MAOI Inhibitors

MAOI Inhibitor

MAOIs Inhibitors are especially good if you seem mildly depressed, if you become depressed more gradually, or if your primary complaints are boredom and apathy.

These medications balance certain brain chemicals called neurotransmitters by reducing the amount of monoamine oxidase, the substance that breaks down the neurotransmitters. When these brain chemicals are in proper balance, the symptoms of depression are relieved.

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors are used to relieve certain types of mental depression. They work by blocking the action of a chemical substance known as monoamine oxidase (MAO) in the nervous system.

It is very important to avoid certain foods, beverages, and medicines while you are being treated with an MAO inhibitor. Your health care professional will help you obtain a list to carry in your wallet or purse as a reminder of which products you should avoid.

The efficacy of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) in the treatment of major depression has been a matter of controversy. However, placebo-controlled trials have shown that MAOIs are effective antidepressants and equal in therapeutic activity to tricyclic antidepressants for moderate-to-severe depressive disorders.

Side effects of MAOI Inhibitor:

If you've got serious heart problems, epilepsy, bronchitis, asthma, or high blood pressure, or if you resist following a stringent diet, MAOIs aren't for you. Common side effects of the MAOI antidepressants are:

• low blood pressure
• constipation
• vomiting
• chest pain
• headache
• An altered diurnal sleep cycle is another MAOI-related side effect
• dry mouth
• Some patients get extremely drowsy in the late afternoon
• fainting
• Orthostatic hypotension is the most common early side effect of phenelzine and isocarboxazid
• Be sure to tell your doctor or dentist that you're taking MAO inhibitors before any kind of surgery, dental treatment or emergency treatment
• sexual dysfunction
• weight gain
• reduced tolerance for alcohol
• If you're a diabetic, MAO inhibitors may affect your blood sugar levels
• MAOI side effects also include high blood pressure if you eat prohibited foods or medications, stiff neck, headache, palpitations, chest pain, nausea or vomiting, flushing or chills, fear, pallor or sweating.

For a patient switching from an SSRI, a trial of one of these other antidepressants may be appropriate before undertaking MAOI therapy, simply because it avoids the SSRI washout period. Normally, patients should be off fluoxetine for 5 weeks, other SSRIs or clomipramine for 2 weeks, and venlafaxine for 1 week before starting an MAOI.

What are the types of MAOI inhibitors?

Tranylcypromine
Tranylcypromine, a monoamine oxidase and an antidepressant, is used to treat depression. Also used occasionally to treat eating disorders, cocaine addiction, headaches, and panic attacks.

Phenelzine
Phenelzine is used to treat depression that is classified as atypical, non-endogenous or neurotic.

Isocarboxazid
Isocarboxazid medicine is used for the treatment of depression. It is usually given after other medicines have failed to help.

Othet types of MAOI Inhibitor is Selegiline.

Precautions with MAOIs in children and the elderly

• Generally most psychiatrists do not recommend prescribing MAOIs to children under age 16 due to the increased risk of adverse reactions associated with the drugs.
• Some animal studies have indicates that MAOIs may slow down the growth in the young.
• Older individuals are usually more sensitive to MAOIs,
• They are more likely to experience lightheadedness or dizziness.
• MAO inhibitors are not usually prescribed to persons over age 60, or those with heart or blood-vessel diseases since they are abruptly increase the blood pressure (hypertensive crisis).

How does Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) work?

MAOI Inhibitor side effects and types of MAOI Inhibitor

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Maoi inhibitor and SSRis antidepressant

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Site last updated: March 4, 2008

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