Does adirol or Caffiene improve test scores?

[mrpinstripsuits]

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Does taking adirol, ritalin, gingko biloba, or drinking lots of caffiene increase test scores during test day?

 

[Shrike]

Adderall and Ritalin certainly help if you have ADD; unclear whom else they help, if anyone. Caffeine use is strongly correlated with increases in alertness and to a lesser extent cognitive ability; draw your own conclusions. Gingko? Get real.

 

[gotgame83]

If you wanna go that route look at stuff like this. Taken from another website:

What are the ingredients and what do they do?
1. 2-oxo-pyrrolidone
a. 2-oxo has been shown to improve memory in numerous clinical trials
b. it has also been shown to increase neural flow between brain hemispheres
c. increases density of cholinergic receptors, which improves neural function

2. Vinpocetine
a. facilitates cerebral metabolism by improving blood flow to the brain
b. boosting brain cell ATP production, which means more "brain energy/fuel"
c. increases the production of Noradrenaline and Dopamine

3. Galantamine
a. acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, which means it blocks the premature, often age-related breakdown of the natural neurotransmitter acetylcholine
b. enhances nicotinic receptor activity, an effect long known to influence memory and intellectual activity as well as having impacts on appetite control and mood.
c. under the trade name "Reminyl", Galantamine is FDA approved to treat Alzheimer's

4. Huperzine A
a. studies have shown that huperzine A, like galantamine, inhibits acetylcholinesterase activity in the brain and increases the acetylcholine levels for up to 6 hours
b. used in china to treat ALZHEIMERS
5. Bacopa (20% bacosides)
a. Research indicates they play a protective role in the synaptic functions of the nerves in the hippocampus, the seat of memory
b. May also have anxiolytic (anxiety relieving) effects

6. DMAE
a. Increases attention span
b. Precursor to acetyl-choline
c. Has numerous benefits, most of which are related to its impact on choline and acetyl-choline levels

7. acetyl-l-carnitine
a. shown to protect brain cells against aging-related degeneration and improve mood
b. a precursor for acetyl-choline
c. sold as a pharmaceutical in Europe to treat heart and neurological disorders

8. Acetyl-l-tyrosine
a. precursor for Noradrenaline, Dopamine and acetyl-choline

9. Choline Bitartrate
a. precursor to acetyl-choline
b. itself an important neurotransmitter
c. must be taken with 2-oxo, probably due to increase in cholinergic receptors

10. Piroxidal-5-phosphate, Nicotinamide, and Calcium Pantothenate
a. important b vitamin cofactors for brain and general metabolism as well as neurotransmitter production


I may or maynot try some of this stuff. I wouldnt touch adderall or concerta. My brain hasnt failed me once in the last 21 years, i have no reason to screw around with it now, not to mention stimulants seem to have a diuretic effect on me, in the middle of the mcat would be a hell of a time to have to piss..

 

[Shrike]

However, while 'tis true, I would beware because you will have to use the restroom sooo bad during the test if you drink too much coffee. Or so this is what I've been told.

Mostly false, if you've had the amount you usually have.

Never try anything new on the day of the test.

 

[gotgame83]

To go along with Shrike just mentioned. If you drink coffee, do not give it up for your test day. If you drink the same amount of coffee/soda everyday then over a period of time the diuretic effects wont be noticable. However, the increased alertness might not also be there if you just drink what your used to. If you want to go after stims then try it out once or twice before the test on say an AAMC practice test. See how it effects you.

Never do anything different that morning, I remember before the state championships for the 400M about 4 years ago i downed 100mg of ephedrine HCL. My heart was racing so badly im suprised i didnt have a heart attack, i broke 49sec for the first time ever, BUT thats not the point lol

 

[ShyRem]

Test studies have shown that drinking coffee before an IQ exam can raise your IQ by as much as 20 points.

 

[ASDIC]

caffeine can make ur brain reallly tired....so i suggest u stay away from it before the mcat

 

[LowlyPremed]

Does taking adirol, ritalin, gingko biloba, or drinking lots of caffiene increase test scores during test day?

