Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI) and ADHD

Main Chapters:

Monamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) prevent the breakdown of monoamine neurotransmitters, including dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. From a basic science perspective, this makes them likely to be suitable agents for treating ADHD.

Although MAOI were the first antidepressants, since the 1960's they've never made up more than 1% of the market share of medications used to treat depression. It's not that other medications are more effective, but MAOI can be dangerous if an individual contains tyramine rich foods (mostly fermented or aged foods like blue cheese, certain beers, and sausages).

A handful of small studies (less than 100 patients total) have shown selegilene (Deprenyl) can be effective in treating ADHD. Whether this is through selegeline's MAOI, or because selegiline itself breaks down into L-methamphetaime and L-amphetamine, is unclear.

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Videos Mentioned:

Glutamate and ADHD:

Aceytlcholine and ADHD:

Serotonin Syndrome:

Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria and ADHD:

Methylene Blue and ADHD:

References:

The Prescriber’s Guide to the MAOI Diet—Thinking Through Tyramine Troubles (2022)

Placebo-Controlled Study Examining Effects of Selegiline in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (2006)

Selegiline in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children: a double blind and randomized trial (2003)

Selegiline in ADHD Adults: Plasma Monoamines and Monoamine Metabolites (1997)

A controlled trial of deprenyl in children with Tourette's syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (1996)

Full Chapter list:

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Psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and author John Kruse, MD, PhD presents practical, actionable, well-researched information about treatment options that scientists and clinicians recommend for adult ADHD and other mental health conditions.