Tolerability of moclobemide, a new reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase-A, compared with other antidepressants and placebo.

Moclobemide, a new selective and reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase A (RIMA), has been compared with various tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) in numerous controlled studies. Pooled data from these studies, comprising 1656 patients, as well as the consideration of individual trials, show that moclobemide is far better tolerated than the TCAs. Its side effects mainly comprise mild degrees of nausea and dizziness at the beginning of treatment in a small proportion of patients. Age and sex do not affect the tolerability of moclobemide: it is equally well tolerated by elderly patients. In 2300 patients treated with moclobemide in doses up to 600 mg/day, without dietary restrictions, there was no tyramine-related hypertensive reaction. It is concluded that moclobemide may be the second-generation antidepressant doctors were waiting for--equally effective as the classical antidepressants but far better tolerated.