Does Adderall Help You Study Better And Concentrate More?
We live in an extremely competitive society, in which a high level of performance and productivity is required in practically all areas of life and on a continuous basis. Work and access to the labor market is one of the areas in which it can be seen the most. Studies are another of them, especially at the university level: young students are under a lot of pressure in order to pass and get the highest possible grade in order to stand out and be able to obtain the best job they can get in the future, sometimes reaching marathon efforts during exam season.
The pressure can become excessive, to the point that some people decide to resort to some substances and drugs that supposedly can facilitate concentration and cognitive ability. One of these substances is a psychostimulant drug called Adderall, designed to treat various disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Does Adderall help you study and concentrate? It is something we are going to talk about throughout this article.
The medication known as Adderall is a type of psychotropic drug with highly potent stimulant properties, which is formed by the combination of two types of amphetamine salts. Specifically, it is a synthetic substance that arises from the combination of dextroamphetamine (75%) and levanfetamine (25%).
This substance greatly increases the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain, being an agonist of the receptors of these neurotransmitters at the presynaptic level. It also generates an agonist action at serotonin receptors, but the effect on this neurotransmitter is much less.
The effects of this drug are in practice similar to those of cocaine, generating an increase in brain activity as well as feelings of euphoria, increased level of alertness, shorter reaction time to stimuli and resistance to fatigue and sleep, as well as an increase in the ability to focus and mental clarity. It also seems to generate an increase in the ability to motivate oneself, as well as an improvement in physical capacity and resistance and alterations in libido, frequently causing an increase in it. It also reduces the need to rest and sleep, as well as appetite and the perception of the need to hydrate.
When it’s used?
Adderall is mainly intended as a drug that, in small and correctly scheduled doses, allows the treatment of different disorders. Thus, the main application of this prescription drug is therapeutic.
Specifically Adderall It is indicated in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, generating in subjects with this disorder an improvement in their capacity for self-control, in the reduction of disruptive behaviors and in focusing attention. In addition, it also enhances your ability to motivate and concentrate.
This may seem counterintuitive given that amphetamines tend to increase activity and energy and that at a symptom level many children with ADHD present great restlessness and energy, but it has been observed in those who have this disorder that at the brain level there is a deficit and dysregulation of dopamine and norepinephrine in different brain nuclei.
Another disorder in which Adderall is indicated is narcolepsy, showing some effectiveness in reducing daytime sleepiness.
But Adderall’s psychostimulant abilities have not only been used therapeutically. Given that in a population without any of the above disorders the effects are similar to those of cocaine, it has been observed that It is often used recreationally, due to its euphoric properties. Likewise, like other amphetamine derivatives, they have sometimes been used by athletes in order to enhance their performance and reduce fatigue and tiredness.
Lastly, and given that it seems to promote the ability to concentrate, cognitive ability, mental clarity or even memory capacity, Adderall is increasingly being used by students in order to enhance their study abilities.. That is, it is used as a nootropic, although its use should always be indicated by doctors It is on this last application that we will focus.
Is it really useful for studying?
Studies on the nootropic properties of Adderall have been investigated by different groups of experts, finding that Although Adderall generates an increase in some cognitive abilities, it also has a detrimental effect on others, in such a way that the overall capacity of the subject does not improve too much. Likewise, through experiments with cases in which some of the participants consumed this drug and others were given a placebo, it has been observed that there were no statistically significant differences at the level of performance.
Specifically, in a recent experiment it was observed that subjects taking Adderall did showed an increase in attentional capacity and they tended to give a greater number of answers (although this does not imply that they were correct), although in the execution of memory tasks they showed worse performance.
A result that has also been interesting is the fact that Adderall’s euphoric properties generated a noticeable sensation of activation and enhanced the subjective sensation of feeling better and more confident in oneself.
Other studies show that it increases the level of activity, energy and concentration, but nevertheless seems to reduce the creativity of those who consume it by reducing sensitivity to new stimuli by generating hyperfocus.
Regardless of whether or not it has a nootropic effect, when Adderall is used therapeutically, the doses used are carefully measured by professionals who will prescribe a therapeutic dose that reduces side effects as much as possible. However, its use as a nootropic or stimulant drug It is usually given in doses that are not controlled and do not take into account possible side effects, which can be serious.
Among its risks we can find the appearance of insomnia problems, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, erectile dysfunction, depression (after the effect wears off), irritability, headaches, excessive sweating, lack of appetite and tachycardia. It can cause heart problems such as arrhythmias, and in severe cases, it can cause heart attacks or strokes.
In high doses it can also cause neurotoxicity and loss of cognitive abilities, hallucinations and delusions, and kidney problems. Likewise, in certain doses it is possible that Adderall causes addiction (although in therapeutic doses this risk
That is why it is contraindicated for people with heart problems, diabetes, kidney or liver problems, psychotic disorders, anorexia nervosa, glaucoma, thyroid problems, epilepsy, bipolarity, Tourette syndrome or depression. It is also contraindicated for diabetics.
