The effects of RS-8359 on cardiovascular function in healthy subjects and depressed patients

The potential liability of RS-8359 for the 'cheese' effect that is characteristic of the classical monoamine oxidase inhibitors has been compared with placebo and moclobemide in the tyramine test. Both RS-8359 and moclobemide reduce the dose of tyramine required to raise systolic blood pressure by 30 mmHg by about half, but the risk of the tyramine interaction is not clinically significant at this level. This low risk is confirmed by the very low incidence of cardiovascular adverse events reported in early clinical studies and by the lack of any material changes in blood pressure. These results indicate that no dietary restrictions will be required when RS-8359 is used clinically.