Which drug class enhances the effects of other CNS depressants?

Antitussives are a class of medications primarily used to suppress coughing. They can enhance the effects of other CNS depressants, which include substances like alcohol, benzodiazepines, and opioids. This enhancement occurs because many antitussives, especially those containing ingredients such as dextromethorphan or codeine, possess sedative properties themselves. When taken in combination with other CNS depressants, these agents can lead to increased sedation, respiratory depression, and an overall potentiation of the depressant effects on the central nervous system.

In contrast, expectorants are used to thin mucus and promote its clearance from the respiratory tract, antihistamines are primarily used to alleviate allergic symptoms and may cause sedation but are not classified as CNS depressants themselves, and mast cell stabilizers reduce allergic reactions by inhibiting the release of histamine but do not have an effect on the CNS. Thus, antitussives are specifically notable for their ability to work synergistically with other CNS depressants, leading to a more pronounced effect.