Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI) are

• Best known to be powerful anti-depressants.
• They are effective therapeutic agents for panic disorder and social phobia.
• MAOIs are tried when other antidepressants don’t work, due to side effects.
• MAOIs can cause dangerous interactions with foods and beverages that contain Tyramine. See table below.

Tyramine

• Tyramine is an amino acid that regulates blood pressure
• It occurs naturally in the body, and it’s found in certain foods.

Important: Clients taking MAOIs will need to avoid foods containing high levels of tyramine.

Common side effects of MAOIs include:

• Dry mouth, Headache, Drowsiness
• Nausea, diarrhea or constipation
• Dizziness or light-headedness
• Skin reaction at the patch site

Nursing Implications:

• Monitor for occipital headache, nausea, vomiting, sweating, fever, chest pain.
• Notify the MD quickly, if client complain of any of the signs above.
• Monitor for other drug interactions e.g. sedatives, hypnotics, & analgesics.
• Check if client is taking Herbal products – St John’s wort has a potential for adverse reaction when taken with antidepressants.

To Your Success!

Rophem 🙂