Monoamine oxidase inhibitor toxicity

Background

• MonoAmine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI)
• Used to treat depression and Parkinsonism (e.g. selegiline)
• Lead to increased norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine, tyramine

Toxicity Mechanisms

• Intentional overdose
  • Symptoms often delayed 6-24 hours after ingestion
• Food-drug interactions
  • Taking MAOI at therapeutic doses, but inadvertently eating foods rich in tyramine (aged cheese, red wine)
  • Symptoms are generally acute
• Drug-drug interactions
  • Many prescription and OTC medications interact with MAOI

Types

• MAO-A
  • Primarily deaminates serotonin and norepinephrine
• MOA-B
  • Primarily deaminates phenylethylamine

Clinical Features

• Similar to hyperadrenergic state
• Severe toxicity accompanied by coma, seizure, bradycardia, hypotension, worsening hyperthermia

Differential Diagnosis

• Intoxications
  • Amphetamines
  • Antimuscarinics
  • St. John's Wort
• Withdrawal states
  • Ethanol
  • Clonidine
  • Beta-blockers
• Medical conditions
  • Heat stroke
  • Hypoglycemia
  • Hyperthyroidism
• Adverse drug reactions
  • Malignant Hyperthermia
  • Serotonin Syndrome
  • Tyramine Reaction
  • Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)

Evaluation

• asymptomatic period followed by delayed toxicity can suggest MAO-I toxicity
• urine immunoassays and mass spectroscopy can fail to detect MAOI
• consider ECG and chemistry panel in MAOI overdose patients who are obtunded

Management

1. Gastric decontamination
   • Activated charcoal PO x 1
   • Consider gastric lavage, if can be performed <1 hour after ingestion
2. Supportive care
   • Hypertension
     • Treat only with short-acting agents: may develop precipitous hypotension
     • Phentolamine: 2.5-5mg IV bolus q15-15min; can also give as infusion 0.2-0.5mg/min
     • Nitroprusside: 1mcg/kg/min and titrate up
   • Hypotension: intravenous fluid +/- norepinephrine
   • Seizures: benzodiazepines are 1st line
   • Hyperthermia
     • Routine cooling measures
     • Consider paralysis if patient has persistent muscle rigidity

Disposition

• Admit all patients for 24 hour observation to monitored setting

Prevention

• Do not prescribe the following medications if a patient is taking a MAOI: meperidine, dextromethorphan, tramadol, propoxyphene, or cyclobenzaprine

See Also

• Tyramine Reaction
• Toxidromes

References

• Rosen's