ABSTRACT
Monamine oxidase inhibitors are used as antidepressant agents because of their ability to block the oxidative deamination of catecholamine to vanillylmandelic acid. Inhibition of monamine oxidase causes an accumulation of norepinephrine, dopamine, epinephrine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in sympathetic tissues. Use of indirect-acting sympathomimetic agents, such as ephedrine, or the narcotic meperidine has been associated with exaggerated hypertensive responses secondary to the triggered release of the catecholamines that have accumulated in the nerve terminals49.
