Final answer:
The antidepressant known to exacerbate hypertension is Venlafaxine, which is an SNRI, unlike SSRIs such as sertraline and fluoxetine that have a milder impact on blood pressure.
Step-by-step explanation:
The antidepressant known to exacerbate hypertension is C) Venlafaxine. Venlafaxine is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), and its use has been associated with increased blood pressure. Patients with pre-existing hypertension may require closer monitoring if prescribed this medication. This is in contrast to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as sertraline and fluoxetine, which are less likely to affect blood pressure significantly. SSRIs, including fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft), primarily inhibit the reuptake of serotonin and are widely prescribed due to their high efficacy and relatively mild side effect profile compared to older classes of antidepressants like tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). As an exception, fluoxetine can also impact norepinephrine and dopamine neurotransmission at higher doses, which may contribute to its therapeutic effects.