This is what a test prep company advises. When it comes to caffiene, people that drink caffiene will get a boost at first but they also have a low point sometime during the day. That low point is usually in the afternoon, so you might be at risk for having a low point on the writing sample or biological sciences. They advise their students to stay away from caffiene. In fact, they advise their students to quit long in advance of the test. That way you're not doing anything differently on test day.
When it comes to ritalin or any other drugs, unless you have a ADD, it would be unethical to take such drugs. It is the equivalent to taking steroids to perform better as a baseball player. So what if you could take ritilin and break a 30, I wouldn't be impressed. But that's a question you have to answer for yourself.

 

[EnergyShotz]

If you really wanted to try it, you could always take Provigil to keep you wide awake and alert for the test. Though, if you're taking it for the first time, you may not be prepared for that extra kick it gives you...

As is pointed out above though, not so sure it's the most ethical thing to do. I take it because I suffer a bit from narcolepsy, and I definitely didn't want that to happen during the MCAT. 😴 What a disaster that would have been!

 

[mastamark]

As is pointed out above though, not so sure it's the most ethical thing to do. I take it because I suffer a bit from narcolepsy, and I definitely didn't want that to happen during the MCAT. 😴 What a disaster that would have been![/QUOTE]

You would'nt happen to wan't to go into surgery, would ya? 😕

 

[DrYo12]

I consumed caffeine while studying for the MCAT, but didn't during the exam. I tried once during one of the practice tests and crashed before the end of the exam. I would say, eat healthy (tuna sandwich or salad) and take plenty of snacks, perhaps drinking water all along. Caffeine--not good.

 

[USCtrainer]

To go along with Shrike just mentioned. If you drink coffee, do not give it up for your test day. If you drink the same amount of coffee/soda everyday then over a period of time the diuretic effects wont be noticable. However, the increased alertness might not also be there if you just drink what your used to. If you want to go after stims then try it out once or twice before the test on say an AAMC practice test. See how it effects you.

Never do anything different that morning, I remember before the state championships for the 400M about 4 years ago i downed 100mg of ephedrine HCL. My heart was racing so badly im suprised i didnt have a heart attack, i broke 49sec for the first time ever, BUT thats not the point lol

Damn, 100mg?! 😱 That's about four times the recommended dose. Although I would recommend caffeine before an exam or competition (if you're already used to it) I wouldn't recommend something stronger like ephedra, as it will cause the jitters and an uneasy feeling that will actually work against you. Works well with caffeine and aspirin for burning fat though 😉 Oops, did I just type that

 

[Turkeyman]

How 'bout some good ol' crack? 😀

 

[Shrike]

Ok, like I said, its just what I've heard. I don't drink caffeine that much, so who knows.

Obviously, there are bound to be plenty of coffee drinkers on here who do have firsthand knowledge of the subject, or possibly non-drinkers who've read the literature. Why opine on a subject you don't know, when you could sit back, read, and learn?

This is a minor point in a minor thread, but I'm gearing up for August test season. People posting half-baked answers about how to do MCAT problems (not you, guju) are going to experience public lambasting.

 

[Shrike]

caffeine can make ur brain reallly tired....so i suggest u stay away from it before the mcat

Your support for this is first-hand knowlegde, or a study? If a study: wow, I'd like to know which one. If first-hand knowledge: wow, I'd like to know how you collected the data, as it seems to be at odds with medical and coffee-drinking consensus.

 

[Shrike]

If you drink the same amount of coffee/soda everyday then over a period of time the diuretic effects wont be noticable. However, the increased alertness might not also be there if you just drink what your used to.

The last study I saw -- I don't remember which one, but I found the link somewhere in this forum, so I'm sure it's searchable -- showed a reduction with habitual use in the diuretic effect (to near zero), but not a reduction in most other effects, including increased alertness.

As with so much in medicine, assuming it's true just because it makes sense will sometimes lead you astray.

