Study Drugs (for Teens) (2024)

What Are Study Drugs?

Study drugs are usually prescription stimulants that are used to increase alertness and energy for a short time. They also increase heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Prescription stimulants used as study drugs include:

  • amphetamines like Adderall, Dexedrine, or Vyvanse
  • methylphenidates like Ritalin or Concerta

Doctors prescribe medicines like Adderall and Ritalin to treat ADHD. Sometimes, people who don't have ADHD use these medicines because they think they'll help them do better in school. That's how they got the name "study drugs." Study drugs may help a person focus and stay awake longer, but they don’t increase learning or thinking ability or improve grades.

How Do Study Drugs Affect the Brain?

Nerve cells in the brain send messages back and forth by releasing chemicals called neurotransmitters. When someone takes prescription stimulants, the drugs boosts certain neurotransmitters in the brain. This leads to the common effects of these medicines, including increased focus and concentration.

The Downsides of Study Drugs

When doctors prescribe stimulants for ADHD, they start with a low dose. If someone needs more, they build up slowly and watch for side effects. When someone does not use these medicines as prescribed or takes them without a prescription, they are more likely to have side effects. These include:

  • trouble sleeping
  • poor appetite
  • high blood pressure
  • irregular heartbeats
  • nervousness

Stimulants can also cause headaches, irritability, and mood swings. Serious medical problems— like heart attacks, strokes, or seizures— can happen. Mixing study drugs with alcohol, over-the-counter cold medicines, or other drugs can make things worse.

Lots of people who start taking study drugs think they're harmless — or they think they'll just use them once (like to get through finals). Over time, people who abuse stimulants can become dependent on them. If they try to quit, they may have withdrawal symptoms like sleep problems, tiredness, and depression.

The health risks aren't the only downside to study drugs. Students sharing, selling, or using prescription drugs illegally may get suspended from school, have to pay fines, and face criminal charges.

Alternatives to Study Drugs

If you need to focus and get schoolwork done, there are better choices than study drugs. Here are some proven ways to boost concentration and beat stress:

  • A good night's sleep. Getting enough rest at night improves memory and will help you focus, learn, and think clearly. Teens need about 9 hours of sleep at night.
  • Exercise. Get energized the natural way by moving your body. Play sports, go for a gym workout or run, try yoga or take a walk. Exercise boosts learning, memory, and concentration. Regular exercise also improves mood, helps people sleep, and reduces stress.
  • Eating right. Good nutrition is key to a healthy body and mind. Don’t skip meals and choose a variety of healthy foods (like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean protein) to fuel the brain and help keep energy levels high.
  • Meditation. Meditating before tackling a big study session can clear the mind and help you focus on the task at hand. Even a few minutes of meditation a day can lower stress.
Study Drugs (for Teens) (2024)

FAQs

Which drug is best for studying? ›

Prescription stimulants used as study drugs include:
  • amphetamines like Adderall, Dexedrine, or Vyvanse.
  • methylphenidates like Ritalin or Concerta.

Do study drugs actually help? ›

When it's crunch time, 'study drugs' may seem like an effortless way to extend a study session or maintain better focus. However, studies have shown that using study drugs without a prescription does not enhance academic performance.

What drug makes you study better? ›

Adderall. Adderall is the combination of amphetamines and dextroamphetamine and is, by far, the most popular study drug around.

How to study drugs easily? ›

  1. Know your endings. Drugs are categorized based on how they affect the body. ...
  2. Make up sayings. This was a fun and useful way to remember certain drugs while studying Pharmacology. ...
  3. Use pictures. ...
  4. Make flashcards and grab a study buddy. ...
  5. Make a list and test yourself over and over.
Aug 24, 2017

Does Adderall actually help studying? ›

Experts say no. Adderall does not help you study. Rather, the misuse of Adderall can cause severe harm. According to a 2016 analysis published in the journal Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, people without ADHD who'd been taking prescription stimulants did not experience improvement in executive function.

