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Glite Dictionary
MAOI

MAOI

7.7
A medicine for depression that changes chemicals in the brain
  • noun
  • /ˌɛm.eɪ.oʊˈaɪ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : IMAO
  • The doctor prescribed an MAOI to help manage her depression by boosting certain neurotransmitters in the brain.

And with the MAOI and it turning your body blue, you know it's blue because it reflects blue light, right?

Examples

  • Looking back through Maurice's records, he has already tried an impressive array of medicines for depression, including three different SSRIs, two different TCAs, and some years ago an MAOI.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Another side effect of ginkgo biloba is interacting negatively with an anti-depressant drug called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI).

    Blog text (20)

  • After discussing her treatment options, he decided to try an MAOI since it could effectively improve her mood.

  • Patients taking an MAOI should be aware of food interactions that could cause dangerous side effects.

Synonyms

monoamine oxidase inhibitor
vsMAOI
  • Specialized
1 6.8

A medicine that blocks an enzyme in the brain to raise mood chemicals

is the specific class of antidepressant drugs that perform this enzyme inhibition

Surface Forms

MAOI singular
MAOIs plural

Etymology

MAOI comes from the first letters of monoamine oxidase inhibitor, the name of what the drug does. Monoamine oxidase is the enzyme that 'breaks down' some brain chemicals, and an inhibitor is something that 'stops' that enzyme. So an MAOI is a medicine that raises those brain chemicals to help with depression.