Smart Drugs: A Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31686/ijier.vol8.iss11.2386Keywords:
Smart drugs, Nootropics, Cognitive enhancers, Stimulants, Uses and Side effectsAbstract
Smart drugs can change the way our mind functions. Smart drugs are also known as nootropics, which literally means the ability to bend or shape our mind. Smart drugs are classified into two main categories. They are classified based on their pharmacological action and their availability. The stimulant category of drugs is highly used and misused. There has been a rampant increase in the sale of smart drugs, which could be attributed to the rise in competition all over the world. Two major criteria for selecting a good drug are its mechanism of action and bioavailability. Owing to the short-term benefits of smart drugs, many countries have openly accepted this concept. There is still no concrete scientific evidence backing the safety and efficacy of these drugs. Some believe that this is just a fad that will soon pass, while others believe that this is something that will revolutionize our future.
Downloads
References
Nootropic. En.wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nootropic. Published 2020. Accessed March 12, 2020.
Nootropics: Types, safety, and risks of smart drugs. Medicalnewstoday.com. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326379. Published 2020. Accessed March 12, 2020.
Nootropics & smart drugs. The differences. - Healthy pleasures. Healthy pleasures. http://healthypleasures.de/news/nootropics-smart-drugs-the-differences/. Published 2020. Accessed March 12, 2020.
A complete guide to smart pills | Lucid. Lucid. https://lucid.me/blog/smart-pills/. Published 2020. Accessed March 12, 2020.
Smart drugs: What are they and do they really work? | Smart Drugs For You. Smart Drugs for You. https://provigil24h.com/smart-drugs-what-are-they-and-do-they-really-work/. Published 2020. Accessed March 12, 2020.
Healthline. 2020. The 14 best nootropics and smart drugs reviewed. [Online] Available at: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/nootropics#section11. Accessed March 17, 2020.
Mereu, M., Bonci, A., Newman, A. and Tanda, G., 2020. The neurobiology of modafinil as an enhancer of cognitive performance and a potential treatment for substance use disorders.
The Recovery Village. 2020. What adderall is used for | What is adderall used for besides ADHD? [Online] Available at: https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/adderall-addiction/faq/what-is-adderall-used-for/#gref. Accessed March 17, 2020.
American Addiction Centers. 2020. Long term effects of adderall on brain, personality, and body. [Online] Available at: https://americanaddictioncenters.org/adderall/long-term-effects. Accessed March 17, 2020.
The effects of adderall on your Body. Health line. https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/adderall-effects-on-body#1. Published 2020. Accessed March 18, 2020.
Adderall effects | Short term, long term & side effects. DrugAbuse.com. https://drugabuse.com/adderall/effects-use/. Published 2020. Accessed March 18, 2020.
Adderall Oral : Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-63163/adderall-oral/details
Ritalin: Uses, dosage, side effects & warnings - Drugs.com. Drugs.com. https://www.drugs.com/ritalin.html. Published 2020. Accessed March 18, 2020.
hcl G, Ritalin B. Side effects of ritalin (Methylphenidate Hcl), warnings, uses. RxList. https://www.rxlist.com/ritalin-drug.htm Published 2020. Accessed March 18, 2020.
Methylphenidate. (n.d.). Retrieved April 25, 2020, from http://www.healthofchildren.com/M/Methylphenidate.html
Babwah T, Ramcharan C, Ramgoolam C et al. Most major side effects of caffeine experienced by young adults are acute effects and are related to their weekly dosage ingested. J Caffeine Adenosine Res. 2018;8(1):18-26. doi:10.1089/caff.2017.0008. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/caff.2017.0008
Is bulletproof coffee good for health?: Pros and cons. Medicalnewstoday.com. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323253#downsides. Published 2020. Accessed March 18, 2020.
Bulletproof Coffee: Add Healthy Fats to Your Diet and Boost Your Energy. (2018, February 8). Retrieved April 25, 2020, from https://www.fix.com/blog/the-benefits-of-bulletproof-coffee/
Caffeine pills: Are they good for you? (2018, January 26). Healthline. doi: https://www.healthline.com/health/caffeine-pills#takeaway
White D, de Klerk S, Woods W, Gondalia S, Noonan C, Scholey A. Anti-stress, behavioural and magnetoencephalography effects of an L-theanine-based nutrient drink: A randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Trial.
