Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology (EPPP) Practice Test

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Which of the following antidepressants is most likely to cause sedation (drowsiness) as a side effect?

Prozac
Wellbutrin
Zoloft
Pamelor

The correct answer is: Pamelor

Pamelor, which is a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA), is known for its sedative properties due to its anticholinergic effects and its ability to block histamine H1 receptors. This makes it more likely to cause drowsiness compared to other classes of antidepressants. Prozac, an SSRI, is typically regarded as activating rather than sedating. Wellbutrin, which is a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI), is also associated with stimulating effects and tends to elevate mood and energy levels rather than cause sedation. Zoloft is another SSRI, and while it can cause side effects such as fatigue in some individuals, it is not as commonly associated with pronounced sedation compared to Pamelor. Therefore, Pamelor’s mechanism of action and the specific receptors it affects make it the most likely of the listed medications to cause sedation.