Could someone please explain what monoamine-oxidase inhibitors are please?
Depression is somehow (and nobody knows exactly why) related to the concentration of certain chemicals in your brain. These chemicals are called neurotransmitters and are created and destroyed by neurons in our brain all the time. With a few exceptions, neurotransmitters are chemically classified as monoamines. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors are basically pills (there are about 12 kinds on the market) that work to prevent the breakdown of neurotransmitters. By doing so, the same amount of neurotransmitters is made (by neurons in the brain) but fewer of these chemicals are destroyed — the net result is more neurotransmitters and a brighter mood. Like I mentioned, nobody really knows why, but they work for many people with depression and anxiety.
