monoamine oxidase inhibitor

…contrast, the antidepressants known as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) interfere with the activity of monoamine oxidase, an enzyme that is known to be involved in the breakdown of norepinephrine and serotonin.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) interfere with the action of monoamine oxidase, an enzyme involved in the breakdown of norepinephrine and serotonin. As a result, these neurotransmitters accumulate within nerve cells and presumably leak out onto receptors. The side effects of these drugs include daytime drowsiness,…

…which include the tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Other important groups include the norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (NRIs), the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and the atypical antidepressants, a disparate group of agents that possess unique structural features and mechanisms of action.

MAOIs have the potential to produce dangerous drug interactions. This is especially true of tyramine, which can cause hypertension and severe headache. Tyramine is found in many foods, which forces patients who take it to adhere to a specific diet.