Do brain pills exist? And if such a thing as brain pills exists, do

they work?

The term nootropics refers to smart drugs – drugs thought to enhance

memory, attention, motivation, and even intelligence. Smart drugs

work by increasing oxygen supply to the brain and stimulating differ-

ent neurochemicals for efficient cognitive functioning. However, an

important qualifier exists – the long-term effects of nootropics haven’t

yet been determined. In other words, although smart drugs may

improve your cognitive skills in the short term, no one quite knows

the possible damage they may do to the brain in the long term.

Here are some examples of prescription medications that increase

attention.

 ✓ Stimulants. As the name suggests, stimulants work to ‘up’

your brain power. These drugs function to increase alertness,

keep you awake and generally increase arousal states in the

brain. In this chapter I’ve already talked about the effects of

caffeine in the form of coffee and energy drinks. Some medica-

tions do include caffeine in the list of ingredients and caffeine

tablets are also available.

 ✓ Modafinil. This drug is only available with a legal prescrip-

tion in the UK. Modafinil is most often used to treat sleep

disorders. More recently, it’s also been found to be effective

in treating Parkinson’s disease and ADHD. Modafinil works to

combat the need for sleep and delay the resultant effects of

tiredness. However, the long-term effects of this drug aren’t

known and side effects include irritability, anxiety, nervous-

ness, and insomnia, and the drug may even result in fatalities.

 ✓ Methylphenidate. Doctors commonly prescribe methylphe-

nidate to individuals with a diagnosis of ADHD. You can only

get methylphenidate on prescription and the dosage varies

depending on the individual and the symptoms. The drug

works to help the individual focus more clearly. It’s not rec-

ommended for those under 6 years of age and the benefits of

methylphenidates disappear after the individual stops taking

it. In other words, methylphenidates are almost always a

lifetime commitment. Although doctors prescribe methylphe-

nidates widely, research is ongoing regarding the long-term

effects and potential for abuse.

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