Does Xanax help you focus? ›

By reducing excessive worry and panic, Xanax can enhance mental clarity and promote a sense of well-being. However, it's important to note that Xanax can also cause cognitive side effects, such as confusion, memory impairment, and difficulty concentrating.

What does Xanax do? ›

Xanax works by increasing the amount of the neurotransmitter GABA in the brain to promote calmness and a relaxed feeling. This greatly helps people who suffer from anxiety disorders so that they are able to remain calmer in a particularly stressful situation, help curb panic attacks and calm their body's overactivity.

Is Adderall legal or illegal? ›

Adderall is legally available with a prescription from a licensed medical professional. As a controlled substance, possession of Adderall in the absence of a prescription, in an amount that exceeds the prescribed amount, or following the expiration date of a prescription are crimes with significant repercussions.

Is studying addiction bad? ›

Similarly, social anxiety is associated with impaired academic performance but only among those who have high study addiction (Lawendowski et al., 2020). These findings lend support to the notion that study addiction is clearly a negative and counterproductive phenomenon.

How can I focus without Adderall? ›

Practicing Mindful Meditation

Allowing your brain to pause and relax is like setting the reset button, giving your brain a chance to reconnect and prioritize thoughts so you're able to focus on issues and problems that have a higher level of priority than others.” Queler seconds the practice from personal experience.

Is there medication to help focus? ›

Lisdexamfetamine. Lisdexamfetamine is a medicine that stimulates certain parts of the brain. It improves concentration, helps focus attention and reduces impulsive behaviour. It may be offered to teenagers and children over the age of 5 with ADHD if at least 6 weeks of treatment with methylphenidate has not helped.

What can be used as a substitute for Adderall? ›

Popular Adderall alternatives include lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse), methylphenidate (Ritalin and Concerta), clonidine (Kapvay), atomoxetine (Strattera) and guanfacine (Intuniv). Currently, all of these medications require a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider.

How can I memorize drugs fast? ›

In this article...
  1. Easy Way to Memorize Medications And Their Effects. USE A DRY-ERASE BOARD/FLASHCARDS/NOTECARDS. CROSSWORD PUZZLES. ACRONYM FOR DRUG NAMES. STUDY CHART. CONSTANT QUIZZING WITH STUDY BUDDY. JINGLE OR RHYME. PRACTICE. TOUCH THE MEDICINES. USE WORD ASSOCIATION. USE ALLITERATION. ...
  2. WRAPPING UP.
  3. Related Reads.

Is it safe to take Adderall? ›

Regular use or abuse of Adderall can make changes in the structures of the brain and change the way emotions are regulated. They can also be hard on the heart muscles, lungs, vascular system, and other internal organs. Even one-time use of Adderall may result in sudden cardiac death or a potential toxic overdose.

What is the study of drugs called? ›

In the broadest sense, pharmacology is the study of how chemical agents, both natural and synthetic (i.e., drugs) affect biological systems.

What is the best drug to improve memory? ›

Cholinesterase inhibitors are the first choice of treatment for memory loss. The doctor may also prescribe the single-dose drug combination Namzeric to treat moderate to severe memory loss.

What medication is good for focus and concentration? ›

These medications include amphetamine salts, such as Adderall®; methylphenidate, such as Concerta® or Ritalin®; and lisdexamfetamine dimesylate, or Vyvanse®. Many types of stimulant medications are available in short-acting or extended release varieties.

How can I improve my concentration and focus while studying? ›

Study Better with a Little Focus and Planning
  1. Identify the best environment to help you concentrate. Knowing where you are best able to concentrate is imperative to making the most of your time. ...
  2. Minimize distractions. ...
  3. Write a to-do list. ...
  4. Schedule study time. ...
  5. Make healthy snack choices. ...
  6. Take breaks.

Will Adderall help me focus if I don't have ADD? ›

For people who do not have ADD, Adderall has the opposite effect, disrupting brain chemistry with excess dopamine. Instead of promoting calm and attentiveness, Adderall taken without a medical reason can have a euphoric effect.

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