Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are generally only initiated by specialists because of safety concerns, making GPs more wary these medicines. This article discusses the important side-effects and interactions MAOIs how can be minimised, explains why MAOI prescribing may safer than we led to believe.

comparisons be possible. The real differences in surgical mortality that do exist between surgeons and centres may teach important lessons. One study compared mortality between a teaching hospital and its adjacent district hospital and led to a proper intensive care unit being provided in the district hospital. 14 The confidential inquiry into perioperative deaths emphasised the value of regula...

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors DEAR SIR, Dr Pare's article on †̃¿ The Present Status of Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors' is one of a genre that marks the renaissance of these drugs (Murphy et al, 1984; White & Simpson, 1985). This is understandable given that the †̃¿ second generation' compounds are less exciting than hoped, that early use of phenelzine was often with inadequate dosage and that im...