Students are increasingly turning to “study pills” to give them an edge in their academic performance. Many of these drugs are used to increase energy and concentration, promote memory retention and enhance mental processing.
Most drugs used as study pills are prescription medications intended to reduce symptoms of attention-deficit disorder and narcolepsy. In many cases, students will purchase these drugs from friends and use them without medical supervision.
Although these study pills contain ingredients that stimulate the central nervous system and induce temporary cognitive benefits, their ability to significantly increase activity of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain can make them addictive and unsafe when abused. [1]
However, not all study pills are prescription drugs. Some brain supplements can naturally promote focus, energy and motivation while supporting memory. These “nootropic” supplements are available without a prescription and are generally safe when used appropriately.
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Do Study Pills Actually Work?
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Amphetamine-based study pills like Adderall or Ritalin are said to help students get focussed and stay mentally alert during late-night cram sessions.
Many students rely on these academic performance enhancers to overcome procrastination and increase their mental drive and attention span for studying.
Others take memory-enhancing drugs that are purported to help them retain more information and recall that information more accurately at test time.
When taken by people with ADHD, the stimulatory effects of Adderall and Ritalin seem to counteract classic signs of ADHD–inability to focus, easily distracted, constant fidgeting and making poor, impulsive decisions.
If someone without ADHD takes prescription psychostimulants, they report increased motivation, stronger concentration and a powerful desire to perform and complete many tasks.
Is this any different than drinking coffee to promote productivity, cognitive performance and executive function in the workplace? In many ways, it is not. Caffeine and most study drugs are stimulants designed to increase arousal and activation in the central nervous system.
However, the effects of study pills are often significantly more powerful than those of caffeine. Some smart drugs also carry the risk of serious adverse effects when abused or used without the supervision of a doctor.
Dangers of Study Pill Abuse
What most students do not know is that the positive effects of Adderall are actually the drug acting on the reward system in the brain, causing a surge in the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine.
When these neurotransmitters are released into the brain at heightened levels, they can promote short-term spikes of intense focus and alertness. This can make it easier to stay “in the zone” for longer periods of time and to avoid distractions.
However, many of these drugs also cause a “crash” or “comedown” effect by rapidly depleting levels of key neurotransmitters. The next day, some users experience a “hangover” effect and feel tired, lethargic, depressed or anxious and have difficult concentrating due to brain fog.
This can result in a cycle of dependence as students rely on these medications to get them back up to peak cognitive performance, over and over again.
When abused, study pills can be habit-forming, like illegal psychostimulants such as cocaine. The addiction potential is significantly lower than these drugs.
However, drugs like Adderall XR have been shown to acts on the brain’s reward center to make users feel good in a similar way to heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and alcohol.
Are study pills bad for you? Research and experiential evidence suggests that using these drugs for recreational purposes without a doctor’s supervision could cause long-term negative effects.
Study pills may work to energize students mentally but people abusing them are at risk for getting addicted and suffering serious health problems. It is also illegal to be in possession of Adderall, Ritalin and other prescription stimulants unless they are prescribed to you exclusively. [2]
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Adderall For Studying Review
A 2014 study found that out of 303 college students surveyed, nearly 73 percent said they used stimulants, specifically Adderall and Ritalin to improve alertness and enhance cognition and focus when studying. [3]
Adderall (dextroamphetamine and levoamphetamine) is a stimulant prescribed to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or narcolepsy.
It works by elevating levels of norepinephrine and dopamine, two catecholamines primarily responsible for improving cognition, attention and alertness.
Although it is a stimulant, Adderall has a calming, focusing effect on people diagnosed with ADHD. Adderall has been shown to help children and adults with ADHD greatly improve their ability to accomplish tasks, control emotions and improve their quality of life.
Abnormal functioning of the noradrenergic and dopaminergic systems is thought to produce ADHD symptoms. Since noradrenaline and dopamine are excitatory transmitters, they innervate the central nervous system and create strong feelings of fear, euphoria and hypersensitivity to external stimuli.
Thus, signs of ADHD are thought to arise as a result of insufficient amounts of norepinephrine and dopamine, a condition rectified by the stimulatory properties of Adderall. [4]
The few studies involving enhanced cognition and Adderall use reports a minor positive correlation between the stimulant and rote memory tasks but a negative correlation with complex memory, a form of cognitive generally needed to pass college-level examination.
In addition, these studies concluded that stimulants such as Adderall do not increase intelligence (IQ). [5]
Tolerance to Adderall steadily increases if students continue taking the drug regularly. Psychological dependence comes first, followed by physical dependence if Adderall is abused long enough. Signs of an Adderall addiction include:
- Irritability
- Hyperactivity/agitation
- Abrupt mood changes
- Motor tics (excessive blinking, facial grimacing, compulsive throat clearing)
- Rapid weight loss
Prolonged abuse of Adderall may result in psychosis and schizophrenia-like symptoms that require extensive hospitalization and recovery.
Heart attack, stroke and seizures are possible as well, especially if people with undiagnosed heart or neurological conditions take Adderall. Treatment for an Adderall addiction is similar to methods used to overcome an addiction to amphetamines.
Ritalin Abuse as a Study Pill
Ritalin is another ADHD medication classified by the U.S Drug Enforcement Administration as a Schedule II narcotic. Morphine, amphetamines and cocaine are also classified as Schedule II narcotics.
Substances listed on Schedule II are said to have a high potential for abuse, which is why they are strictly regulated in the U.S. and can only be purchased with a doctor’s prescription.
In addition to producing tachycardia, anorexia, agitation and rapid pulse, Ritalin may cause suicidal thoughts, psychotic behavior, visual hallucinations and violent behavior. [6]
Street names like “kiddie coke”, “poor man’s cocaine” and “smarties” reflect Ritalin’s powerful effects on people who abuse the drug. Long-term use of Ritalin has been shown to cause permanent damage to the heart, brain, kidneys and liver.
