Foods and Drug Interactions

MAO inhibitors are medications prescribed to treat depression and emotional and anxiety disorders. A rapid and potentially fatal increase in blood pressure can occur if foods high in tryamine are eaten while taking MAO inhibitors. Tryamine is an organic compound found in foods and naturally elevates blood pressure and increases heart rate. Foods that are high in tryamine include avocados, aged cheeses, soy sauce, tofu, miso, aged meats, sauerkraut, snow peas, fava beans, bananas, raisins, yeast extracts, ginseng, licorice and caffeine.