Low Tyramine Diet

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Tyramine is a chemical that is found in food. It may be found in larger amounts in aged foods or foods that have a lot of yeast in them. You should eat foods with low amounts of tyramine if you are using an MAO inhibitor medicine. MAO inhibitor medicine is used to treat depression. The medicine is also called an MAOI or monoamine oxidase inhibitor. Taking MAOIs and eating high tyramine foods can cause your blood pressure to go up. When your blood pressure goes up, you may have a very bad headache and a fast heartbeat. You may also have a stiff neck, feel sick to your stomach, and sweat more than usual. Very high blood pressure can lead to a stroke or death.

AFTER YOU LEAVE:

What diet guidelines do I follow?

• Buy fresh foods and cook them while they are fresh. Do not eat meats that have been in the refrigerator for a long time and may be spoiled. All packaged or processed meats should be stored in the refrigerator right away and eaten as soon as possible. Packaged meats include hot dogs, bologna, and liverwurst.
  
  
• Check with your caregiver before drinking liquids with alcohol in them, such as beer, wine, vodka, and rum.
  
  
• If you stop using MAOIs, you will still need to follow this diet for 2 to 3 weeks. Ask your caregiver how long you should follow this diet.

What should I limit or avoid eating and drinking while on a low tyramine diet?

Some of the foods which contain moderate or large amounts of tyramine are listed below.

• All tap beers.
  
  
• Aged cheeses such as cheddar, blue, Gorgonzola, camembert, and brie.
  
  
• Aged, fermented, smoked, air dried and pickled meats. Some examples include mortadella, pepperoni, salami, summer sausage, and meat jerky.
  
  
• Banana peel.
  
  
• Bottled or canned beer, including nonalcoholic beer (drink only two or fewer 12-ounce bottles per day).
  
  
• Breads or crackers that contain cheese.
  
  
• Casseroles, pizzas, or cheese burgers made with aged cheese.
  
  
• Fermented soy beans and soy bean paste (such as Miso), tofu, and soy sauce.
  
  
• Kim chee (fermented cabbage) or sauerkraut.
  
  
• Meat extracts such as Bovril.
  
  
• Pickled herring or smoked fish.
  
  
• Pods from broad beans such as fava or Italian green beans.
  
  
• Red and white wine (drink only two or fewer 4-ounce glasses per day).
  
  
• Yeast extracts such as brewer’s yeast pills or liquid and Marmite™.

What can I eat and drink while on a low tyramine diet?

• All fruits and fruit juices.
  
  
• All starches such as bread, cereal, rice, and pasta.
  
  
• Any vegetables not listed above.
  
  
• Dried beans, dried peas, nuts, and peanut butter.
  
  
• Eggs.
  
  
• Fresh dairy products such yogurt, ice cream, and milk.
  
  
• Fresh packaged or processed meat, poultry, or fish.
  
  
• Unfermented cheeses such as cream cheese, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, or processed cheese (such as American cheese).

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• You have questions or concerns about your illness, medicine, or this diet.
  
  

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

You have symptoms of high blood pressure such as:

• Very bad headache.
  
  
• Nausea.
  
  
• Neck stiffness.
  
  
• Fast heart beat and sweating.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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