Ritalin abusers sometimes crush pills and snort the powder to get a quicker, stronger “rush”. Destruction of nasal and throat tissues may occur if Ritalin is constantly snorted, in addition to strokes, heart attacks and seizures. [7]
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Modafinil (Provigil)
Belonging to a group of drugs called eugeroics or “wakefulness promoting agents”, Modafinil is prescribed to treat narcolepsy and sleep apnea.
Considered an atypical dopamine reuptake inhibitor, Modafinil is simply a weaker version of Adderall and Ritalin that causes similar side effects such as loss of appetite, confusion, anxiety and hallucinations. [8]
Modafinil is often prescribed as an off-label treatment for ADHD, even though it has not been approved by the FDA for the treatment of this condition.
According to research reviews, Modafinil is purported to have a lower risk of side effects and addiction compared to Adderall or Ritalin. Studies have shown that it can enhance cognitive function by promoting mental alertness and focus.
However, Modafinil also requires a prescription to buy in the United States. While it is sold over-the-counter in other countries, it is regulated as a Schedule IV Controlled Substance in the US.
Nootropics and Natural Study Pills
The main concern with abuse of prescription ADHD medications as study pills is the potential for over-stressing the body.
Adderall and other stimulant smart drugs work by artificially instigating a stress response in the brain, resulting in the release of catecholamine neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and dopamine.
These brain chemicals are normally released in high levels to deal with external stressors. They put the body and brain into a hyper-vigilant state, resulting in an overdrive of alertness and concentration.
This natural stress response is good when dealing with potentially dangerous situations that require intense focus and mental clarity. However, in healthy adults, being in this hyper-vigilant state for long periods of time can have negative consequences.
As a result, many people are turning to using natural brain supplements and nootropics instead of using stimulant smart drugs and study pills.
Nootropics are dietary supplements that are sometimes referred to as “cognitive enhancers”. True nootropics do not contain synthetic amphetamine chemicals found in Adderall or Ritalin, nor do they cause harmful side effects.
Instead, nootropics are purported to work by supporting the brain’s natural processes and exerting a neuroprotective work. Many natural nootropic supplements contain plant extracts such as Ginkgo biloba, Vinpocetine, Huperzine A and Panax ginseng. They may also include legal compounds already found in the body like Alpha GPC and Acetyl L-Carnitine.
By facilitating availability of neurochemicals in the brain, some nootropics increase oxygen and glucose levels needed for energy metabolism by your brain cells.
Other nootropics stimulate dendritic growth to improve signaling among neurons. Using nootropics can help maintain slightly higher than normal but beneficial levels of neurotransmitters while supporting neuroplasticity and promoting development of new synapses.
Effective Natural Study Pills
The brain is essentially a three-pound network of billions and billions of neurons sending trillions of signals between themselves every second.
Intracellular communication in the brain is supported by electrochemical processes, which means the brain requires optimal neurotransmitter levels to function as efficiently as possible.
Without optimal levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, neurons cannot signal each other as efficiently as they should be. This can result in impaired memory and focus.
Non-addictive and causing no side effects, nootropics are said to provide what the brain needs to maintain excellent neurotransmitter health so that people who take them as dietary supplements enjoy better concentration, the ability to stay focused, improved memory and even enhanced mood. [9]
Some examples of the most effective natural supplements for studying include:
- L-Tyrosine – used to increase dopamine levels in the brain
- Acetyl L-Carnitine – shown to upregulate energy metabolism in brain cells
- Ginkgo Biloba and Panax Ginseng – this herbal combination has been shown to promote cognitive function in young, healthy adults
- Huperzine A – prevents the breakdown of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and may support memory
- Caffeine – shown to support memory, attention and arousal in multiple studies
- Pycnogenol – exhibits a positive effect on cognitive function in multiple studies
- Bacopa monnieri – an ancient Ayurvedic herb with positive effects on verbal learning, memory, and information processing
Before using any supplements – including ones containing all-natural ingredients – it is important to check with a doctor to learn about possible side effects and safe usage.
Natural study pills may not replicate the effects of stimulant smart drugs, but there are lots of nootropic ingredients that have been clinically validated for memory and mental performance. These supplements also pose a lower risk of addiction and other serious side effects when used appropriately.
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3666194/. Heal, D. et al. Amphetamine, past and present – a pharmacological and clinical perspective. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 2013 Jun; 27(6): 479–496.
- http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/services/counseling/topics/adderall.shtml
- http://www.drugandalcoholdependence.com/article/S0376-8716%2814%2901023-0/abstract. Brandt, S. et al. A survey of nonmedical use of tranquilizers, stimulants, and pain relievers among college students: Patterns of use among users and factors related to abstinence in non-users. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, Volume 143, Pages 272–276.
- http://scholarspace.jccc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1021&context=honors_journal. Awista Sherzad. JCCC Honors Journal, Volume 3, Issue 1 Fall 2011.
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18477513. Advokat CD. Licit and illicit use of medications for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in undergraduate college students. J Am Coll Health. 2008 May-Jun;56(6):601-6.
- http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm089090.pdf
- https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a682188.html#brand-name-1
- https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a602016.html
- ftp://nas.gov.ua/akademperiodyka/Downloads/Archive%20SI%20Journal/SI_eng/2014/N4/Chekman.pdf. Chekman, I.S. et al. NOOTROPICS IN COMPLEX THERAPY OF CHRONIC CEREBRAL ISCHEMIA. Science and Innovation. 2014. V. 10. No. 4. P. 56—68.
