Which medication type could lead to a patient developing tolerance over time?

Hypnotics are a category of medications that are specifically designed to induce sleep or sedation. Over time, patients can develop tolerance to these medications, meaning that they may require higher doses to achieve the same sedative effect that they initially experienced with a lower dose. This phenomenon occurs because the body adapts to the presence of the medication, leading to changes in how the drug is metabolized or how receptors respond to it. Therefore, while the patient may begin with a certain dosage that effectively aids their sleep, repeated use may diminish the effectiveness, prompting the need for increased dosage.

In contrast, antihistamines are typically used for allergic reactions and do not commonly lead to tolerance as significantly as hypnotics. Antibiotics are used to combat infections, and tolerance, in the context of antibiotics, refers more to antibiotic resistance rather than the individual becoming less responsive to the drug over time. Inhaled steroids are used for conditions like asthma or COPD; while they can have challenges such as decreased efficacy after long-term use, they do not lead to tolerance in the same way that hypnotics do. Thus, hypnotics are notably distinct for their capacity to lead to tolerance with prolonged use.