What is Tyramine?

Is not a clinically useful drug, but it is important because it is found in fermented foods, such as Chianti wine (see MAO inhibitors). Types of cheese that undergo an aging process will be high in tyramine. These cheeses include cheddar, blue, parmesan, feta, and Camembert It is a normal byproduct of tyrosine metabolism. Normally, it is oxidized by MAO in the gastrointestinal tract, but if the patient is taking MAO inhibitors, it can precipitate serious vasopressor episodes Like amphetamines, tyramine can enter the nerve terminal and release norepinephrine. The released catecholamine then acts on adrenoceptors