 

[gotgame83]

The last study I saw -- I don't remember which one, but I found the link somewhere in this forum, so I'm sure it's searchable -- showed a reduction with habitual use in the diuretic effect (to near zero), but not a reduction in most other effects, including increased alertness.

As with so much in medicine, assuming it's true just because it makes sense will sometimes lead you astray.

That might be true but I dont see why caffeine wouldnt cause a receptor downregulation. Example, You never drink coffee and your alertness is say 100(arbitrary number) you down 20oz of strong coffee every morning, for the first few weeks your alertness is say 120. after a while you wake up with an alertness of 80 and NEED the coffee just to feel normal again. I dunno its 10am on a sunday morning i think i need coffee to wake up 😀

 

[gotgame83]

Damn, 100mg?! 😱 That's about four times the recommended dose. Although I would recommend caffeine before an exam or competition (if you're already used to it) I wouldn't recommend something stronger like ephedra, as it will cause the jitters and an uneasy feeling that will actually work against you. Works well with caffeine and aspirin for burning fat though 😉 Oops, did I just type that

heheh good old ECA stack, used to love that. Since they took that away ive seen too many ppls switch to umm "more potent" fat burners. Ephedra has been used safely for thousands of years. If your an idiot and take too many tylenol there will be side effects, if u are an idiot and take too much ephedra, dont drink water and try to run back to back marathons there will be consequences lol.

 

[Shrike]

That might be true but I dont see why caffeine wouldnt cause a receptor downregulation.

I don't see why, either, but that is what the study (studies?) showed.

 

[Will Ferrell]

Are you allowed drink water or go to the bathroom during those 10 minute breaks?

 

[chaeymaey]

Are you allowed drink water or go to the bathroom during those 10 minute breaks?

Yes. I recommend eating snacks too to keep your energy up.

 

[EFuller]

Too much caffeine just makes me jittery and coffee makes me have to ****, neither of which is good in a 6-8 hour test. I just had a red bull before the test and sipped on a Dew during the breaks. For reasons beyond my control, I slept about 3 hours the night before and I was awake just fine during the test once it got started. I really believe that if this is something you really want to succeed at, the excitement of the test and the adrenaline should be enough to keep you awake and alert. If you need chemicals just to make it through the most important test you've had up until now, I'd hate to see you after a busy night of being on-call.

In other words, I think you'll be fine without developing a chemical addiction. On the day of the test, that 6-8 hours just flies by and feels like nothing. If anything, you'll wish the test was longer so that you'd have more time.

 

[USCtrainer]

sounds to me like this thread is simply becoming a "I know more about caffeine than you" thread... 😴

 

[OwnageMobile]

Ok, some hard facts:

I have a bona fide prescription for Adderall, so no flaming me please. I did some experiments while taking my TPR classes. I found that the drug did help my verbal scores (this is only to be expected since I cant stay on the page w/o the amphetamine), but it didn't really do too much for me as for "making me smarter." My PS and BS scores were comparable with and w/o the drug.

So basically... I'll agree that taking adderal wont really help that much unless you have some sort of deficit. I don't think I can make any other conclusions about it.

 

[OwnageMobile]

Yeah, I agree. But I'm not debating the purpose of the drugs. I do think they speed up thoughts and memory access. I am sure you have tried a stimulant or two e.g. coffee- With my previous statement(s) granted as being true, we can probably agree that memory/speed enhancements would be beneficial no only for VR section of the test, but the PS and BS sections as well.
I was kinda surprised to not see too much improvement in those sections, but whether it's staying on task or thinking quicker, I score marginally better with Adderall.

 

[humuhumu]

If you really wanted to try it, you could always take Provigil to keep you wide awake and alert for the test. Though, if you're taking it for the first time, you may not be prepared for that extra kick it gives you...

As is pointed out above though, not so sure it's the most ethical thing to do. I take it because I suffer a bit from narcolepsy, and I definitely didn't want that to happen during the MCAT. 😴 What a disaster that would have been!

