The effect of the MAO-A selective inhibitor brofaromine on the plasma and urine concentrations of some biogenic amines and their acidic metabolites in bulimia nervosa.

1. Brofaromine or placebo were administered to female bulimia nervosa patients over a period of eight weeks. Plasma and urinary trace amines, their acidic metabolites and the acidic metabolites of the catecholamines and serotonin were assessed prior to treatment and at four and eight weeks after commencement of treatment. 2. The levels of both plasma and urinary homovanillic and vanilmandelic acids declined significantly during the first four weeks of treatment with brofaromine and then partially recovered to pre-drug levels by the eighth week. 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic acid levels were not affected by drug treatment at the times assessments were made. Urinary tryptamine increased significantly during the first four weeks of brofaromine treatment then partially recovered towards pre-drug levels by the eighth week. No effect from placebo treatment was observed.