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Yohimbine

Yohimbine is a real alpha-2 adrenergic antagonist with genuine effects — modest evidence for erectile dysfunction, thin evidence for fat loss, and a substantial adverse-event record. It is a prescription drug in several countries and banned as a supplement ingredient in others, which tells you most of what you need to know.

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What the science says

  • Erectile dysfunction Moderate evidence

    A meta-analysis of 7 RCTs judged to be of satisfactory methodological quality found yohimbine superior to placebo for erectile dysfunction (odds ratio 3.85; 95% CI 2.22 to 6.67), with infrequent and reversible serious adverse reactions. Those trials predate PDE5 inhibitors, which are far more effective and better tolerated, so yohimbine is now a third-line option at best.

  • Body fat Limited evidence

    In 20 elite soccer players given 20 mg/day for 21 days alongside resistance training, body fat fell from 9.3% to 7.1% while placebo did not change, and post-supplementation fat mass was lower than placebo. This is a single small trial in lean, heavily trained athletes; yohimbine's lipolytic effect is blunted by insulin, so it is largely negated if taken with food.

  • Exercise performance Limited evidence

    The same trial found no change in body mass, muscle mass, bench press, leg press, vertical jump, dribbling, power or shuttle-run performance. Yohimbine is not an ergogenic aid.

  • Herbal yohimbe bark is not the same product Limited evidence

    Analyses of yohimbe bark supplements have repeatedly found yohimbine content wildly at odds with the label, from negligible to several times the stated amount. Since yohimbine's effects are steeply dose-dependent, this variability is itself a safety problem.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseErectile dysfunction trials used 15-30 mg/day of yohimbine hydrochloride, typically 5-10 mg three times daily. The fat-loss study used 20 mg/day (0.2 mg/kg twice daily), taken fasted, since insulin suppresses the lipolytic response. Effects are strongly dose-dependent and adverse effects rise sharply above roughly 0.2 mg/kg per dose.
SafetyThis is the most hazardous supplement on this list. A review of 238 yohimbine-related cases reported to the California Poison Control System found gastrointestinal distress in 46%, tachycardia in 43%, anxiety or agitation in 33% and hypertension in 25%; 98.7% involved herbal rather than prescription products, and yohimbine exposures were about 5.8 times more likely than the average reported exposure to produce a severe outcome. Panic attacks, tremor, insomnia, and at high doses hypertensive crisis, arrhythmia, seizures and renal failure have been reported. Contraindicated with MAOIs and in anxiety or panic disorder, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, kidney or liver disease, and pregnancy; use extreme caution with stimulants, tricyclic antidepressants and antihypertensives. Regulatory status varies sharply: yohimbine hydrochloride is a prescription medicine in several jurisdictions, yohimbe bark is prohibited as a food supplement ingredient in the UK, Australia and parts of the EU, and while yohimbine itself is not on the WADA prohibited list, it is commonly sold in blends that have been found contaminated with banned stimulants.

How to take it

TimingFasted, and never within several hours of bedtime — anxiety and insomnia are among the commonest effects.
With food?On an empty stomach, since insulin blunts the lipolytic response that is the reason for fasted dosing.
Worth knowingDose by body weight: adverse effects climb sharply above roughly 0.2 mg/kg per dose, and poison centre data show yohimbine exposures are far more likely than average to end badly.

Interactions

With medications

  • MAOIs (phenelzine, tranylcypromine, selegiline)

    Risk of severe hypertension; the combination is contraindicated. do not combine

  • tricyclic antidepressants

    Yohimbine's blood-pressure rise is amplified, with reports of hypertension at low yohimbine doses. do not combine without medical supervision

  • blood-pressure medication and clonidine

    Yohimbine is an alpha-2 antagonist and directly opposes clonidine while making blood pressure control unpredictable. do not combine

  • stimulant medications (ADHD drugs, decongestants)

    Additive tachycardia, hypertension, anxiety and panic. do not combine

With other supplements

  • caffeine and other stimulants

    Additive tachycardia, anxiety and blood-pressure rise; most yohimbine products are sold in stimulant blends. do not combine

Well-established interactions only — this is not a complete list. Always tell your doctor and pharmacist what you take.

Frequently asked questions

Does yohimbine work for erectile dysfunction?

Yohimbine has moderate evidence for erectile dysfunction: a meta-analysis of 7 trials found it superior to placebo. Those trials predate PDE5 inhibitors, which work far better and are better tolerated, so yohimbine is a third-line option at best.

Does yohimbine help burn fat?

The evidence is limited to one small trial in 20 elite soccer players, where 20 mg/day of yohimbine for 21 days lowered body fat. Yohimbine's fat-burning effect is blunted by insulin, so it is largely lost if taken with food, and it did not improve performance.

What are the side effects of yohimbine?

Yohimbine is among the most hazardous supplements: in 238 poison-centre cases, 46% had gastrointestinal distress, 43% tachycardia, 33% anxiety or agitation and 25% hypertension. Panic attacks, insomnia and, at high doses, hypertensive crisis, arrhythmia and seizures have been reported.

Who should not take yohimbine?

Do not take yohimbine with MAOIs, tricyclic antidepressants, clonidine, blood-pressure drugs or stimulants, including caffeine. Yohimbine is contraindicated in anxiety or panic disorder, hypertension, cardiovascular, kidney or liver disease, and pregnancy.

Scientific references

Where to buy

Primaforce, Yohimbine HCL, 90 Capsules (2.5 mg per Capsule)

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