Do you think prescription stimulants like Adderall improve focus? You're mistaken.

Researchers have found that people who abuse prescription stimulants for studying may feel more energetic but are not receiving a "brain boost."

Adderall is a prescription drug that's commonly prescribed for people with ADHD. However, it has also been abused by those who don't have ADHD and are looking for a "brain booster."

This is a problem that's growing in the United States.

While taking prescription stimulants for study may make students feel like they are getting more done, the medications have more downsides than benefits.

Researchers from several University of California campuses were interested in determining whether "study drugs," such as Adderall, helped people retain information that they were absorbing under the influence of the drug.

Researchers measured and tested these prescription drugs' short- and long-term effects on adults. Researchers recruited 43 adults, ages 18-35, to participate in a study conducted at UC Irvine's Sleep and Cognition Lab.

They tested participants' attention and working memory by asking them to do multiple things simultaneously, such as remembering and manipulating letters while solving simple math equations and then regurgitating what they remembered.

Sara Mednick, Ph.D., co-author of the study and associate professor of cognitive science at UCI and director of its sleep lab, explained to Healthline that the tests were designed to simulate what the brain endures daily, such as remembering phone numbers while performing other tasks.

She said, "We have a special ability to hold information in our minds while doing other things."

The researchers began their experiment with a placebo and then 20 milligrams, a drug similar to Adderall. Researchers repeated the test after 75 minutes and 12 hours. Participants were kept overnight in a sleep lab, with their electrical activity recorded by specialized equipment.

The study appeared in the journal Behavioral Brain Research.

Researchers found that executive function, or the part of the brain that enjoys getting things done, was considered beneficial. However, it did not improve working memory. This is the part of your brain that you fill up with cramming when you stay up late to study for finals.

Mednick explained that if you ask anyone who takes these stimulants in college, they will likely say they are using them to study and party for longer. It may make you feel Superman-like, but you won't be more brilliant.

In her research, Mednick claims that she has found many college students who claim to use stimulant medication to help them study even if they don't benefit.

This is a well-documented scenario.

A study often cited by the University of Michigan Substance Abuse Research Center shows that 2001, just over 2 percent of students from 119 colleges and universities in the United States admitted to using prescription stimulants non-medically within the past month. Two times as many said they had done so within the past year.

A study funded eight years by the National Institute on Drug Abuse published in 2017 found that "nonmedical prescription drug use was more prevalent in college than later in the study."

Some people continued to take their study drugs even after the final exams.

The side effects outweigh the benefits of using this drug.

James Giordano, Ph.D., a professor in the neurology and biochemistry departments at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C., says amphetamines like the Adderall used in the study are but one class of drug that's been considered and examined for cognitive and behavioral performance-enhancing effects.

He told Healthline, "in many cases, side effects outweigh the benefits of amphetamines."

Giordano claims that a drug related to methylphenidate, called Ritalin, has been shown to improve working memory, episodic memories, and task vigilance.

He said that high doses can also produce side effects similar to amphetamines and disrupt sleep patterns.

Dr. Dr.

Some side effects are experienced differently by people who use stimulants of varying intensities, including dry mouth, insomnia, and an increased heart rate and blood pressure.

Williams stated, "these may be tolerated most of the time, but they can cause significant problems."

Williams says that the problem with people who use drugs off-label, i.e., for nonprescribed uses and under supervision by a medical professional, is they view it as a disruption to their life: a problem they do not have time for and an additional reason to keep up with their habits.

He said that people will internalize and rationalize the information.

Williams and a few other doctors prescribe the same thing for many conditions, including those that affect memory or other brain functions. They are sleep and exercise.

Williams stated that "exercise is essential for the brain."

It's not necessary to count the various chemicals that are released in the brain when you exercise. You can still flood it with oxygenated air.

There are many prescriptions and over-the-counter medications that you can buy in your local corner store to help you relax and fall asleep. Regular exercise and good sleep habits kept humans alive before caffeine was invented.

Adderall was around for a long time before it was invented.

Sal Rachbach of Ambrosia Treatment Center says that the research on Adderall and other study drugs shows little or no improvement in a person's cognitive abilities.

He said that "the costs outweigh any benefits."

Improve your brainpower naturally.

Reichenbach says there are safer and healthier ways to increase brain power.

Reichenbach explained that the best way to improve cognitive and memory abilities is to engage in various mind-expanding activities, such as reading or learning a language.

"These are methods that have been scientifically proven. "Even though it takes more effort, they will have a longer-lasting effect and won't affect your mental or sleep health," said he.

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He said that many students rely on stimulant medication because they procrastinated studying and now have a deadline for a significant test.

He compares the use of study drugs with pain medication when he speaks to students.

Carrubba explained that while they might fix a short-term symptom, they don't address the root causes.

He said that instead of using medications with side effects that can lead to tolerance and addiction, it is better to address any underlying issues contributing to the problem.