Yohimbine Yocon - Treating Erectile Dysfunction: Mens Sexual Health

Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School

Yohimbine (Yocon)

This plant-based remedy was the first impotence pill to be approved by the FDA, and until Viagra came on the market it was widely prescribed by doctors. It's a chemical extracted from the bark of the yohimbe tree, which is native to tropical West Africa. It's not known exactly how yohimbine works, but scientists surmise that it increases blood flow to the penis and prevents blood from leaving too quickly.

Studies of yohimbine show that as many as 40% of men taking it report improvement. Because of its relatively low success rate, yohimbine isn't recommended as a first-line therapy. However, many men have found that it becomes more effective after several weeks of use. Therefore, some doctors still think it's worth trying for men who can't take Viagra — including those who take medications containing nitrates to treat heart disease — as long as they stick to the standard dose of 5.4 milligrams (mg) three times a day. Yohimbine can cause side effects — mainly insomnia, but also increased heart rate and blood pressure, nervousness, irritability, and dizziness.

Last updated:	September 05, 2008