Final answer:
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) are the class of antidepressant medications that are generally avoided because of potentially life-threatening side effects, such as high toxicity and severe food and drug interactions. They are rarely used now, with SSRIs being the preferred treatment due to a higher toxic dose threshold and milder side effects.
Step-by-step explanation:
Class of Antidepressant Medication with Life-Threatening Side Effects
The class of antidepressant medication that is generally avoided due to potentially life-threatening side effects are Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs). These drugs inhibit the activity of the enzyme monoamine oxidase, which is involved in the breakdown of neurotransmitters such as epinephrine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. While this increases the levels of these neurotransmitters and can improve symptoms of depression, MAOIs can lead to high toxicity and severe food and drug interactions.
Examples of these medications include Iproniazid (discontinued), phenelzine (Nardil), isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), selegiline (Emsam), and moclobemide (Aurorix/Manerix). These drugs are rarely used because of their side effects and because selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which have a higher toxic dose and milder side effects, are more commonly prescribed now. SSRIs like fluoxetine (Prozac) selectively block serotonin reuptake, increasing serotonin levels in the central nervous system without the same level of risks associated with MAOIs.