I think it would be very hard to convince an MD to prescribe Provigil for you if you don't have narcolepsy....

 

[monu1234]

try coffee and if it makes u feel better take it.... stuff like aderaol, c'mon?!?!???!?!? unless you are a prescription, that is sooo dishonest, exactly like taking steroids in sports... sorry for the haughty tone, didn't mean it

 

[doctorFred]

I agree with this sentiment. Unless you have ADD or some other major disorder that warrants such medicine that is purely unethical.

we're talking about getting into med school. ethics are for suckers.

a "friend" of mine, who doesn't have ADD, snorted one half of a pill of adderall at the beginning of each break, and performed quite confidently. if you've never used it before, give it a shot, although don't make test day your trial period. it gives me (i mean, "him") a huge boost in concentration, alertness, reasoning, and may be largely responsible for a mid-30's score.. but stay tuned for the definitive word on that.

it was also a key player in all-night study sessions that preceeded an A in organic chemistry this semester and a medical school recommendation.

 

[USCtrainer]

heheh good old ECA stack, used to love that. Since they took that away ive seen too many ppls switch to umm "more potent" fat burners. Ephedra has been used safely for thousands of years. If your an idiot and take too many tylenol there will be side effects, if u are an idiot and take too much ephedra, dont drink water and try to run back to back marathons there will be consequences lol.

THANK YOU!! 👍 I totally agree, a few kids take "eighteen times the recommended dose" and die from it then we all have to suffer 😡 I'm not sure they should've banned it though, maybe tuffer laws regulating it or something. I heard a Judge in Arizona lifted the ban though, 😀 we'll see

 

[bschmit]

I drink a redbull before everyone of my tests......and it helps me alot, I seem to guess better compared to when I dont drink one. Just a thought.

 

[mrpinstripsuits]

Does taking adirol, ritalin, gingko biloba, or drinking lots of caffiene increase test scores during test day?

i've realized the caffiene is an inhibitor of PDE (phospho di-esterase), PDE is what cleaves cAMP. Memory tests have shown that more cAMP molecules in the brain stimulate synapse formation. Cyclic molecules are increased in the bloodstream, when caffeine is ingested. Therefore caffeine increases memory alertness and formation, I believe.

 

[gotgame83]

THANK YOU!! 👍 I totally agree, a few kids take "eighteen times the recommended dose" and die from it then we all have to suffer 😡 I'm not sure they should've banned it though, maybe tuffer laws regulating it or something. I heard a Judge in Arizona lifted the ban though, 😀 we'll see

Yes im not sure where the judge was, for some reason Utah sticks out in my mind, but i dunno i get all those midwest states confused anyway lol. Yes ephedra is back for a period of time, but u can still purchased pure ephedrine hcl for "asthma" purposes. Places like customnutritionwarehouse never stopped selling it but for some reason their ephedrine doesnt have quite the kick that the others did...

and as for modanafil lol. just like anything we have discussed here, it can be obtained but as most of us are trying to be future doctors i have ethical reasons against it. I dunno where i draw the line though, im not against steriods at all in sports or any performance enhancing drugs, heck i workout with cops who use all the time, but something about being able to prescribe these drugs one day keeps me from using things like adderall, concerta, modanafil etc.... I dont know, i refuse to use anything that would increase my mental performance....

 

[USCtrainer]

Yes im not sure where the judge was, for some reason Utah sticks out in my mind, but i dunno i get all those midwest states confused anyway lol. Yes ephedra is back for a period of time, but u can still purchased pure ephedrine hcl for "asthma" purposes. Places like customnutritionwarehouse never stopped selling it but for some reason their ephedrine doesnt have quite the kick that the others did...

and as for modanafil lol. just like anything we have discussed here, it can be obtained but as most of us are trying to be future doctors i have ethical reasons against it. I dunno where i draw the line though, im not against steriods at all in sports or any performance enhancing drugs, heck i workout with cops who use all the time, but something about being able to prescribe these drugs one day keeps me from using things like adderall, concerta, modanafil etc.... I dont know, i refuse to use anything that would increase my mental performance....

