BROFAROMINE - A REVIEW OF ITS PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES AND THERAPEUTIC USE

The antidepressant activity of monoamine oxidase inhibitors has been w ell established for 30 years. Nevertheless, this group of compounds wa s handled with great care, mainly because of the interaction potential with tyramine-containing foodstuff. With the discovery of reversible and selective inhibitors of monoamine oxidase type A a renaissance of these compounds has begun. In this paper one of these new substances - brofaromine - will be described in detail. Biochemical and pharmacolo gical aspects will be reviewed, showing that brofaromine is a selectiv e and reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase type A with additional serotonin reuptake inhibiting properties. Both mechanisms of action m ay synergize in the antidepressant effect of the compound. The main re sults of clinical trials in depression and other indication areas will also be covered. Special attention will be put on the side effect pro file.