438 Yohimbe
dose yohimbine acts as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), and various
drugs described in this book react badly with MAOIs.
Cancer.Not enough scientific information to report.
Pregnancy.Women are supposed to avoid yohimbine during pregnancy and
if they are nursing an infant.
Additional information.Although yohimbine may help treat sexual dys-
function, and sexual dysfunction is a topic of robust interest to sufferers and
caregivers alike, someone who reviewed scientific studies about yohimbine
noted comparatively little investigation of the substance and attributed this
apathy to yohimbine’s status as an “orphan drug.” An orphan drug is one
that is ignored because it has little potential for commercial profitability. Yo-
himbine is such an old drug that it can no longer be patented; no pharma-
ceutical company can gain a monopoly on it and thereby force patients to pay
a premium price. Consequently, scientists can obtain little financial or insti-
tutional support for exploring yohimbine’s potential.
Additional scientific information may be found in:Albus, M., T.P. Zahn, and A. Breier. “Anxiogenic Properties of Yohimbine. I. Behav-
ioral, Physiological and Biochemical Measures.”European Archives of Psychiatry
and Clinical Neuroscience241 (1992): 337–44.
Biaggioni, I., R.M. Robertson, and D. Robertson. “Manipulation of Norepinephrine
Metabolism with Yohimbine in the Treatment of Autonomic Failure.”Journal of
Clinical Pharmacology34 (1994): 418–23.
De Smet, P.A., and O.S. Smeets. “Potential Risks of Health Food Products Containing
Yohimbe Extracts.”BMJ309 (1994): 958.
Linden, C.H., W.P. Vellman, and B. Rumack. “Yohimbine: A New Street Drug.”Annals
of Emergency Medicine14 (1985): 1002–4.
Morpurgo, B., I. Rozenboim, and B. Robinzon. “Effect of Yohimbine on the Reproduc-
tive Behavior of the Male Nile CrocodileCrocodylus niloticus.”Pharmacology, Bio-
chemistry, and Behavior43 (1992): 449–52.
Southwick, S.M., et al. “Yohimbine Use in a Natural Setting: Effects on Posttraumatic
Stress Disorder.”Biological Psychiatry46 (1999): 442–44.
“Yohimbine for Male Sexual Dysfunction.”Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics 36
(1994): 115–16.