Drug & supplement interaction

Yohimbe + Isocarboxazid

Isocarboxazid brand name: Marplan.

Major Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated October 2026
The bottom line Major

Yohimbe has a major interaction with Isocarboxazid. Concomitant use of MAOIs with yohimbe can result in additive effects.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityMajor
LikelihoodLikely
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Yohimbe and Isocarboxazid

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Major

MONOAMINE OXIDASE INHIBITORS (MAOIs)

Why this applies to Isocarboxazid

Isocarboxazid falls under MONOAMINE OXIDASE INHIBITORS (MAOIs) — the group Yohimbe interacts with.

Concomitant use of MAOIs with yohimbe can result in additive effects.
Yohimbine, a constituent of yohimbe, has MAO inhibitory effects. At high doses, yohimbine is a non-selective inhibitor of MAO.
Severity Major Likelihood Likely Evidence D

Well-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the concern with pairing yohimbe and Marplan (isocarboxazid). Isocarboxazid is already a strong MAO inhibitor, and yohimbine (the active compound in yohimbe) can also block MAO at higher doses. So you'd essentially be stacking two things that work the same way, and on top of that yohimbe directly stimulates your cardiovascular system.

The realistic worry is a dangerous spike in blood pressure (a hypertensive reaction), along with a racing heart, pounding headache, sweating, and anxiety. Because isocarboxazid is one of those touchy medications where small things matter, I'd treat this combo as one to avoid. This warning is based on how these compounds work rather than lots of case reports, but the risk is serious enough that I wouldn't take chances. Please talk with your doctor or pharmacist before using yohimbe.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
  2. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Yohimbe Also Interacts With Other Medications

Yohimbe has 8 major, 680 moderate, 437 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Isocarboxazid one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 8 Moderate 680 Minor 437 No known interaction 1,705 (incl. Isocarboxazid)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Yohimbe

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Yohimbe. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Isocarboxazid

This page covers Yohimbe only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Isocarboxazid page lists 81 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Bitter Orange (major), Brewer's Yeast (major) and Cowhage (major).

By severity: 14 major · 55 moderate · 12 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Isocarboxazid page

“Isocarboxazid (Marplan) is an MAOI antidepressant, and that drug class carries some of the sharpest supplement and food hazards in the pharmacy, so read this list closely rather than skimming it. Fourteen of the 81 entries rate major, and most of the danger runs through tyramine.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Isocarboxazid interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Yohimbe as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 1,054 real supplement products containing Yohimbe, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Yohimbe. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Isocarboxazid too, on top of Yohimbe — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Yohimbe and Isocarboxazid Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Yohimbe
Top 25%

#151 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Isocarboxazid
Steady interest

#2,551 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Yohimbe

What is Yohimbe?

Yohimbe
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Low sex drive
  • Sexual performance
  • Weight loss
  • Athletic performance

Yohimbe is a West African tree bark that contains yohimbine, a compound mainly promoted for erectile dysfunction and as an aphrodisiac. A prescription form of yohimbine has some evidence for erectile dysfunction, but over-the-counter yohimbe supplements vary widely in content and can cause serious side effects like high blood pressure and fast heart rate. Because of these safety concerns, talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using it.

Read the full Yohimbe monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Isocarboxazid

What Is Isocarboxazid Used For?

Brand name: Marplan

Isocarboxazid, sold as Marplan tablets, is used to treat depression. In the studies, the people helped had symptoms matching major depressive disorder, and many also had anxiety, panic or phobic symptoms.

It is not usually the first antidepressant tried because of its potentially serious side effects. It is not approved for children or for bipolar depression.

See full Isocarboxazid drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Yohimbe

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Yohimbe — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

8Major
680Moderate
437Minor
1,704No known interaction
8 Major 680 Moderate 437 Minor 1,704 No interaction
Major

8 interactions

Moderate

680 interactions

Showing 60 of 680 moderate interactions — see all 680 on the Yohimbe page.

Minor

437 interactions

Showing 60 of 437 minor interactions — see all 437 on the Yohimbe page.

No interaction 1,704 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Yohimbe against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,704 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Yohimbe list.

See the full Yohimbe interactions page
See every supplement checked against Isocarboxazid, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Yohimbe monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Isocarboxazid supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Isocarboxazid, ranked by severity Isocarboxazid drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Yohimbe and Isocarboxazid Together: Common Questions

Can you take Yohimbe with Isocarboxazid?
This is rated a major interaction, so the combination is best avoided unless your doctor or pharmacist has specifically told you otherwise. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Yohimbe and Isocarboxazid interaction?
We rate it Major. This is a clinically significant combination that is generally best avoided, or used only under the direct supervision of your physician or pharmacist.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Isocarboxazid and Yohimbe?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.