CLINICAL-PHARMACOLOGY OF REVERSIBLE MONOAMINE OXIDASE-A INHIBITORS

Traditional monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MA01s) have long been associ ated with tyramine-related hypertension-the cheese effect. Despite the ir undoubted clinical efficacy, this problem has restricted their use. New, selective, and reversible MAO-A inhibitors-which act only on the A isoenzyme-appear not to have this effect. Our investigations of the se drugs, exemplified by brofaromine, have shown a reduced and more ra pidly reversed tyramine pressor sensitivity. Moreover, we were unable to detect any clinically significant food interaction, following inges tion of a quantity of cheese containing sufficient tyramine to increas e systolic blood pressure by at least 30 mm Hg. These results confirm the improved safety of brofaromine, and other drugs in this class, whe n compared with classic MA01s.