Tyramine-containing Foods

Tyramine, a component of various foods, can cause a hypertensive reaction in patients taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or MAOIs. (Adapted from MicroMedex.)

Cheeses

Alcoholic beverages

(one to two drinks/day OK): ale, beer (especially unpasteurized), chianti, cognac, red wine, vermouth

Fish

camlin, caviar, cod, herring, snails

Fruits/vegetables

avocados, bananas, beans (broad, green, Italian flat), Chinese pea pods, eggplant, canned figs, oranges (one/day OK), papayas, red plums, raisins, raspberries, tomatoes

Meat

aged meat/game/poultry, canned meat, liver, sausage

Miscellaneous

bread or crackers with cheese, caffeine (>2 cups), chocolate (large amounts only), commercial gravies, licorice, marmite, meat extracts and tenderizers, MSG, peanut butter, peanuts, pickles, sauerkraut, canned soup, soup cubes, spoiled sour cream, soy sauce, tofu, vanilla, yeast breads/extracts and products, spoiled yogurt