1. The main fears about the interaction of monoamine oxidase inhibitors with tyramine in foodstuffs have been grossly exaggerated.'6 17 At the height of their use only 17 cases of interaction with food were reported in 10 years. Between January 1975 and December 1983 tranylcypromine was prescribed in 98000 patient years. Patients should be told, however, to avoid those foods that interact with the drugs-for example, cheese and yeast and beef extracts-and patients should always be given a card to say that they are taking the drugs. Of the monoamine oxidase inhibitors available, tranylcypromine has the greatest propensity to produce these interactions and phenelzine the least. Occasional cases of addiction with tolerance occur, especially with tranylcypromine, and withdrawal symptoms (headache, shivering, paraesthesia, and nightmares) may develop within days after stopping phenelzine and isocarboxazid. I For this reason gradual reduction in dosage is the best form of withdrawal
2. Response of psychotic and nonpsychotic depression to phenielzine. Am]';l'G, Janicak; GN, Paudey; jM, Davis; R, Boshes; D, Bresnahan; R, Sharma;Psychiatry,1988
3. Phenelzine versus imipramine in the treatment of probable atypical depression: defining syndrome boundaries of selective MAOI responders;Quitkin, F.M.; Stewart, J.W.; McGrath, P.J.;Am] Psychiatry,1988
4. Phenelzine in phobic anxiety: a controlled trial;Tvrer 1P, Candy J, Kelly D;Psychol Med,1973
5. Treatment of endogenous anxiety with phobic, hysterical, and hypchondriacal features;Sheehan, D.G.; Ballenger, J.; Jacobson, G.;Arch Gen Psychiatry,1980