Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) are a class of drugs with well-defined food interactions. Consuming foods that contain the amino acid tyramine while taking prescribed MAOIs can result in a drastic rise in blood pressure, the most serious result being sudden stroke. It is vital to abstain from offending foods while on one of these drugs: linezolid (Zyvox), phenelzine (Nardil), procarbazine (Matulane) or tranylcypromine (Parnate).
Cheese
Cheese is one of the primary foods to avoid while taking an MAOI. The Ohio State University Medical Center suggests avoiding all cheeses and advises that tyramine content is higher near the rind and closer to fermentation holes. Cheeses to avoid include blue, cheddar, feta, Gouda, mozzarella, Parmesan, Muenster, provolone and Swiss, among others. Cottage cheese, cream cheese and ricotta cheese along with processed cheeses like American cheese and Velveeta are allowed.
Vegetables and Fruits
Fava beans, Italian broad beans, and Chinese pea pods are on the list of foods to avoid. Other vegetables that are fermented, and therefore contain a higher amount of tyramine, should also be avoided. These include sauerkraut, fermented pickles and olives. Avocado and guacamole should be limited to one cup per day. The only fruit to steer clear of is bananas.
Meats
Aged, pickled, dried or fermented meat products need to be avoided due to their higher tyramine content. These include bacon, sausage, liverwurst, salami, bologna, hot dogs, ham, pepperoni, liver and corned beef. Meat extracts should also be avoided (these are commonly found in soups and gravies) as well as meats that have been processed with tenderizers.
Alcoholic Beverages
Due to the fermentation process of many wines and beer, these products should be avoided. Chianti red wine contains the highest levels of tyramine, but many low tyramine diet lists, including the one provided by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, advise avoiding all red wines as well as sherry, vermouth and champagne.
Miscellaneous
Other foods containing tyramine include fermented soybean products, soy sauce, chocolate, herbal ginseng and nonalcoholic beer. Yeast extracts, such as marmite and brewer's yeast, should be eliminated from the diet, but baked goods---including those that use yeast in the recipe---are safe to consume. Leftovers should be thrown away after 48 hours. The Mayo Clinic explains that tyramine content increases with time as bacteria break down protein in foods. Some diet instructions tell people to avoid caffeinated beverages. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Low Tyramine diet instruction sheet explains this is not because they contain tyramine, but rather because they tend to elevate blood pressure in certain people.
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