Evolution of ideas about the risk of tyramine syndrome developing during therapy with irreversible non-selective monoamine oxidase inhibitors (to the 70th anniversary of the first use of this group of antidepressants)

Abstract

We describe the history of studying of the problem of tyramine syndrome during the treatment with antidepressants, irreversible non-selective monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Data on clinical observations are presented. Early hypotheses of pathogenesis are considered. The period of discovery of the relationship between increased blood pressure and the use of foods containing tyramine is outlined. The transformation of terminology is demonstrated. The events associated with the restriction of the use of therapy are characterized. The formation of the opinion about the exaggeration of the risk of developing tyramine syndrome is analyzed. Data on the involvement in the discussion of the problem of tyramine syndrome of society as a whole are given.

Keywords

• monoamine oxidase inhibitors
• cheese reaction
• tyramine syndrome
• hypertensive crisis
• phenelzine
• tranylcypromine
• isocarboxazid
• tyramine