Tyramine pressor response with moclobemide- A reversible monoamine oxidase inhibitor

Abstract

Moclobemide is a reversible, short-acting monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), specific for MAO A. To study moclobemide effects on the tyramine pressor response, we gave 12 depressed patients (2 males, 10 females; mean age 47, SD 11 years) an i.v. tyramine test after 7 days drug free. The mean (± SD) tyramine dose to raise systolic blood pressure 30 mm Hg was 5.6 ± 2.5 mg. Repeat tyramine testing after 2 weeks of treatment with moclobemide (280 ± 90 mg/d) showed the tyramine dose required was reduced to 2.5 ± 1.6 mg (n = 8). The mean (± SD) increase in sensitivity to tyramine was 2.9 ± 1.8. Four patients did not have repeated tyramine tests as testing was discontinued because of tyramine-indu..