Monoamine oxidase inhibitor
From MEpedia, a crowd-sourced encyclopedia of ME and CFS science and history
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, also called MAOIs or MAO inhibitors, are a class of antidepressants.[1] They were the first antidepressants to be developed.[1] Though effective, they have been replaced as a first-line treatment following the development of other antidepressants posing fewer safety and side effect issues.[1] Use of MAOIs typically involves dietary restrictions owing to dangerous side effects that can result from interactions with some foods.[1] Nevertheless, MAOIs can still be a good treatment option for depression, especially in cases where other antidepressants have been ineffective.[1]
As of June 2016, the FDA has approved the following MAOIs to treat depression:
- Isocarboxazid (Marplan)
- Phenelzine (Nardil)
- Selegiline (Emsam)
- Tranylcypromine (Parnate)
