Comprehensive term for active substances, which block the enzyme monoaminooxidase, which generally causes the dismantling of the amines in the body, to which also numerous messenger materials in the brain like the noradrenaline, serotonine and dopamine belong.
By the blocked dismantling the effects remains longer. This applies also to medicines and drugs with amino functions, whose effect in combination with MAO inhibitors is strengthened.
Therapeutically the following MAO inhibitors are used for the treatment of depressions (not with simultaneous treatment with Dextrometorphane, Clomipramine, Selegilline, Cimethidine):
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Moclobemide4-Chlor-N-(2morpholinoethyl)benzamide, C13H17ClN2O2, |
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Tranylcyprominetrans-2-Phenylcyclopropylamine, C9H11N, M=133,19 g/mol |
Also some nature drugs like nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) acts like MAO inhibitors.