Bob has been under a physician's care for depression. Although his symptoms have disappeared and he has suffered no major side effects, he has had to go on a severely restricted diet since his treatment began and be careful about eating certain smoked, fermented, or pickled foods, and drinking certain beverages. In addition, he needs to be careful about taking other medications due to a risk of severe high blood pressure. Bob's doctor has probably been treating him with __________

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) are a type of antidepressant that are effective in treating depression, but require patients to follow a strict diet to avoid consuming certain foods and beverages that can cause dangerous interactions. MAOIs can also interact with other medications and cause high blood pressure as a side effect, which matches Bob's situation. Lithium and tricyclics are also used to treat depression, but do not have the same dietary restrictions and interactions as MAOIs. Prozac is an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) and does not require the same dietary restrictions or have the same interactions as MAOIs.

Bob Has Been Under a Physician's Care for Depression