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.