Among medicines attracting attention from the medical community and patients are bupropion, an antidepressant, and yohimbe, a traditional sexual enhancer. Some individuals have been able to derive uses for bupropion and yohimbe that go beyond their primary function, using them as a smoking cessation aid and as an athletic performance booster, respectively. However, there are also some important precautions to take into consideration before you start using these medications.
What is Yohimbe?
Yohimbe is an evergreen tree native to West Africa, especially Gabon, Cameroon and Zaire. An extract called yohimbine can be derived from its bark, and this chemical helps to increase blood flow to the penis and vagina. It has traditionally been used as a treatment for erectile dysfunction and as a general aphrodisiac for men and women, MedlinePlus Supplements reports. In addition, yohimbe has also reportedly been used to counter the negative side effects that some depression medications have on sexual activity, as well as for improving athletic performance and weight loss.
Medical Applications and Side Effects of Yohimbe
The amount of medical research that has been done on the effects of yohimbe is still limited, though some testing on animals or humans has been performed, the University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute reports. For treatment of dry mouth, nervous system failure, erectile dysfunction, countering sexual side effects of antidepressants, and blood thinning, yohimbe has been given a C grade. This indicates that scientific evidence for its effectiveness is currently unclear, though it may be possibly effective for these conditions.
However, yohimbe taken orally may be unsafe, MedlinePlus cautions. Side effects include irregular heartbeat, irritability, bloating, rash, nausea, vomiting, stomach problems, seizure, heart attack and kidney failure. Children under 18 years of age should not take yohimbe in any form.
What is Bupropion?
Bupropion, formerly known as amfebutamone, is an antidepressant that has recently been found to be effective for aiding in smoking cessation. It has also gained some popularity as an add-on medication in cases of incomplete response to SSRI antidepressants. Unlike other antidepressants, bupropion has not been found to cause weight gain or sexual dysfunction. It is marketed commercially as Zyban, Wellbutrin, Voxra, Budeprion and Aplenzin, MayoClinic.com notes.
Medical Applications and Side Effects of Bupropion
Besides being used to treat depression, bupropion can also alleviate the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. It also sometimes used for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD, and for depression in patients with bipolar disorder. Side effects of this drug include severe headaches, high blood pressure, mood changes, nausea, muscle pain, agitation, anxiety, confusion and fainting.
As of 2011, bupropion had gained popularity as an aid in quitting smoking. However, some individuals who have tried to stop smoking through this method have experienced symptoms such as hostility, behavioral changes and suicidal thoughts, MedlinePlus reports. It is currently unknown whether these effects are due to nicotine withdrawal or because of bupropion itself. However, some people who continued smoking while taking bupropion still experienced these symptoms.
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