Final answer:
Barbiturates do depress the respiratory center, an effect that is amplified when combined with other central nervous system depressants. The correct answer to the question is a) True.
Step-by-step explanation:
Barbiturates are centrally acting depressants that can significantly affect the respiratory center of the brain. They are known to inhibit respiratory center activity, leading to a decrease in the drive to breathe.
When barbiturates are taken in overdose, especially in combination with other central nervous system depressants such as alcohol, opiates, or benzodiazepines, the risk of severe respiratory depression is greatly increased.
Additionally, barbiturates not only have additive effects with benzodiazepines but also increase the binding affinity of the benzodiazepine binding site, which leads to a more pronounced effect on neuronal channels and consequently, an exaggerated benzodiazepine effect on the CNS.
The correct answer to the question of whether barbiturates depress the respiratory center is a) True.
Furthermore, such respiratory depression can result in increased levels of carbon dioxide in the blood. While respiratory rate and depth are normally controlled by the brain's respiratory centers in response to these changes, barbiturates can impair this regulation, leading to potentially life-threatening consequences.