Admin. (2018, May 31). Understanding L-theanine: Sleep better at night, feel relaxed and alert during the day. Retrieved April 25, 2020, from https://thesleepdoctor.com/2017/07/11/understanding-l-theanine-sleep-better-night-feel-relaxed-alert-day/
Nordqvist, J. (2017, December 18). Ginkgo biloba: Health benefits, side effects, risks, and history. Retrieved April 25, 2020, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/263105
, Rhodiola Supplement: Benefits, Uses, Side Effects, Dosage & Interactions. (2019, September 17). Retrieved April 25, 2020, from https://www.medicinenet.com/rhodiola/supplements-vitamins.htm
Swanson, D., Block, R., & Mousa, S. A. (2012, January 5). Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA: health benefits throughout life. Retrieved April 25, 2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22332096 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3945/an.111.000893
von Schacky, C. (2008, March 11). Omega-3 fatty acids: antiarrhythmic, proarrhythmic or both? Retrieved April 25, 2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18301082 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/MCO.0b013e3282f44bdf
Mawer, R. (2018, October 25). Creatine 101 - What Is It and What Does It Do? Retrieved April 25, 2020, from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/what-is-creatine
Chunha, J. P. (2016, July 26). Memantine: Side Effects, Dosages, Treatment, Interactions, Warnings. Retrieved May 14, 2020, from https://www.rxlist.com/consumer_memantine_namenda/drugs-condition.htm
Mereu, M., Chun, L. E., Prisinzano, T. E., Newman, A. H., Katz, J. L., & Tanda, G. (2017, January). The unique psychostimulant profile of (±)-modafinil: investigation of behavioral and neurochemical effects in mice. Retrieved April 25, 2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27545285.
PROVIGIL® (modafinil) Tablets [C-IV]. (2010, October). Retrieved April 25, 2020, from https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2010/020717s030s034s036lbl.pdf
Amphetamine - Drug Bank. Drugbank.ca. https://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB00182. Published 2020. Accessed March 18, 2020.
Methylphenidate - Drug Bank. Drugbank.ca. https://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB00422. Published 2020. Accessed March 18, 2020.
Memantine - Drug Bank. Drugbank.ca. https://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB01043. Published 2020. Accessed March 18, 2020
Research I. Pharmacology of caffeine. Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK223808/. Published 2020. Accessed March 18, 2020.
Ferré S. An update on the mechanisms of the psych stimulant effects of caffeine. J Neurochemical. 2008; 105(4):1067-1079. doi:10.1111/j.1471-4159.2007.05196.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-4159.2007.05196.x
Ferré, S. (2019, August 19). Caffeine: Neurobiological and Psychiatric Implications. Retrieved April 25, 2020, from https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/cme/caffeine-neurobiological-and-psychiatric-implications/page/0/2
Caffeine. (2004, September 16). Retrieved April 26, 2020, from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Caffeine
Theanine. (2020, April 13). Retrieved April 25, 2020, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theanine
Scheid L, Ellinger S, Alteheld B et al. Kinetics of L-Theanine uptake and metabolism in healthy participants are comparable after ingestion of L-Theanine via capsules and green tea.
The Proposed Mechanisms of Action for Ginkgo. (2015, August). Retrieved April 26, 2020, from https://www.ebmconsult.com/articles/ginkgo-biloba-mechanism-of-action-moa
Ude C, Schubert-Zsilavecz M, Wurglics M. Ginkgo biloba extracts: A review of the pharmacokinetics of the active ingredients. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2013;52(9):727-749. Doi: 10.1007/s40262-013-0074-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40262-013-0074-5
Quirky Dosing of Rhodiola | Rhodiola Rosea | Integrative Therapeutics. Integrativepro.com. https://www.integrativepro.com/Resources/Integrative-Blog/2016/Quirky-Dosing-Rhodiola-Rosea. Published 2020. Accessed March 18, 2020.
Li, Y., Pham, V., Bui, M., Song, L., Wu, C., Walia, A., … Zi, X. (2017, December 14). Rhodiola rosea L.: an herb with anti-stress, anti-aging, and immunostimulating properties for cancer chemoprevention. Retrieved April 26, 2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6208354/
CHIOU W, HSU F. Pharmacokinetics of creatinine in man and its implications in the monitoring of renal function and in dosage regimen modifications in patients with renal insufficiency. The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 1975;15(5-6):427-434. doi:10.1002/j.1552-4604.1975.tb02364.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1552-4604.1975.tb02364.x
Arran Frood N. Use of “ Smart Drugs” on the Rise. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/use-of-ldquo-smart-drugs-rdquo-on-the-rise/. Published 2020. Accessed March 18, 2020.
Nootropics, or ‘Smart Drugs,’ are gaining popularity. But should you take them? Time. https://time.com/5509993/nootropics-smart-drugs-brain/. Published 2020. Accessed March 12, 2020
Enhanced intelligence: The rising use of “smart drugs" among students. Pharmaceutical Journal. https://www.pharmaceutical-journal.com/news-and-analysis/opinion/comment/enhanced-intelligence-the-rising-use-of-smart-drugs-among-students/11017908.article?firstPass=false.Published 2020. Accessed March 18, 2020.
Partridge B, Bell S, Lucke J, Yeates S, Hall W. Smart Drugs “As Common as Coffee”: Media hype about neuroenhancement.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2020 Sahjesh Soni, Dr Rashmi Srivastava, Ayush Bhandari

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyrights for articles published in IJIER journals are retained by the authors, with first publication rights granted to the journal. The journal/publisher is not responsible for subsequent uses of the work. It is the author's responsibility to bring an infringement action if so desired by the author for more visit Copyright & License.
How to Cite
Accepted 2020-06-02
Published 2020-11-01