Mono-amine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAO inhibitors) are medicines that relieve
certain types of mental depression.
Purpose
MAO inhibitors are a type of anti-depressant and are used to treat mental
depression. Like other Anti-depressant Drugs, MAO Inhibitors help reduce the
extreme sadness, hopelessness, and lack of interest in life that are typical
in people with depression. MAO Inhibitors are especially useful in treating
people whose depression is combined with other problems such as anxiety,
panic attacks, phobias, or the desire to sleep too much.
Description
Discovered in the 1950s, MAO Inhibitors work by correcting chemical
imbalances in the brain. Normally, natural chemicals called
Neuro-transmitters carry signals from one brain cell to another. Some
Neuro-transmitters, such as Serotonin and Norepinephrine, play important
roles in controlling mood. But other substances in the brain may interfere
with mood control by breaking down these Neuro-transmitters. Researchers
believe that MAO Inhibitors work by blocking the chemicals that break down
Serotonin and Norepinephrine. This gives the Neuro-transmitters more time to
do their important work.
Because MAO Inhibitors also affect other chemicals throughout the body,
these drugs may produce many unwanted side effects. They can be especially
dangerous when taken with certain foods, beverages and medicines. Anyone
taking these drugs should ask his or her physician or pharmacist for a list
of products to avoid.
MAO Inhibitors are available only with a physician's prescription. They are
sold in tablet form. Some commonly used MAO Inhibitors are Isocarboxazid
(Marplan), Phenelzine (Nardil), and Tranylcypromine (Parnate).