Will amitriptyline prevent the "cheese" reaction of monoamine-oxidase inhibitors?

Administration of amitriptyline greatly diminished the pressor response to intravenous tyramine in patients receiving monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Dothiepin and trimipramine, however, produced little change in sensitivity to tyramine. It is suggested that a combination of amitriptyline and an MAOI, started together in a modest dose that is then increased, may protect patients against the potential dangers of eating tyramine-containing foods. However, because MAOIs allow a high proportion of ingested tyramine to be absorbed into the systemic circulation, patients treated with MAOIs, even in combination with amitriptyline, should not be encouraged to eat foods containing tyramine.