Monoamine Oxidase inhibitors (MAOI’s)

Monoamine Oxidase inhibitors (MAOI’s):
• not used much today
• eg phenelzine, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid
• indicated for depression (often second or third choice drugs) – as effective as TCA’s and SSRI’s, but have more adverse effects
• block action of MAOA and MAOB – enzymes that breakdown the monoamines (noradrenaline, serotonin, dopamine)
• adverse effects – restlessness, insomnia, dizziness, orthostatic hypertension, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, hypertensive crisis if have diet high in tyramine
• hypertensive crisis can be triggered by eating tyramine containing foods (eg red wine, beer, yeast, chocolate)

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Page last updated: @ 8:59 pm