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Evidence summaries

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors for Depression

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors are as effective as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants for mild to moderate depression. Level of evidence: "A"

A topic in Clinical Evidence 1 summarizes the results of systematic reviews comparing different kinds of antidepressants. Three systematic reviews found no significant difference between monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI), tricyclic antidepressants (TCA), and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. One of the reviews including 55 RCTs found that MAOIs were less effective than TCAs for severe depressive disorders, but more effective in atypical depressive disorders (depressive disorders with e.g. increased sleep, increased appetite, mood reactivity, and rejection sensitivity). MAOIs were associated with similar level of adverse effects as TCAs. Adverse effects associated with MAOIs included hypotension, dizziness, mydriasis, piloerection, oedema, tremor, anorgasmia, and insomnia.

    References

    • Geddes J, Butler R, Hatcher S, Cipriani A. What are the effects of treatments in mild to moderate or severe depression? Clinical Evidence 2005;13:1244-1263.

Primary/Secondary Keywords