‘Safety First: Five-Year Report of the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness’ recommends that patients at risk of suicide, including all patients with a recent history of self-harm, who are treated with psychotropic drugs should receive modern, less toxic drugs and/or supplies lasting no more than 2 weeks.

The older MAOIs (phenelzine, isocarboxazid, tranylcypromine) are very rarely used because of the risks of potentially fatal interactions with certain foods and drugs. Seek specialist advice if considering their use and especially when considering withdrawal. They should be withdrawn very slowly followed by a washout period of 2 weeks. Moclobemide is a reversible MAOI with a shorter half-life and less risk of interactions.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) dietary information