ANTIDEPRESSANTS

Unfortunately, these antidepressants carried with them the risk of developing malignant hypertension and cerebral vascular strokes. These events were likely to occur if the individual taking these antidepressants consumed foods that contained the amino acid tyramine (the precursor to norepinephrine). The dangerous elevation in blood pressure could also occur of the individual were administered certain types of medications. Naturally, these MAOI antidepressant medications could only be given to knowledgeable people who were conscientious, and not so depressed that they would intentionally disregard the dietary restrictions. Other bothersome side effects associated with the MAOI's were weight gain and dizziness when standing up from a sitting or lying position -- called orthostatic hypotension.