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MAOI

Original Wikipedia articleen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoamine_oxidase_inhibitor revision used (24 October 2026)

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Overview

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (also known as MAOIs) are a class of drugs which inhibit the activity of the monoamine oxidase enzyme family. They have a long history of use as medications prescribed for the treatment of depression and are particularly effective in treating atypical depression. They are also used in the treatment of social anxiety, Parkinson's disease and several other disorders.[1][2] PW

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are a class of drugs that inhibit one or both monoamine oxidase enzymes: monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) and monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B). These enzymes metabolize monoamine neurotransmitters and related amines, including serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, epinephrine, tyramine, and several trace amines. WP

MAOIs include several pharmacologically distinct groups. The classic antidepressant MAOIs (phenelzine, tranylcypromine, and isocarboxazid) are irreversible, non-selective inhibitors of both MAO-A and MAO-B and are used primarily in major depressive disorder, including treatment-resistant depression. Other MAOIs include reversible inhibitors of MAO-A (RIMAs), such as moclobemide, and selective MAO-B inhibitors, such as selegiline, rasagiline, and safinamide, which are used mainly in Parkinson's disease or, in the case of transdermal selegiline, depression.[3] WP

MAOI selectivity can vary by dose, route, formulation, and systemic exposure. For example, selegiline is relatively selective for MAO-B at lower doses used in Parkinson's disease, but at higher antidepressant doses also inhibits MAO-A and can function clinically as a non-selective MAOI.[3] WP

The use of classic MAOIs declined for many years, following earlier reports of serious interactions with tyramine-containing foods and some sympathomimetic or serotonergic drugs. Nevertheless, modern reviews and prescribing guides state that classic MAOIs remain a highly effective treatment option for depression, and can be used safely when standard dietary and medication interaction precautions are followed. The dietary risk is considered much lower than in the early decades of MAOI use, as modern food production, hygiene standards, refrigeration, and starter culture methods have greatly reduced tyramine exposure in ordinary diets. The possibility of serious tyramine related hypertensive reactions is therefore described as substantially reduced under modern dietary standards and guidance, although not completely eliminated.[3–8] WP

Drugs in this class on intoxicant.wiki

Every page on this site that a cited source puts in this class: 35 pages. A drug is listed when PsychonautWiki's "MAOI" page, revision 170154 lists it, or when its own PsychonautWiki, TripSit or Wikipedia entry names this class. Each name opens our page for that drug; long chemical names are shown by a shorter name the drug is also known by (hover for the full name).

Tags show who puts each drug in this class (hover for the exact wording): PW list = listed on PsychonautWiki's page for this class; PW = the drug's PsychonautWiki entry; TS = the drug's TripSit entry (drug category); WP = the drug infobox of the drug's Wikipedia article. These are classifications only, not dosage guidance.

References

  1. Journal / agency Mario A. Cristancho, M. D., John P. O’reardon, M. D., Michael E. Thase, M. D. Atypical Depression in the 21st Century: Diagnostic and Treatment Issues. Psychiatric Times. 20 November 2012
  2. Other Nardil (Phenelzine Sulfate) - The BEST Antidepressant For Social Anxiety & Depression. 2020
  3. Journal / agency Van den Eynde V, Abdelmoemin WR, Abraham MM, Amsterdam JD, Anderson IM, Andrade C, Baker GB, Beekman AT, Berk M, Birkenhäger TK, Blackwell BB, Blier P, Blom MB, Bodkin AI, Cattaneo CI. The prescriber's guide to classic MAO inhibitors: phenelzine, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid for treatment-resistant depression. CNS Spectrums. August 2023. doi:10.1017/S1092852922000906 · PMID 35837681
  4. Journal / agency Wimbiscus, Molly; Kostenko, Olga; Malone, Donald. MAO inhibitors: Risks, benefits, and lore. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine. December 2010. doi:10.3949/ccjm.77a.09103 · PMID 21147941
  5. Journal / agency Giménez-Palomo, Anna; Chamdal, Anjli K.; Gottlieb, Natalie; Lotfaliany, Mojtaba; Jokinen, Tahir; Bastawy, Eslam M.; Adlington, Katherine; Benachar, Nawal; Dodd, Seetal; Pacchiarotti, Isabella; Vieta, Eduard; Berk, Michael; Stokes, Paul R. A. Efficacy and tolerability of monoamine oxidase inhibitors for the treatment of depressive episodes in mood disorders: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. December 2024. doi:10.1111/acps.13728 · PMID 39001570
  6. Journal / agency Shulman, Kenneth I.; Herrmann, Nathan; Walker, Scott E. Current Place of Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors in the Treatment of Depression. CNS Drugs. October 2013. doi:10.1007/s40263-013-0097-3 · PMID 23934742
  7. Journal / agency Van den Eynde V, Gillman PK, Blackwell BB. The Prescriber's Guide to the MAOI Diet—Thinking Through Tyramine Troubles. Psychopharmacology Bulletin. 2022. doi:10.64719/pb.4434 · PMID 35721816 · PMC9172554
  8. Journal / agency Gillman PK. A reassessment of the safety profile of monoamine oxidase inhibitors: elucidating tired old tyramine myths. Journal of Neural Transmission. November 2018. doi:10.1007/s00702-018-1932-y · PMID 30255284

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