Posted by JGalt on November 16, 2001, at 11:47:50
In reply to Re: Yohimbine vs. dysthymia/depression, posted by JGalt on November 13, 2001, at 23:23:21
I did some more research on yohimbine and also took a *small* dose of the herb (250mg, yielding about 5mg of yohimbine and who knows how many herbs, also recall I'm on selegiline, oh well, I don't mind doing things a little risky) yesterday just because it had been so long and I want to get back to alternating this with ephedrine (my supply of real yohimbine is on its way just now).
I should note that the effects of yohimbine will be greatly reduced by the presence of food, particularly insulin.
So anyway, I took it on an empty stomach, and about 15 minutes later I was starting to feel the effects. Definitely norepinephrine release. I started to feel a little cooler too, felt like turning up the thermo stat. The cardiovascular effects were apparant, my pulse was 93 and bp was 113/93. Upon rising, my heart rate would shoot up (this is due to the other alkaloids in yohimbe bark). I noticed a little jaw clenching too. The most interesting effects is the "spine chills". Know how when you're witnessing something very important or you get to that part of the book where you can see the entire hideous plot behind what is happening or otherwise have a startling revelation? That's what I'm talking about, I also get it whenever I do something that I consider a great accomplishment. Well you get those pretty frequently with yohimbe (and without as many sides with yohimbine). I was watching music videos for lack of computer, and it was like the second I thought of the name of the song I was watching I'd get a spine chill type feeling, and then if I agreed with the lyrics or the lyrics were powerful, I'd get another, oftentimes fairly long lasting. I can't imagine doing something truly accomplishing on yohimbe, I think your spine would just freeze (sic). I any case this is yohimbe, with all its other alkaloids. From a few surveys we did over on a bodybuilding forum I used to go to, women seemed better able to tolerate yohimbe, but I still wouldn't bother with it long term if I was a woman. I can't wait to try the real thing now that I've done the following research.
On the downside, the cardiovascular effects were annoying, I calmed them and myself down with a ghb precursor and then everything was fairly pleasant.
Now onto the research I did last night.
Yohimbine also agonizes the 5-HT1A receptors. This is similar to what buspar does, and in addition, yohimbines effect at the 5-HT1a receptor has been shown to reduce pain in rats. In fact, yohimbines pharmacology could most closely be connected with Remeron (both an alpha-2 antagonist and a 5-HT1A agonist), the main difference being that remeron doesn't cause norepinepherine release (as far as I know), and instead, makes one drowsy (because it also acts as an antihistamine (like benadryl)).
Yohimbine tends to increase dopamine (that's usually a plus in my book), though this may only be at high doses, and decrease serotonin turnover rates (like a weak SSRI?)
In high doses in rats, it decreases exploratory behavior (perhaps too much norepinephrine leading to anxiety).
It increases salivation. There has never once been a time while taking yohimbine that I even had close to a dry mouth, and this effect is clinicallly documented.
Yohimbine can increase startlability (likely due to norepinephrine release).
Yohimbine does not affect REM sleep. This is a big plus compared to many stimulants and depressants which do (caffeine, clonodine, benzo's I believe, ghb, amphetamines?) Interference of REM sleep tends to reduce LTP (long term potentiation of memories or learned things).Well I think I've beat this horse to death enough to call that the end of the post...
JGalt
poster:JGalt
thread:84037
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011113/msgs/84419.html