Monoamine oxidase inhibitor

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Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are a class of drugs that inhibit one or both monoamine oxidase enzymes: monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) and monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B). These enzymes metabolize monoamine neurotransmitters and related amines, including serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, epinephrine, tyramine, and several trace amines. MAOIs include several pharmacologically distinct groups. The classic antidepressant MAOIs (phenelzine, tranylcypromine, and isocarboxazid) are irreversible, non-selective inhibitors of both MAO-A and MAO-B and are used primarily in major depressive disorder, including treatment-resistant depression. Other MAOIs include reversible inhibitors of MAO-A (RIMAs), such as moclobemide, and selective MAO-B inhibitors, such as selegiline, rasagiline, and safinamide, which are used mainly in Parkinson's disease or, in the case of transdermal selegiline, depression. MAOI selectivity can vary by dose, route, formulation, and systemic exposure. For example, selegiline...

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