Dietary Restrictions and Drug Interactions With Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors: The State of the Art

Antidepressant activity of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) was initially noted in the 1950s, andby the early 1960s, they were a mainstay of antidepressant treatment. Reports of adverse events such as acutehypertensive reactions following the ingestion of certain foods and beverages tempered clinicians’ enthusiasmfor MAOIs. Introduction of the tricyclic antidepressants and the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitorsled to declines in the use of MAOIs. However, MAOIs have been well established as an effective interventionfor people with treatment-resistant depression, and transdermal formulations may provide a valuabletherapeutic option and eliminate the drug-food interaction.