Monoamine oxidase inhibitor

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, also called MAOIs or MAO inhibitors, are a fairly old class antidepressants. They were the first antidepressants to be developed. Though effective, they have been replaced as a first-line treatment following the development of other antidepressants posing fewer safety and side effect issues.

Evidence
No antidepressants have been found to cause significant improvement in ME/CFS, although some may be useful for co-existing depression, or for treating pain and/or sleep problems.

Risks and safety
Use of MAOIs typically involves dietary restrictions owing to dangerous side effects that can result from interactions with some foods. Nevertheless, MAOIs can still be a good treatment option for depression, especially in cases where other antidepressants have been ineffective.

As of June 2016, the FDA has approved the following MAOIs to treat depression:
 * Isocarboxazid (Marplan)
 * Phenelzine (Nardil)
 * Selegiline (Emsam)
 * Tranylcypromine (Parnate)