Which of the following sympathomimetics can cause a 'hypertensive crisis' in a patient taking Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) if they consume aged cheese?
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Correct answer: Tyramine
Tyramine is an indirect sympathomimetic normally metabolized by MAO-A in the gut. In the presence of MAOIs, tyramine reaches the systemic circulation and displaces massive amounts of norepinephrine from nerve endings, leading to dangerous increases in blood pressure.
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