Hmmmm, interesting twist on steroids. I too know a ton of law enforcement on the special sauce 😉 But as far as sports are concerned, it wouldn't make a difference if it were legal, there would still be the same number of users either way. I once read a joke that said on the award platforms for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd at the Olympics, they should have the athlete and their chemist both receiving an award It's funny to me how grossly ignorant the public is to how wide spread steroids, blood doping, EPO etc. are in sports Oh well, I guess one day as docs we'll be dealing with these athletes coming in and asking for a special mix 😱

 

[fateema368]

we're talking about getting into med school. ethics are for suckers.

a "friend" of mine, who doesn't have ADD, snorted one half of a pill of adderall at the beginning of each break, and performed quite confidently. if you've never used it before, give it a shot, although don't make test day your trial period. it gives me (i mean, "him") a huge boost in concentration, alertness, reasoning, and may be largely responsible for a mid-30's score.. but stay tuned for the definitive word on that.

it was also a key player in all-night study sessions that preceeded an A in organic chemistry this semester and a medical school recommendation.

An all-night study session for him, it's really great how close you to are. 😍

 

[fateema368]

I agree with this sentiment. Unless you have ADD or some other major disorder that warrants such medicine that is purely unethical.

I agree ethics are relative to morality, religious beliefs, etc., but an ethics professor did way in on the debate "whether or not to take aderial/profomance enhancing drugs that you clinically don't need", and said that "were it not for the addictive and potentially deadly side effects of taking such medications: using all the methods available to you, to accomplish your goals/succed in life, was an ethically sound choice.

Don't use this drug because it's addictive, and if not prescribed illegal--sorry to sound like the after school special but ethics can only get you so far! 😀

 

[USCtrainer]

I agree ethics are relative to morality, religious beliefs, etc., but an ethics professor did way in on the debate "whether or not to take aderial/profomance enhancing drugs that you clinically don't need", and said that "were it not for the addictive and potentially deadly side effects of taking such medications: using all the methods available to you, to accomplish your goals/succed in life, was an ethically sound choice.

Don't use this drug because it's addictive, and if not prescribed illegal--sorry to sound like the after school special but ethics can only get you so far! 😀

I'm sorry, I'd love to believe that way too 🙄 The only problem is, thousands more people will die each year from the addiction to fast food and trans fatty acids than sports "performance" drugs. 😡 Things that make you go Hmmmmmmm I think you should be an after school special for obesity and syndrome X in America instead Sure would affect alot more people.

 

[Shrike]

VIVE COLOMBIA for the BESTEST COFFEE EVER!!!!!! I was with my friend last night (She's Colombian) and she made some traditional Colombian coffee that tasted wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy better then the Star Bucks stuff or the instant coffee stuff that my dad drinks.

Don't get me started about Starbuck's -- the McDonald's of coffee. And a pretentious McDonald's, no less.

I drink only Peet's. Some time, try Sumatran or especially Sulawesian -- not the Starbucks BS blends, but the real deal. For serious aficionados, there's no coffee with more flavor (though many people find these two too earthy).

Nothing beats Columbian for smoothness, of course. If you like fruity, try Kenyan or Tanzanian. For something bit out of the ordinary, try an aged coffee (hard to find).

And please, no one say eXpresso around me -- it's espresso, with only esses.

 

[Shrike]

By the way, funny you should mention colombian coffee being smooth. The friend that gave me that coffee said something like that last night.

It's just fact. Whether you like it or not (I don't particularly, preferring the richness of the East Asian island coffees), you have to acknowledge Columbian's smoothness.

 

[FutureDocDO]

Does caffeine give anyone a slight heart pain or tightness in the chess or is it just me?

