Types of anti-depressant drugs: MAO-inhibitors

What are MAO-inhibitors? These are drugs used for treating depression. There are various types an forms of antidepressants. MAO-inhibitors are one specific type of antidepressant and are especially effective in treating atypical depression.

What are antidepressants?

Depression kan be treated in various ways. Sport, exercise, sessions with a psychologist and food supplements may all help. More serious depression are often treated with antidepressants. These are medicines which help restore chemical imbalances in the brain and so reduce the complaints. Antidepressants are also sometimes prescribed for anxiety.

The patient usually begins with a low dose of antidepressant and gradually builds up to a so-called therapeutic dosage. The optimum dosage of antidepresant can vary from person to person. The effects of antidepressants normally start to show after several weeks. In contrast, possible side effects can become apparent from the first day of the treatment. Many side effects are, however, temporary.

If one decides to stop taking antidepressants it is wise to do so in consultation with a doctor or psychiatrist. The dosage should be lowered gradually, so that the body can adjust to coping without the medicine. 

There are various kinds of antidepressants, each with its own mechanism.

MAO-inhibitors

Not everyone reacts positively to a classic antidepressant. If this is the case it may be worth considering an MAO-inhibitor. This is an abbreviation for van Monoamine Oxidase. MAO-inhibitors must be prescribed by a doctor.

The dangerous thing about MAO-inhibitors taken orally is that one must stick to a strict diet. Tyramine, a substance which is contained in certain types of food, is broken down by MAO. When too much tyramine is broken down in the body it can get into the bloodstream, causing a rapid rise in blood pressure with acute, possibly irreversible, impairment of one or more organs. This is called "hypertensive emergency". Aged cheeses, liver and alcohol, among other things, contain high levels of Tyramine. When the MAO-inhibitor is administered transdermally, through the skin, there is less risk, as the drug does not enter the gastrointestinal system.

Types of MAO-inhibitors and their brand names

How MAO-inhibitors work

MAO-inhibitors inhibit, as the name suggests, the activity of monoamine oxidase, preventing the breakdown of monoamine neurotransmitters and thereby increasing their availability. MAO is an enzyme which is responsible for the breakdown of mono-amines in the brain. The neurotransmitters serotonin en noradrenalin, two important messengers in the brain, are mono-amines. When the breakdown of these substances is prevented, they remain in the brain longer, leading to better communication in the brain's nerve cells.

Side effects

MAO-inhibitors can, just as with many medicines, have side effects. Common side effects of MAO-inhibitors are:

• Dizziness
• Constipation
• Restlessness
• Insomnia
• Reduced appetite

It is also vital that a doctor supervise combinations of MAO-inhibitors with other medicines to avoid adverse reactions.

Sources: www.todio.nl