Provide an overview of pharmacotherapy classes used in depression and anxiety, including a common side effect for each.

• A. SSRIs/SNRIs (sexual dysfunction); Tricyclics (anticholinergic effects); MAOIs (dietary restrictions and hypertensive crisis); Benzodiazepines (risk of dependence; short-term only)
• B. All antidepressants cause weight gain; all anxiolytics have no withdrawal risk.
• C. Only mood stabilizers are used in depression.
• D. Antipsychotics are not used in anxiety.

Answer: (A)

Understanding pharmacotherapy for depression and anxiety involves recognizing several key drug classes and a representative side effect for each. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors are among the most commonly used medications for both conditions. A typical side effect to recognize is sexual dysfunction, such as reduced libido or difficulty with arousal or orgasm, which arises from the drugs’ influence on serotonin pathways that help regulate sexual function.

Tricyclic antidepressants are older options that are used less frequently today because of broader side effects. A notable example is anticholinergic effects—dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, urinary retention—reflecting the drugs’ antimuscarinic action, which limits their tolerability and safety in many patients.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors require careful dietary management. The key risk is hypertensive crisis if foods rich in tyramine are consumed, so patients must follow dietary restrictions. This interaction underscores why these medications are used less routinely and only with careful monitoring.

Benzodiazepines provide rapid relief of acute anxiety symptoms but carry a significant risk of dependence and withdrawal, which is why their use is typically limited to short-term situations or as-needed management rather than ongoing treatment.

These options give a comprehensive view of how depression and anxiety are pharmacologically addressed and what side effects clinicians monitor most closely. The other statements are too broad or inaccurate—some antidepressants do not cause weight gain for everyone, anxiolytics can have withdrawal risks, mood stabilizers aren’t the only treatments for depression, and antipsychotics do appear in some anxiety-related care scenarios.