weight, and with 250 mg/kg mildly elevated alkaline phosphatase and gamma-gt. studies in dogs revealed no toxicity relevant for humans. no evidence for a possible hepatic or cardiovascular toxicity was found. history irreversible maoi antidepressants were discovered accidentally in the 1950s but their popularity declined as their toxicity especially their dangerous food interactions became apparent and rival tricyclic antidepressants were discovered. reversible maois were developed in the hope that they would exert efficacy in depressive disorders but with less of the toxicity of the older irreversible compounds; moclobemide's discovery and marketing brought the renewed interest in maois due to an absence of dangerous tyramine food interactions and potent antidepressant effects. in 1992 moclobemide was launched onto the world markets. moclobemide was the first reversible mao-a inhibitor to be widely marketed. moclobemide as well as other newer antidepressants such as the ssris led to changes in prescribing patterns and broadened the treatment options for the management of depressive disorders. when moclobemide was discovered in 1972 in switzerland, it was first hypothesized as being an antilipaemic or antibiotic, but the screenings were negative. the search for its antidepressant qualities, based on anticholinergic tests, also proved negative and moclobemide was then suspected of being an antipsychotic before its specific and reversible mao-a inhibition qualities were detected. after the establishment of its lack of relevant interference with tyramine pressure response, clinical trials were launched in 1977 and further trials confirmed the broad antidepressant activity of rimas. it was first approved in the uk and europe as the first reversible and selective inhibitor of mao-a and is now approved in over 50 countries worldwide. subsequent research found that moclobemide is well tolerated in elderly patients and far superior to tricyclic antidepressants in terms of side effects, tolerability and overdose. with regard to effectiveness in the treatment of depression, moclobemide was determined to be as effective as all major antidepressant drug classes. there is no need for dietary restrictions in contrast to people on irreversible maois and apart from an important interaction with other serotonergic enhancing agents such as ssris and pethidine, there are few serious drug interactions and because of these benefits, moclobemide became regarded as a beneficial addition to medical 'prescribing arsenal'. additionally moclobemide was found, unlike most other antidepressants on the market, to actually improve all aspects of sexual function. it is the only reversible maoi in use in clinical practice. the fact that moclobemide's pharmacokinetic properties are unaltered by age, that cognition is improved in the elderly, and moclobemide has low potential for food and drug interactions opened up a new avenue for the treatment of major depressive disorder. due to a lack of financial incentive, such as the costs of conducting the necessary trials to gain approval, moclobemide is unavailable in the usa pharmaceutical market. in 2016 moclobemide was discontinued in brazil for commercial reasons. society and culture brands it is sold under many trade names worldwide. brand name listings it is sold under many trade names worldwide including apo-moclob, apo-moclobemide, auromid, aurorix, bei su, biorix, depnil, eutac, hai bei lin, langtian, manerix, mobemid, moclamine, moclo a, moclobemid - 1 a pharma, moclobemid al, moclobemid hexal, moclobemid ratiopharm, moclobemida, moclobemida genedec, moclobemida teva, moclobemide actavis, moclobemide aurobindo, moclobemide cf, moclobemide mylan, moclobemide sandoz, moclobemide sopharma, moclobemide teva, moclobemid-neuraxpharm, moclobemid-ratiopharm, moclobeta, moclod, moclodura, moclostad, mocrim, moklar, teva-moclobemide, tian tai, ya zheng, and zorix.