MAOI Antidepressant Drugs

MAOI Antidepressant Drugs Are Used To Treat Depression.

MAOI antidepressant drugs treat depression by blocking the enzyme monoamine oxidase A. This enzyme breaks down the naturally occurring chemicals in the brain that help control mood. MAOI antidepressant drugs are effective, but not the first medications that a doctor or psychiatrist would use to treat depression.The first reason for this is that MAOI antidepressant drugs can have serious, and even deadly side effects if not used and monitored properly. MAOI antidepressant drugs interact with a number of foods and medications. If MAOI antidepressant drugs are taken with any of these foods or medicines, it can cause a dangerously high fever, or extremely high blood pressure. Medicines and foods that can cause this with MAOI antidepressant drugs include anything that contains tyramine or dopamine.

These substances are found, for example, in cold medicines such as pseudoephedrine and dextromethorphan. They also naturally occur in foods such as cheese, aged or fermented meat like corned beef, as well as drinks like malted beers and wine. This major side effect causes physicians to only use MAOI antidepressant drugs when patients have gotten no relief from taking other antidepressant medicines. Other common side effects include anxiety, dizziness, nausea and insomnia.The second reason MAOI antidepressant drugs are used less often is that some experts believe that they work better for people who's symptoms of depression are less typical. This might include people whose depression is manifested in weight gain, panic attacks or pain syndromes.

MAOI antidepressant drugs also might be helpful in some people who suffer from eating disorders.In recent years, a second generation of MAOI antidepressant drugs have been developed. Their effect on the monoamine oxidase enzyme is reversible, and therefore are generally without the more severe side effects when taken in ordinary doses. There is also an MAO enzyme B. Blocking this enzyme is helpful in treating Parkinson's disease.