Which food may a client taking an MAOI have at a graduation party?

• A. Ice cream milkshake.
• B. Hot dogs with sauerkraut.
• C. Tap beer.
• D. Pepperoni pizza.

Answer: (A)

When taking an MAOI, foods high in tyramine can trigger a dangerous rise in blood pressure because the medication blocks the breakdown of tyramine in the gut, allowing it to release lots of norepinephrine. The safest choice at a graduation party is the ice cream milkshake, since it is low in tyramine and free from aged cheeses, cured meats, or fermented foods that can provoke a crisis. By contrast, hot dogs with sauerkraut include processed meat and fermented cabbage, both of which can be high in tyramine; pepperoni pizza contains cured meat and often aged cheese; and tap beer can have significant tyramine from fermentation. So the ice cream milkshake is the best option to avoid a hypertensive reaction.