Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)

• Bind irreversibly to monoamine oxidase thereby preventing inactivation of biogenic amines such as norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin leading to increased synaptic levels.
• Are very effective for depression
• Side effects include orthostatic hypotension, weight gain, dry mouth, sedation, sexual dysfunction and sleep disturbance
• Hypertensive crisis can develop when MAOI’s are taken with tyramine-rich foods or sympathomimetics.
• Serotonin Syndrome can develop if take MAOI with meds that increase serotonin or have sympathomimetic actions. Serotonin syndrome sx include abdominal pain, diarrhea, sweats, tachycardia, HTN, myoclonus, irritability, delirium. Can lead to hyperpyrexia, cardiovascular shock and death.
• To avoid need to wait 2 weeks before switching from an SSRI to an MAOI. The exception of fluoxetine where need to wait 5 weeks because of long half-life.