MAOI
Medical abbreviation · Drug Class
| Stands for | Monoamine oxidase inhibitor |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
MAOI stands for Monoamine oxidase inhibitor, a drug class abbreviation.
Older antidepressants, including phenelzine, tranylcypromine and isocarboxazid, plus the selegiline skin patch, that block enzymes that break down serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. They are effective for treatment-resistant and atypical depression.
Example: MAOI diet teaching done: avoid aged cheese, cured meats, tap beer and soy sauce.
Usage notes
The first MAOI, iproniazid, was discovered in the 1950s when a tuberculosis drug unexpectedly lifted patients' mood. Eating tyramine-rich foods can cause a hypertensive crisis (the "cheese reaction"), and combining MAOIs with serotonergic drugs can cause fatal serotonin syndrome. Switching to or from an MAOI requires a washout, up to five weeks after fluoxetine.
Related abbreviations
More drug class abbreviations
- LABA/LAMA – Long-acting beta-agonist and long-acting muscarinic antagonist…
- LAI – Long-acting injectable
- LAMA – Long-acting muscarinic antagonist
- LMWH – Low-molecular-weight heparin
- LTRA – Leukotriene receptor antagonist
- mAb – Monoclonal antibody
- MHT – Menopausal hormone therapy
- MRA – Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist
- mTORi – Mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor
- NAI – Neuraminidase inhibitor
- NaSSA – Noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant
- NDRI – Norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor
See all 113 drug class abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.