Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) are not as frequently used as SSRI's or TCA's due to the danger of dietary and drug interactions 

 

Patients who respond best to MAOIs are : phobic and depressed patients with atypical, hypochondriacal or hysterical features 

 

Withdrawal: Where possible, MAOIs should be withdrawn gradually  withdrawal symptoms are experienced with MAOIs on cessation of treatment 

 

Withdrawal symptoms include: 

• Agitation

• Irritability

• Ataxia 

• Insomnia 

• Drowsiness 

• Vivid dreams

• Slowed speech

• Occassionally: hallucinations and paranoid delusions  

 

In the case of phenelzine, isorcarboxazid and or tranylcypromine they increase the risk of neonatal malformations during pregnancy 

 

​Non-reversible monoamine oxidase inhibitors e.g. phenelzine are usually only prescribed by specialist mental health professionals 

 

Tyramine is present in the following foods:

• Mature cheese 

• Pickled herring

• Broad bean pods

• Bovril®

• Oxo®

• Marmite®

• Or similar Meat or yeast extract 

• Fermented soya bean extract