Could someone please explain what monoamine-oxidase inhibitors are please?

[gemstone]

Thanks

I tried looking it up but didn't understand the small amount of info I could find.

[lost in US]

MAO inhibitors are a focus of pharmacologic research especially for depression. Monoamine oxidase is the enzyme that degrades norepinephrine. SO if you degrade the enzyme that degrades the neurotransmitter, then you are able to increase the levels of that neurotransmitter.

im sure there are lots of stuff out there

[ladypam]

Monoamine oxidase or MAO is an enzyme found in all parts of the body, including the brain whose function is to metabolize or use up several amine substances like serotonin, dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. These substances are responsible for causing excitement, and any other effects of the sympathetic nervous system such as fast beating of the heart, etc. Therefore an inhibitor is a substance that stops or inhibits the activity of monamine oxidase, therefore also stopping or inhibiting the effects that it produces. Since an effect of monoamine oxidase is the faster beating of the heart that may lead to hypertension, then an inhibitor is supposed to prevent it from happening.

I hope this helps!