Effect of Monoamine Oxidase Inhibition, Thiopental Anesthesia, and Electroconvulsive Shock (ECS)

A series of experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of the monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), phenelzine, on thiopental anesthesia, electroshock, and blood pressure. After demonstrating that phenelzine (1 mg/kg/day orally) produced the same decrease in pig platelet monoamine oxidase as seen in humans, we compared MAOI-treated vs. non-MAOI-treated groups of pigs following anesthesia and electroconvulsive shock (ECS). In the majority of pigs, the increase in blood pressure associated with general anesthesia and ECS is no greater after MAOI treatment than after no MAOI treatment. One phenelzine-treated pig demonstrated an excessive catecholamine surge and elevated blood pressure.