Yohimbe 437frequently, despite showing more sexual desire, but the fertility rate increased
among eggs laid by females that were mated by the treated crocodiles.
Normal sensations returned to legs of diabetics after they received yohim-
bine in an experiment. Another experiment showed that yohimbine can help
persons fight the sleepiness of narcolepsy. The substance can be used to im-
prove salivation in individuals troubled by dry mouth and can dilate the eye’s
pupil. The drug increases blood pressure of normal persons, and in persons
prone to fainting, yohimbine can improve that affliction by increasing blood
pressure. A branch of the FDA, however, has declared yohimbine to be a
substance that lowers blood pressure. Experimental use of yohimbine shows
that it can help bring forth repressed memories and help people deal with
them. Research also reveals that yohimbine can improve performance on some
kinds of reaction-time tests.
Drawbacks.Unwanted effects from yohimbine include headache, tremors,
cramps, mental tenseness, confusion, insomnia, chills, perspiration, dizziness,
indigestion, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, skin eruptions or flushed appearance,
impaired hearing, accelerated heartbeat, and decreased urine production.
Daily usage may cause breathing difficulty and symptoms reminiscent of lu-
pus. Persons should avoid operating dangerous machinery if the substance is
making them dizzy. People are advised to avoid yohimbine if they suffer from
diabetes or diseases of the heart, liver, or kidney. Case reports attribute kidney
failure and heart difficulty to yohimbine; an experiment documented that yo-
himbine reduces the heart’s efficiency while a person is resting and makes the
heart work harder while a person is exercising. Persons with kidney or liver
malfunction are advised to avoid the natural product yohimbe as well. Claims
exist about the natural product yohimbe causing hallucinations, but scientific
information is nil about that subject. Hallucinations are not included among
unwanted effects listed by the manufacturer of the Aphrodyne brand of yo-
himbine.
Yohimbine may increase anxiety and panic; research has shown the substance
to worsen symptoms experienced by persons suffering from posttraumatic
stress disorder—experimentation demonstrates that yohimbine facilitates re-
call of emotionally charged memories, and such recall is not always a good
thing. Instances of manic behavior following yohimbine administration are
known, as is lesser stimulation involving mere restlessness.
Abuse factors.Not enough scientific information to report about tolerance,
dependence, withdrawal, or addiction.
Drug interactions.Although yohimbine can improve pain relief provided
bymorphine, yohimbine can interfere with clonidine, a pain reliever and sed-
ative that is also used to fight high blood pressure and migraine. Yohimbine
may also interfere with other drugs used against high blood pressure; indeed,
it has worked as an antidote for overdose from clonidine. Yohimbine’s ability
to increase blood pressure can be boosted by tricyclic antidepressants. Phe-
nothiazine tranquilizers may raise the chance of yohimbine poisoning. In a
dog experiment yohimbine increasedcocaine’s adverse actions on the heart.
Yohimbine’s unwanted effects may be promoted byephedrineand by nal-
trexone, a drug given to treatalcoholandheroinaddiction. At a high-enough