Monoamine oxidase inhibitor

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are a class of drugs that inhibit the activity of one or both monoamine oxidase enzymes: monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) and monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B). They are best known as powerful antidepressants and antipsychotics, but are also used for a variety of other medical conditions.

Pronunciation

Monoamine oxidase inhibitor: /ˌmɒnoʊˈæmiːn ˈɒksɪdeɪs ɪnˈhɪbɪtər/

Etymology

The term "monoamine oxidase inhibitor" is derived from the names of its constituent parts: "monoamine" refers to the type of neurotransmitters it affects, "oxidase" is the type of enzyme it inhibits, and "inhibitor" describes its function.

Function

MAOIs work by inhibiting the activity of monoamine oxidase, thus preventing the breakdown of monoamine neurotransmitters and thereby increasing their availability. There are two isoforms of monoamine oxidase, MAO-A and MAO-B. MAO-A preferentially deaminates serotonin, melatonin, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. MAO-B preferentially deaminates phenethylamine and certain other trace amines; in contrast, MAO-A preferentially deaminates other trace amines, like tyramine, whereas dopamine is equally deaminated by both types.

Usage

MAOIs have been used for treating various conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders, Parkinson's disease, and several other disorders. However, they are not the first line of treatment due to their risk of causing hypertensive crisis if a patient ingests food containing tyramine, known as the "cheese effect."

Related Terms

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Monoamine oxidase inhibitor
Wikipedia's article - Monoamine oxidase inhibitor

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Monoamine oxidase inhibitor