Noah has two school assignments to finish, three exams to study, and a few college applications to fill out, all for next week! It’s a lot of work, and Noah thinks she needs help concentrating and staying on task.
Noah’s brother takes medication to treat his ADHD, and Noah has heard that people call this type of medication “study medication.” You know that it is illegal to take a drug that a doctor has not prescribed. Still, Noah wonders if the drugs to study might be the help he’s looking for to get through the week ahead.
What drugs are considered drugs to study?
Doctors prescribe medications such as Adderall and Ritalin to treat conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (or ADHD). Sometimes people without these conditions take medications that have been prescribed for other people because they think they will help them focus more when doing school work. For this reason, these drugs are called “drugs, drugs or drugs to study.”
These medications are stimulants. They can increase alertness and energy level, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure for a short period. But study drugs do not increase learning ability or ability to think.
There are two types of prescription stimulants used as study medications:
- the amphetamines such as Adderall, Dexedrine, or Vyvanse
- the methylphenidate such as Ritalin or Concerta
Most people get these types of drugs from a friend or relative who has been prescribed them. Sometimes people who take these drugs do not know who has taken them off and find out when they try to refill their prescriptions and find that they cannot. Pharmacies keep track of the doses they sell to each person and will not sell more medicine to people who should still have medicine.
How do study drugs affect the brain?
Nerve cells within the brain send and receive messages to release chemicals called “neurotransmitters.” Prescription stimulants have chemical structures similar to some neurotransmitters. When someone takes them, these drugs exacerbate the effects of those neurotransmitters in the brain and body. This can lead to increased brain activity, including increased attention and concentration.
But the wellness period only lasts a few hours. When its effects wear off, people can collapse. You may feel lazy, inactive, disconnected, or even depressed. You may also be disappointed when you review the tasks you did while on the drug.
Disadvantages of drugs to study
When doctors prescribe stimulants to treat medical conditions like ADHD, they start with a low dose. If the patient needs more, they increase the dose slowly and carefully. Doctors do this because a high dose of stimulants can cause serious medical problems. These include the following:
- arterial hypertension
- irregular heartbeat
- heart failure
- seizures
- cerebrovascular accident
Using stimulants too often can lead to severe anger, paranoia, heart problems, and mental health problems. Combining study drugs with over-the-counter drugs that contain decongestants increases the chances of developing high blood pressure or irregular heartbeat.
Many people who start taking study drugs think they are harmless, or they think they will only use them once (to pass final exams). But study drugs can be just as addictive as street drugs. Over time, people who abuse stimulants can become dependent on them. If they try to quit, they may have withdrawal symptoms, such as depression, suicidal thoughts, strong cravings, sleep problems, and fatigue.
Health risks are not the only drawbacks of the drugs to study. Students who use illegal prescription drugs can be expelled from their schools, have to pay fines, and even go to jail.
Alternatives to drugs to study
If you need to concentrate, there are much better options than drugs to study. Here are some proven ways to boost focus and combat stress:
- Meditation. Even just a few minutes of meditation each day reduces stress and calms the mind. Meditating just before starting a study session can clear your mind and help you focus on the task at hand.
- Get a good night’s sleep. Getting enough sleep at night is essential for the brain to focus, think clearly, and be alert. Doctors recommend that teens get about 9 hours of sleep at night.
- Exercise. Get your blood pumping naturally by doing sports, a gym class, yoga, or just a brisk walk. Exercise promotes learning, memory, and concentration. Regular physical exercise also improves mood, helps you sleep, and reduces stress.
- Eat healthily. Good nutrition is essential for a healthy body and a healthy mind. Eating a wide variety of healthy foods (such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, fish, and lean proteins) feeds the brain and helps maintain high energy levels.