 

[gotgame83]

Hmmmm, interesting twist on steroids. I too know a ton of law enforcement on the special sauce 😉 But as far as sports are concerned, it wouldn't make a difference if it were legal, there would still be the same number of users either way. I once read a joke that said on the award platforms for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd at the Olympics, they should have the athlete and their chemist both receiving an award It's funny to me how grossly ignorant the public is to how wide spread steroids, blood doping, EPO etc. are in sports Oh well, I guess one day as docs we'll be dealing with these athletes coming in and asking for a special mix 😱

hahaha so true, i remember a few years back when people were visiting conte over at bay area labs. Then the whole thg scandal, cmon people this is why dbol hit the market back in 1959, when that russian powerlifter defected and his test levels were in the thousands and his dht was off the charts our government went to ciba labs and said we want stuff to make our athletes better 😎

Only to go off on a brief tangent, the majority of the public only know about the drugs from the media, i remember being in highschool and thinking that all steroids were the same and that if u as much as looked at them ur balls would drink and you would die of cancer lol. Its funny how certain things can be criminalized, for example, i can go and get calf implants but i am not allowed to take nandrolone to help my body make them bigger through hard work, sorry thats something that just bothers me and has nothing to do with this thread. And no i dont use juice but only for the mere fact that its illegal and i would never mess with my future becoming a doc.

Ok so im a loser, im running GC-MS in the lab right now and its 63minutes for each trial so im on SDN killing time, ok back to mcat studying....

 

[gotgame83]

I'm sorry, I'd love to believe that way too 🙄 The only problem is, thousands more people will die each year from the addiction to fast food and trans fatty acids than sports "performance" drugs. 😡 Things that make you go Hmmmmmmm I think you should be an after school special for obesity and syndrome X in America instead Sure would affect alot more people.

Amen bro. 👍

 

[humuhumu]

Does caffeine give anyone a slight heart pain or tightness in the chess or is it just me?

Is caffeine the only thing that causes that adverse reaction? What about physical exertion?

Below is an excerpt from Clinical Pharmacology. Doesn't say anything specifically about heart pain. Might want to consult a doc.

--------------------

Caffeine is a CNS stimulant. Many adverse reactions to caffeine are an extension of caffeine's pharmacologic actions. At therapeutic or nontoxic doses, caffeine can cause tremor, sinus tachycardia, and heightened attentiveness. Other adverse reactions include diarrhea, excitement, irritability, insomnia, headache, muscle twitches and palpitations. Alterations in blood glucose, such as hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia, have been reported. After excessive doses, caffeine can cause considerable nausea/vomiting and anxiety. Cardiac arrhythmias, seizures, and delirium are possible after deliberate overdoses. In humans, a caffeine level of > 50 mg/L may produce toxic symptoms.

Caffeine is a mild diuretic. Polyuria can occur. Increased creatinine clearance and increased urinary calcium (hypercalciuria) and sodium excretion are reported in the literature.

 

[USCtrainer]

Hey Gotgame, you seem to know alot about these "athletic insights" how are you involved i.e. bodybuilding, football???

No matter how though, it's cool to see someone else in the know about this stuff out there 😀

Fight on!

 

[vmp200]

If you wanna go that route look at stuff like this. Taken from another website:

What are the ingredients and what do they do?
1. 2-oxo-pyrrolidone
a. 2-oxo has been shown to improve memory in numerous clinical trials
b. it has also been shown to increase neural flow between brain hemispheres
c. increases density of cholinergic receptors, which improves neural function

2. Vinpocetine
a. facilitates cerebral metabolism by improving blood flow to the brain
b. boosting brain cell ATP production, which means more "brain energy/fuel"
c. increases the production of Noradrenaline and Dopamine

3. Galantamine
a. acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, which means it blocks the premature, often age-related breakdown of the natural neurotransmitter acetylcholine
b. enhances nicotinic receptor activity, an effect long known to influence memory and intellectual activity as well as having impacts on appetite control and mood.
c. under the trade name "Reminyl", Galantamine is FDA approved to treat Alzheimer's

