MAO inhibitors: pharmacodynamic aspects and clinical implications.

Abstract

Many recent studies have stressed the importance of maintaining the MAO inhibitors in the therapeutic arsenal for depressive patients. In most cases MAO inhibitors are generally safe and as well tolerated as the cyclic antidepressants. It has been suggested that MAO inhibitors are more likely to benefit depressed patients with atypical vegetative symptoms like gain in weight, sleep or libido. However, they may be therapeutic for a wide spectrum of psychiatric disorders ranging from depression with generalized anxiety or phobia, hysteroid dysphoria and endogenous affective illness refractory to conventional therapies. Because of the hazards: drug-drug and drug-food interactions, the irreversible and unspecific MAO inhibitors are only to be recommended on the condition that a good patient compliance can be obtained.