Yohimbe

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KEY POINTS

• This remedy has been used to treat several conditions. Studies in humans or animals have not proved that this remedy is safe or effective for all uses. Before using this remedy for a serious condition, you should talk with your healthcare provider.
• The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve uses for natural remedies. The FDA does not inspect or regulate natural remedies the way they do prescription medicines. Natural remedies are not always safe.
• This remedy may cause unwanted side effects. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that are serious, continue, or get worse.
• This remedy affects your body and may interact with prescription medicines that you take. Tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take.

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What are other names for this remedy?

Type of medicine: natural remedy

Scientific and common names: Pausinystalia yohimbe, Corynanthe yohimbi, yohimbe, yohimbine, johimbi

What is yohimbe?

Yohimbe is an evergreen tree that grows in the jungle. The bark is the part of the tree that is used to make medicine.

What is it used for?

This remedy has been used to treat several conditions. Studies in humans or animals have not proved that this remedy is safe or effective for all uses. Before using this remedy for a serious condition, you should talk with your healthcare provider.

Yohimbe is used to treat:

• Erectile dysfunction
• Sex-related side effects caused by some antidepressants

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve uses for natural remedies. The FDA does not inspect or regulate natural remedies the way they do prescription medicines.

How is it taken?

You can buy yohimbe without a prescription. The active ingredient, yohimbine, comes in the form of a prescription medicine. Take yohimbine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. If your healthcare provider has not given you specific instructions, follow the directions that come on the package. Do not take more or take it longer than prescribed. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about anything you do not understand.

What if I overdose?

Symptoms of an acute overdose have not been reported.

What should I watch out for?

This herb should be taken only under supervision of your healthcare provider, especially if you also take antidepressant medicines. Yohimbine may be life-threatening if taken in high doses.

Talk with your healthcare provider before taking yohimbe if you have:

• Chest pain or heart disease
• Mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or schizophrenia
• Trouble urinating or an enlarged prostate gland
• Ulcers

Yohimbe is unsafe for children because children appear to be much more sensitive to the side effects.

If you need emergency care, surgery, lab tests, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this remedy.

Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about any natural remedy that you are using or thinking about using. If your provider does not tell you how to take it, follow the directions that come with the package. Do not take more or take it longer than recommended. Ask about anything you do not understand. Remember:

• Natural remedies are not always safe.
• You should not take them if you are pregnant or breast-feeding without your healthcare provider's approval. They should not be taken by infants, children, or older adults without your provider's approval.
• They affect your body and may interact with prescription medicines that you take.
• Natural remedies are not standardized and may have different strengths and effects. They may be contaminated.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its desirable effects, this remedy may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the remedy. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help.): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; chest pain or tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (Report these to your healthcare provider right away.): Severe high or low blood pressure, chest pain, fast or irregular heartbeat, weakness, paralysis, hallucinations, trouble breathing, fainting, unexplained swelling, trouble urinating, seizures.

Other: Dizziness, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, trouble sleeping, drooling, increased urination, shakiness, headache, rash.

What products might interact with this remedy?

When you take this remedy with other medicines, it can change the way the remedy or the medicines work. Vitamins and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Before taking this remedy, talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• ACE inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril, enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril, lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), quinapril (Accupril), and ramipril (Altace)
• Alpha blockers such as doxazosin (Cardura) and prazosin (Minipress)
• Antidepressants such as amitriptyline, desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Tofranil), and nortriptyline (Pamelor)
• Antipsychotic medicines such as chlorpromazine, haloperidol (Haldol), olanzapine (Zyprexa), prochlorperazine (Compro), risperidone (Risperdal), thioridazine, trifluoperazine, and ziprasidone (Geodon)
• Beta blockers such as acebutolol (Sectral), atenolol (Tenormin), carvedilol (Coreg), labetalol (Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), nadolol (Corgard), pindolol, and sotalol (Betapace, Sorine)
• Calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem (Cardizem, Cartia, Tiazac), felodipine, isradipine (DynaCirc), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Adalat CC, Procardia), and verapamil (Calan, Covera, Verelan)
• Clonidine (Catapres, Kapvay)
• Diuretics (water pills) such as amiloride, bumetanide, chlorothiazide (Diuril), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide), spironolactone (Aldactone), torsemide (Demadex), and triamterene (Dyrenium)
• Doxepin (Silenor)
• MAO inhibitors such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), and tranylcypromine (Parnate) (Do not take this medicine and an MAO inhibitor within 14 days of each other.)
• Naloxone (Narcan)
• Natural remedies such as ephedra, fenugreek, ginger, ginkgo, ginseng, guarana, mate, St. John's wort, and willow
• Propranolol (Hemangeol, Inderal, InnoPran)

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

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Keep all natural remedies and medicines out of the reach of children.

This advisory includes select information only. The information was obtained from scientific journals, study reports, and other documents. The author and publisher make no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the information. The advisory may not include all side effects associated with a remedy or interactions with other medicines. Nothing herein shall constitute a recommendation for the use of any remedy. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information.