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    Stimulant Usage by Medical Students for Cognitive Enhancement: A Systematic Review

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    Author
    Plumber, Noorine
    Majeed, Maliha
    Ziff, Shawn
    Thomas, Sneha E
    Bolla, Srinivasa Rao
    Gorantla, Vasavi Rakesh
    Date
    2021-05-22
    Journal
    Cureus
    Publisher
    Cureus, Inc.
    Type
    Article
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    See at
    https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.15163
    Abstract
    Stimulants have been used throughout human history for a variety of reasons. High levels of stress and the demanding nature of medical school make their usage among medical students particularly common. The most prevalent stimulant used by students is coffee, followed by tea and other forms of caffeine like sugary energy drinks. In addition, amphetamine-based medications for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been increasing in popularity, which many students take illicitly. Students report taking various forms of stimulants to promote cognitive enhancement, prolong wakefulness and retain focus for long periods of time. Moderate doses of caffeine and amphetamines would lead to enhanced alertness and concentration. However, large increases in dosage or frequency would lead to an increased risk of toxicity and adverse effects. The positive outcomes from stimulant consumption are often overshadowed by the negative side effects and incorrect dosage. Thus, it appears that usage of stimulants should be limited, in favor of a more sustainable approach to cognitive enhancement. This review analyzes the use of stimulants among the medical student community, consequences of misuse and discussed the healthy and organic approaches to lessen the stress and improve academic performance. This article also discusses the mechanisms of action, acceptable doses, additives, ingredients of stimulants commonly used by medical students for cognitive enhancement and the implications of long-term use as the stress of practicing medicine extends well beyond the medical school years.
    Rights/Terms
    Copyright © 2021, Plumber et al.
    Keyword
    amphetamine
    caffeine
    cognitive enhancer
    energy drink
    smart pills
    stimulant
    Identifier to cite or link to this item
    http://hdl.handle.net/10713/16112
    ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
    10.7759/cureus.15163
    Scopus Count
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