Adrenergic Stimulant
Yohimbine
A stimulant compound that increases alertness, energy, and focus under certain conditions.
KÖGN Health grades Yohimbine as B (Moderate evidence) and rates it 3.9 out of 5.
Last reviewed · June 2026
Primary effects
- Increased alertness
- Energy boost
- Enhanced focus
How it works
Blocks alpha-2 adrenergic receptors, increasing norepinephrine activity.
Overview
Yohimbine is a potent stimulant that increases norepinephrine activity, leading to heightened alertness and energy. However, it can also increase anxiety, heart rate, and stress response, making it less suitable for sensitive individuals. It is typically used in short-term or targeted performance contexts rather than daily cognitive support.
The evidence
Yohimbine is an alpha-2 adrenergic antagonist that raises noradrenaline, increasing arousal and sympathetic 'fight or flight' activity. It is sometimes used for focus or fat loss, but in research it is best known for the opposite of calm: it reliably provokes anxiety and panic attacks in susceptible people. Its cognitive use is hard to justify against that risk profile.
How to dose it
Studies have used roughly 5–10 mg, but response is highly variable and supplement products are often inconsistently dosed, which contributes to its safety problems.
When to take it
Acute.
Safety & side effects
Dose-dependent rises in blood pressure and heart rate, anxiety, agitation and GI distress are common; poison-control data show yohimbine products cause a disproportionate share of severe outcomes.
Who should avoid it
Avoid if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, an anxiety or panic disorder, kidney disease, or take antidepressants (especially MAOIs and tricyclics) or stimulants. This is one of the higher-risk supplements in common use — treat it with real caution and ideally medical input.
References
Related ingredients
Graded entries that target the same cognitive goals.
Categories
Draft — the dose, safety and evidence notes on this entry were prepared from the published literature and are pending editorial and clinical review.
Educational information, not medical advice. The evidence grade is KÖGN’s editorial assessment of published research, not a health claim. Speak to a qualified clinician before changing what you take.