4. Huperzine A
a. studies have shown that huperzine A, like galantamine, inhibits acetylcholinesterase activity in the brain and increases the acetylcholine levels for up to 6 hours
b. used in china to treat ALZHEIMERS
5. Bacopa (20% bacosides)
a. Research indicates they play a protective role in the synaptic functions of the nerves in the hippocampus, the seat of memory
b. May also have anxiolytic (anxiety relieving) effects

6. DMAE
a. Increases attention span
b. Precursor to acetyl-choline
c. Has numerous benefits, most of which are related to its impact on choline and acetyl-choline levels

7. acetyl-l-carnitine
a. shown to protect brain cells against aging-related degeneration and improve mood
b. a precursor for acetyl-choline
c. sold as a pharmaceutical in Europe to treat heart and neurological disorders

8. Acetyl-l-tyrosine
a. precursor for Noradrenaline, Dopamine and acetyl-choline

9. Choline Bitartrate
a. precursor to acetyl-choline
b. itself an important neurotransmitter
c. must be taken with 2-oxo, probably due to increase in cholinergic receptors

10. Piroxidal-5-phosphate, Nicotinamide, and Calcium Pantothenate
a. important b vitamin cofactors for brain and general metabolism as well as neurotransmitter production


I may or maynot try some of this stuff. I wouldnt touch adderall or concerta. My brain hasnt failed me once in the last 21 years, i have no reason to screw around with it now, not to mention stimulants seem to have a diuretic effect on me, in the middle of the mcat would be a hell of a time to have to piss..

are any of these medicines generic or strictly prescription???

 

[Zuras]

I haven't read through all of this, but the facts are:

No neutropics have been found to increase mental performance in normal, healthy individuals.

Caffeine CAN increase function on certain tasks, but it decreases functioning on other tasks. Caffeine enhances rote recall of information, but decreases your overall concentration. Basically, someone on caffeine will perform better than without on something like their multiplication tables; however, if the questions involve lots of thinking/applying, as opposed to just recalling, the effects of caffeine can be deleterious instead of beneficial.

 

[FutureDoc2010]

I am working with a medicinal chemist from Belarus and he swears by 2-oxo-pryollidine also known as piracetam (brand name nootropil). The drug is completely non-toxic (and LDL 50 could not be established on any animal), non-addictive and has no documented side affects. The drug has been long sold over the counter in many European countries. I reluctantly decided to give it a try. there are a lot of websites that sell it, legally, to US consumers. It is legal to import it into the US for personal use, but apparently American companies can't manufacture and sell it within the US since it has not received the stamp of approval from the FDA. It takes approx 2 weeks to feel the effects and about a month to feel the full effects of the drug. I have generally noticed a increased alertness, better mood and extended concentration. Not really sure if it is just a placebo effect, but I’ll keep on taking it until the exam. I'm also taking ginkgo, a vitamin B supplement and acteyl-l-carnitine (which is actually another B vitamin) so I don't know if I can give credit to a single supplement. Not entirely sure If I morally agree with druggin up my brain before the exam, but when you are competing with students that are illegally taking addictive stimulants to boost there scores I guess taking legal supplements isn't that sinful.

 

[NilamPatel]

i think i've built my endurance pretty well to this test, and i'm not a get tired person anyway...

i don't mean to offend anyone but if you have to take a supplement to think or concentrate better, maybe you should reconsider medicine. you can't just pop pills to make everything better. whats the "fairness" in that? plus what are you gonna do in med school, residency, then work? continually take supplements so you perform better?

maybe its just me, i like knowing that i can do something without the help of anyone or anything else..

 

[~CDN Pre-med~]

I dont think you should change anything that you wouldn't normally do. Just don't go for the "extra tall" expresso at starbucks...your bladder will thank you.

I noticed no one responded about the herbal remedies. I've been using ginseng and ginkgo biloba every day and i swear it increases your concentration...but only if you've been using it for at least a month. I find I need no caffeine when i do this and my concentration is up all day....

