Final answer:
Selegiline, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, combined with tyramine-rich foods, can lead to a hypertensive crisis due to the build-up of tyramine, which causes blood vessels to constrict and blood pressure to increase dangerously.
Step-by-step explanation:
Selegiline is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) used to treat certain neurologic disorders. When combined with tyramine-rich foods, the interaction between selegiline and tyramine can lead to a hypertensive crisis, which is a sudden and dangerous increase in blood pressure. This is because MAOIs inhibit the breakdown of neurotransmitters as well as dietary tyramine, allowing excessive amounts to enter the bloodstream.
Tyramine is normally broken down by the enzyme monoamine oxidase, but when medications like selegiline inhibit this enzyme, tyramine levels can build up. This can cause blood vessels to constrict and lead to hypertension. Therefore, individuals taking MAOIs like selegiline are advised to avoid foods high in tyramine, such as cured meats, aged cheeses, fermented products, and certain alcoholic beverages.