OnePin Peptide Library · Metabolic
Yohimbine HCl
Yohimbine Hydrochloride · Yohimbe
Yohimbine is an indole alkaloid isolated from the bark of the Pausinystalia yohimbe tree (native to central and western Africa), and also found in several other plants including Rauwolfia species. The hydrochloride salt (yohimbine HCl) is the pharmaceutical-grade form used in research and in products positioned for sexual health and stubborn-fat-loss applications. It is a selective alpha-2 adrenergic receptor antagonist.
Standard protocol is 0.1-0.2 mg/kg body weight taken 30-45 minutes before fasted morning cardio. A 70 kg user starts at 5-7 mg, works up to 10-14 mg if tolerated. Do not take with food if the goal is regional fat loss - insulin suppresses the lipolytic effect. Avoid evening dosing; the short half-life is convenient but the CNS stimulation disrupts sleep.
Start here. Every protocol below is ordered lowest-first. Begin at the smallest effective dose, hold about a week to assess tolerance, and step up only if needed.
How it works
Yohimbine is a selective competitive antagonist at alpha-2 adrenergic receptors (both pre- and postsynaptic). In adipose tissue, alpha-2 receptors are inhibitory autoreceptors - when noradrenaline binds them, lipolysis is dampened. Regional fat depots with high alpha-2-to-beta-receptor ratios (for example the lower abdomen and lower back in men, hips and thighs in women) are relatively resistant to lipolysis because alpha-2 signaling out-competes beta signaling locally. Blocking alpha-2 with yohimbine removes this brake and allows beta-adrenergic lipolysis (endogenous or stimulated by exercise / fasted state) to act on these regional depots.
Yohimbine is a selective competitive antagonist at alpha-2 adrenergic receptors (both pre- and postsynaptic). In adipose tissue, alpha-2 receptors are inhibitory autoreceptors - when noradrenaline binds them, lipolysis is dampened. Regional fat depots with high alpha-2-to-beta-receptor ratios (for example the lower abdomen and lower back in men, hips and thighs in women) are relatively resistant to lipolysis because alpha-2 signaling out-competes beta signaling locally. Blocking alpha-2 with yohimbine removes this brake and allows beta-adrenergic lipolysis (endogenous or stimulated by exercise / fasted state) to act on these regional depots.
At the central nervous system level, alpha-2 antagonism increases noradrenergic tone by disinhibiting presynaptic noradrenaline release - this drives the characteristic anxiety, tachycardia, and elevated blood pressure seen at higher doses. Insulin concurrently suppresses lipolysis (insulin-stimulated adipose tissue has little noradrenergic traffic for yohimbine to augment), which is why fasted-state dosing is standard for fat-loss use.
Yohimbine has a notably short half-life (around 36 minutes to 2 hours depending on individual CYP2D6 metabolism), so effects rise and fall quickly. It also has mild 5-HT and alpha-1 activity at higher concentrations.
What to expect
First dose: CNS activation within 20-45 minutes - alertness, mild anxiety, warmth, slight tremor. Effects peak at 1-2 hours and fade by 3-4 hours in most users.
Week 1-2: regional fat-loss effect becomes measurable when combined with fasted cardio and caloric deficit. Users often report improved skin tightness in traditionally resistant areas.
Weeks 3-6: continued regional fat loss. Because yohimbine removes a local brake rather than driving lipolysis directly, it works best as an adjunct to an established caloric deficit and exercise plan, not as a standalone fat-loss agent.
Evidence
Interactions & stacking
What's safe to combine, and what belongs in a separate pin.
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Side effects & safety
Commonly reported
- Anxiety, jitteriness, feeling 'wired'
- Increased heart rate
- Sweating
- Mild hypertension
- GI upset (nausea, abdominal discomfort)
- Urinary urgency or frequency
- Sleep disturbance if dosed later in the day
Less common & notes
- Panic attacks (especially in susceptible individuals), severe hypertension, chest pain, palpitations, arrhythmia, tremor severe enough to interfere with fine motor tasks, headache, dizziness.
- Rare but serious: hypertensive crisis (particularly if combined with MAOIs, SSRIs, or other sympathomimetics), myocardial infarction at very high doses or in users with underlying cardiac disease, psychiatric destabilization in bipolar or panic-disorder patients.
- Priapism has been reported rarely.
Pharmacokinetics
Storage. Store at controlled room temperature (20-25°C / 68-77°F). Protect from light and moisture. Keep in original container. Shelf life typically 2-3 years from manufacture date. Keep out of reach of children - overdose can produce severe hypertension and anxiety.
Regulatory status
Yohimbine HCl historically FDA-approved as Yocon (Palisades Pharmaceuticals) for erectile dysfunction; the brand is largely absent from the US market today. Prescription yohimbine HCl remains available through compounding pharmacies. Yohimbine is also sold as a dietary supplement in the United States at lower potencies. Not a controlled substance. Not prohibited by WADA, though monitored. Banned for sale in some jurisdictions (Canada, Australia) outside of prescription.
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