  • Side effects are usually mild and transient and are typical of alpha 2 adrenergic inhibition, including insomnia, anxiety, palpitations, chest pain, sweating, blurred vision and hypertension. 
  • Overdose can cause hypotension, tachycardia, seizures, paralysis and coma; deaths from overdose have been described.

See also[edit | edit source]


Herbal and dietary supplements

Chinese and Other Asian Herbal Medicines

Multi-Ingredient Nutritional Supplements

See also Nutritional supplements

Yohimbine Resources
Doctor showing form.jpg
Wiki.png

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD


Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.

Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Admin, Prab R. Tumpati, MD