Smart Drugs and the LSAT

Comments

1. Jackie says:

   June 10, 2009 at 4:26 pm

   With the widespread use of drugs like Adderall, doesn’t it put people at a competitive disadvantage if they DON’T take it? I don’t have a prescription, but I would take it in a heartbeat. While pharmaceutical companies have certainly made mistakes with safety standards in the past, with this wipespread and widely used drug, I would think that any major problems would have showed up by now.
2. Jude says:

   June 10, 2009 at 5:27 pm

   I like my brain the way it is. Why risk it? You can retake a test, but not undo brain damage.
3. Avi Solomon says:

   June 10, 2009 at 8:41 pm

   I would use herbal adaptogens like eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus)instead. Safe, legal, no side effects and the Russian Olympians use it too:
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adaptogen

   or just do Yoga everyday:)
4. Trent says:

   June 10, 2009 at 8:57 pm

   Jackie,

   At the risk of sounding unduly conservative, my unstudied hunch is that pharmaceutical companies have studied the use of these drugs among a narrow cross-section of the population (such as people with ADHA) and in fairly restricted amounts. Someone who substantially exceeds prescribed doses might have experiences that drug companies never intended or foresaw.

   I see your point that not using such drugs could put one at a competitive disadvantage, but this might not justify the risks associated with prolonged use.
5. Jackie says:

   June 11, 2009 at 10:12 am

   Trent,

   It’s OK if you ARE conservative; it takes all kinds, right? So, yes. I would believe that pharmaceutical companies do only study a narrow cross-section, but they explosion of use, (both on and off label), would naturally bring dangers and side effects to light.

   Prolonged use? I’m not saying people without need should take it daily, but for occasional use as a study aid? I doubt it would be particularly harmful to your brain chemistry.

   Of course, this is all in theory for me, too. Finally, there is definitely the distinct possibility that the ultimate side-effects haven’t come to light, yet. It may be too soon.
6. Shant says:

   June 12, 2009 at 11:48 am

   Wait… we could’ve taken a mirror and a razor into the testing room???
7. jane says:

   August 18, 2009 at 11:41 am

   so I have taken it before and it works okay…it’s not miracle worker though. I have trouble concentrating so I needed to use it but even if drugs lead to concentration, concentration alone, does not help you on the exam. That would mean really studious/nerdy kids are only capable of doing well on exams and that’s not true at all. If you don’t already know how to come to the right answer or use the blue print method well, then you won’t with the smart drugs. Most likely you’ll spot your (wrong) answer faster, saving some time to fill in other wrong answers.

   When I started writing this, I was thinking about using the meds and now I realized why I shouldn’t…
8. EJM says:

   August 24, 2009 at 1:36 pm

   You might find the following Article from Nature interesting:

   http://npp.wisc.edu/PDF/TowardsResponsibleUseOFCognitive-EnhancingDrugsByTheHealthy.pdf
9. EJM says:

   September 21, 2009 at 5:44 am

   or this one from next month’s Sci Am:

   http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=turbocharging-the-brain