Which category of antidepressant drugs operates by blocking the enzyme that metabolizes catecholamines and serotonin into inactive forms?

Question

Which category of antidepressant drugs operates by blocking the enzyme that metabolizes catecholamines and serotonin into inactive forms?​

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) operate by blocking the enzyme that metabolizes catecholamines (dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine) and serotonin into inactive forms, increasing the levels of these neurotransmitters in the brain. Tricyclics also increase the levels of these neurotransmitters, but they work by blocking their reuptake into neurons. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) target only serotonin reuptake, while atypical antidepressants have varying mechanisms of action.

Which Category of Antidepressant Drugs Operates by Blocking the Enzyme