Final answer:
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) like imipramine cause anticholinergic effects such as dry mouth and constipation. A muscarinic agonist could serve as an antidote to atropine poisoning. For anti-anxiety effects, SSRIs, SNRIs, and antihistamines are commonly used.
Step-by-step explanation:
The anticholinergic effects of dry mouth, constipation, dizziness, and effects on near vision point to a class of drugs known as Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs). These medications, such as imipramine and amitriptyline, can have parasympathetic nervous system side effects because they inhibit the normal function of acetylcholine neurotransmitter systems by blocking muscarinic receptors. In the event of atropine poisoning, an antidote would be a muscarinic agonist because it would enhance the cholinergic effects that atropine, as an anticholinergic drug, is blocking.
For anti-anxiety effects, a class of medications called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) can sometimes be used, but these drugs are not commonly prescribed due to their numerous side effects and potential for dangerous interactions. More commonly, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are prescribed for their anti-anxiety effects with a better side effect profile and fewer interactions. Antihistamines like dimenhydrinate, while primarily used to treat motion sickness, can also have anti-anxiety effects.