59 lines
2.7 KiB
Plaintext
59 lines
2.7 KiB
Plaintext
Newsgroups: alt.drugs
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From: bwhite@oucsace.cs.ohiou.edu (William E. White )
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Subject: Re: Yohimbe
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Message-ID: <Cx2M6y.Loo@oucsace.cs.ohiou.edu>
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Date: Mon, 3 Oct 1994 00:18:34 GMT
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[quoted text deleted -cak]
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Yohimbine, the active constituent in yohimbe bark (there may be others,
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since yohimbine alone does not seem to produce the same effects as the
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bark extract), is an alpha-2 adrenergic antagonist. It is not, to my
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knowledge, a MAOI (if someone knows differently, please inform me).
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The alpha-2 receptor is an autoreceptor (presynaptic, I think) which
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acts as a kind of "thermostat" to adrenergic activity. That is, some
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of the noradrenaline released by a neuron goes back to the alpha-2
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autoreceptor, which then REDUCES the amount of noradrenaline secreted.
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This is similar to a thermostat, which registers the temperature and
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reduces the amount of heat produced when the air warms up.
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By blocking the alpha-2 autoreceptor, yohimbine increases the amount of
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adrenergic activity. Additionally, it does so in a different way than
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a simple agonist (which would universally activate receptors, rather
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than amplifying existing noradrenergic activity) would do.
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Yohimbine is used medically to treat impotence, as increased adrenergic
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activity seems to help. I think "Yocon" is the brand name.
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Yohimbe / yohimbine are contraindicated in people with high blood
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pressure, heart problems, anxiety, and panic attacks, all of which can
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be made worse with adrenergic activity. It should not be taken with
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any stimulant. Avoid MAOIs with yohimbine.
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>understanding, MAO inhibitors keep certain receptor points in your brain
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>open, making other substances *much* more potent.
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MAOIs prevent monoamine oxidase, an enzyme (actually two enzymes) from
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degrading certain substances. For example, orally ingested DMT is normally
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broken down by MAO before it ever reaches the brain (if you smoke it,
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some will make it there). By inhibiting MAO, the DMT stays around until
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it is degraded by other (much slower) pathways.
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The troubles with MAOIs are twofold: First, some chemicals are degraded
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by MAOI, but when undegraded can be dangerous; an example of this is
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tyramine, an amino acid present in cheese, wine, etc., which is an
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indirectly acting sympathomimetic (like amphetamine). Normally no
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tyramine makes it to your brain when you eat cheese, but if you are
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taking a MAOI, you can end up in a hypertensive crisis.
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Second, and more insidiously, sometimes there is an enzyme pathway from
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a harmless substance to a more harmful one, which is "uncovered" when
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the (more active) MAO pathway is inhibited.
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--
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| Bill White +1-614-594-3434 | bwhite@oucsace.cs.ohiou.edu |
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| 44 Canterbury, Athens OH 45701 | finger for PGP2.2 block |
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