For your interest:
http://www.wholehealthmd.com/news/viewarticle/1,1513,1039,00.html

 

[gotgame83]

There are many legal ways to obtain different drugs that MAY help. However i opted not to go against what i have been doing for years. I take two multiples everyday. I am currently taking 1500mg of 45% stardardized EGCG green tea extract. 1gram of vitamin C. And sometimes about 500mg of ellagic acid however i find that it seems to make me a little tired so I am no longer taking that again until after the exam. I am not taking these for increased mental performance but rather just for overall health. I havent had a cold in 3 years and i havent been sick since getting mono a little over 3 years ago. My advice to anyone is DO NOT TRY ANYTHING NOW. its too late, its not worth the risk. You do not know how it will affect you. I can and sometimes do take 10-15grams of vitamin C a day during the winter depending on how im feeling. I am fine doing this, however my roomate tried this and spent 3 hours in the bathroom...

 

[Zuras]

Alzheimer's disease

Abstract: Preclinical research suggests that piracetam (a nootropic drug) may improve cognitive functions, but previous studies have failed to demonstrate a clear benefit for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We report a 1-year, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study with a high dose of piracetam (8 g/d per os) in 33 ambulant patients with early probable AD. Thirty subjects completed the 1-year study. No improvement occurred in either group, but our results support the hypothesis that long-term administration of high doses of piracetam might slow the progression of cognitive deterioration in patients with AD. The most significant differences concerned the recall of pictures series and recent incident and remote memory. The drug was well-tolerated.

Elderly drivers

Abstract: 101 elderly motorists with reduced reaction capacity were examined under real traffic conditions with regard to their driving ability. They were given a daily dose of 4.8 g piracetam or placebo over a six-week period in a randomized double-blind study. The percentage of correctly solved sign-observance items, which reflects orientation and perception in real traffic conditions, increased in the placebo-treated test-group from 79.86% in the pretest to 80.07% in the retest, whereas the test subjects of the piracetam-treated group improved their performance from 77.08% to 84.16%. After being treated with piracetam for 6 weeks, the drivers showed a significantly better performance than the placebo-group. Of particular interest is the finding that the test-subjects who had scored less than 80% in the pretest improved without exception in the retest after treatment with piracetam.

Children with dyslexia

Abstract: Sixty children with dyslexia (41 boys, 19 girls; ages 9 to 13) were enrolled in a 10-week summer tutoring program that emphasized word-building skills. They were randomly and blindly assigned to receive either placebo or piracetam, a purportedly memory-enhancing drug that has been reported to facilitate reading skill acquisition. The children were subtyped as "dysphonetic" or "phonetic" on the basis of scores from tests of phonological sensitivity and phoneme-grapheme correspondence skills. Of the 53 children who completed the program, 37 were classified as dysphonetic and 16 as phonetic. The phonetic group improved significantly more in word-recognition ability than the dysphonetic group. Overall, the children on medication did not improve more than the nonmedicated ones in any aspect of reading.

The phonetic subgroup on piracetam gained more in word recognition than any subgroup but did not improve significantly more than the phonetic subgroup on placebo. Results are discussed in relation to findings from previous studies of piracetam in children with dyslexia.

Parkinson's disease

Abstract: Twenty patients with Parkinson's disease and marked intellectual impairment or dementia participated in a double-blind placebo controlled trial of the nootropic, piracetam. A standardized neurological examination, a neuropsychological test battery, and a functional scale, The Sickness Impact Profile, were completed for all patients. They were then assigned by blind randomization to drug or placebo conditions receiving 3.2 g of piracetam or an identical amount of placebo for 12 weeks. The dose was increased to 4.8 g for an additional 12 weeks. Neurological, psychological, and functional measures were rated as improved, unchanged, or worsened in comparison to baseline performance. Twenty-five percent of the patients did not complete the trial for reasons unrelated to the medication. Although there was a significant improvement on one subtest of the functional scale, no significant effects were demonstrated in cognitive or neurological measures.