Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors were the first antidepressant drugs invented. While they are quite effective, they can be dangerous if combined with the wrong foods, drugs, or supplements. The substance tyramine, found in some cheeses, beer, fermented soy products, and other foods, is particularly dangerous to combine with these medications. Stimulant drugs such as pseudoephedrine can also cause problems.
Antidepressants in this family include furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine sulfate (Nardil), and tranylcypromine sulfate (Parnate) among others.
Because it contains the stimulant ephedrine, combining the herb ephedra with MAO inhibitors can rapidly produce a severe, dangerous interaction and must be avoided. 1 In the US, it is illegal to sell products containing ephedra.
The herb scotch broom contains high levels of tyramine, so it should not be taken with MAO inhibitors. 2
According to one report, the combination of ginseng and the MAO inhibitor phenelzine caused worrisome symptoms. 3 While this may have been due to caffeine contamination of the ginseng, we would recommend that you avoid ginseng–MAO inhibitor combinations at this time.
Current thinking suggests that St. John's wort functions somewhat similarly to SSRI (selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor) antidepressants. Since SSRIs should not be combined with MAO inhibitors, this herb probably should not be combined either.
Based on one case report 4 and current thinking on how they work, SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine) and 5-HTP should not be combined with MAO inhibitors.
References
REF1 Tatro D, ed. Drug interaction facts. St. Louis, MO: Facts and Comparisons, 1999: 1037.
REF2 Brinker F. Interactions of pharmaceutical and botanical medicines. J Naturopathic Med 1997;7:14-20.
REF3 Jones BD, Runikis AM. Interaction of ginseng with phenelzine. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 1987;7:201-202.
REF4 Iruela LM, Minguez L, Merino J, Monedero G. Toxic interaction of S-adenosylmethionine and clomipramine. Am J Psych 1993;150:522.