4 ms·

> doesn't everyone respond extremely well to stimulants? Not really - despite their popularity (as you say, heavily sought after), studies have shown that ther

> doesn't everyone respond extremely well to stimulants? Not really - despite their popularity (as you say, heavily sought after), studies have shown that there really isn't a significant cognitive boost for neurotypical folks that take these stimulants[1]. While they have a significant effect for those with ADHD because their brain is not providing the chemicals properly, and these drugs enable that. They aren't boosting cognitive abilities for those with ADHD, they are fixing a problem so that folks with ADHD can think and focus properly. Didn't spend a ton of time looking up the sources I've read this in, but here is one: [1] - https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/6/3/58 https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/6/3/58 > Studies support that stimulants enhance attention, memory, self-regulation and executive function in individuals with ADHD. Recent research, however, has found that many college students without ADHD report misusing prescription stimulants, primarily to enhance their cognitive abilities. > ... > Overall, the present findings indicate dissociation between the effects of Adderall on activation and neurocognition, and more importantly, contrary to common belief, Adderall had little impact on neurocognitive performance in healthy college students.

giraffe_lady 4y ago
Interesting, their use for that is so common I assumed it was a real effect. People who use them that way definitely think it helps. Prescription stimulants are also pretty powerful mood boosters though so I imagine it's very easy to assume you're smarter while on them just because they make you feel great. Anyway thanks for the info, definitely upends an assumption I'd had for years.
- LocalPCGuy 4y ago
  I had the same assumption for a long time, that's why I share the info. Plus, as someone recently diagnosed with ADHD as an adult (and yes, things all clicked, plus family history, and for the doubters - it was a 6 hour long testing process), I feel like it's important to have correct information about medication out there.
- nonameiguess 4y ago
  I was a biology major several decades ago now, which is a major dominated by extremely competitive pre-med students trying to get into Harvard Medical School. Taking speed during finals week was extremely common. I only tried it once personally, and I can't say it helped me concentrate better, because I could already concentrate perfectly fine to begin with. But I could not concentrate for 16-20 hours a day, every day for an entire week. With speed, you can do that.
  - LocalPCGuy 4y ago
    I think this is a good caveat and not something I've seen called out in the studies I've seen.
  - DoughnutHole 4y ago
    Yea stimulants probably don't really offer much of a performance boost to an already healthy brain - but if your brain is already defective from fatigue they can keep you going beyond what's humanly possible. The Germans didn't ply their soldiers with speed in WWII because it improved their reflexes or their tactics - they did it so a soldier could fight when his brain would otherwise be mush from not sleeping in days. Anyone can benefit from just having more usable hours in a day.
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
luckylion 4y ago
Is it fair to say that stimulants having a significant impact is an indicator for having ADHD? If it wasn't basically impossible to see a psychiatrist where I live, I'd try to get tested, because Armodafinil has completely changed my life.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- corobo 4y ago
  > Is it fair to say that stimulants having a significant impact is an indicator for having ADHD? Honestly I'd say it's the opposite. Stimulants barely touch the sides with me, even the non-prescribed types a younger version of me may or may not have dabbled in were pretty ineffective.
  - luckylion 4y ago
    They don't work for you, I take it? I had read about how stimulants don't do much for the average person and that much of it is placebo. I know they do a lot for me -- well, Modafinil/Armodafinil does, I haven't tried any other because I'm so happy with these. I feel lucky I have something that works, I don't mind not having a diagnosis. It'd make sourcing them easier and free, but at $2 a pill and with the multiplier effect it has on my productivity, that doesn't even register. I hope you've found other ways to improve your experience.
    - corobo 4y ago
      I had thought the dosage I'm on was working and then I lost a freelance client after slipping too far behind schedule. Decent pay it was as well, cleared a bunch of the debt I'm lugging around. ADHD tax haha, it is what it is. Waiting on an appointment to review the meds
      - luckylion 4y ago
        That sucks, hopefully you'll find some that work better. It used to be kind of like that for me, though me feeling guilty to let people down usually made me fight to barely make it. It's day and night now, I just sit down in the morning and get to work. It helps that they let me hunt squirrels as long as I make enough progress on the main topics, but even things where the work is super boring you just need to put the hours in is now just "okay, works for me" where it would have been a week of agonizing start, work 30 minutes, pause for 3 hours. I've been more productive in the past two years than I have been in the ten years before that.

giraffe_lady 4y ago

Interesting, their use for that is so common I assumed it was a real effect. People who use them that way definitely think it helps. Prescription stimulants are also pretty powerful mood boosters though so I imagine it's very easy to assume you're smarter while on them just because they make you feel great. Anyway thanks for the info, definitely upends an assumption I'd had for years.

LocalPCGuy 4y ago
I had the same assumption for a long time, that's why I share the info. Plus, as someone recently diagnosed with ADHD as an adult (and yes, things all clicked, plus family history, and for the doubters - it was a 6 hour long testing process), I feel like it's important to have correct information about medication out there.
nonameiguess 4y ago
I was a biology major several decades ago now, which is a major dominated by extremely competitive pre-med students trying to get into Harvard Medical School. Taking speed during finals week was extremely common. I only tried it once personally, and I can't say it helped me concentrate better, because I could already concentrate perfectly fine to begin with. But I could not concentrate for 16-20 hours a day, every day for an entire week. With speed, you can do that.
- LocalPCGuy 4y ago
  I think this is a good caveat and not something I've seen called out in the studies I've seen.
- DoughnutHole 4y ago
  Yea stimulants probably don't really offer much of a performance boost to an already healthy brain - but if your brain is already defective from fatigue they can keep you going beyond what's humanly possible. The Germans didn't ply their soldiers with speed in WWII because it improved their reflexes or their tactics - they did it so a soldier could fight when his brain would otherwise be mush from not sleeping in days. Anyone can benefit from just having more usable hours in a day.

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

luckylion 4y ago

Is it fair to say that stimulants having a significant impact is an indicator for having ADHD? If it wasn't basically impossible to see a psychiatrist where I live, I'd try to get tested, because Armodafinil has completely changed my life.

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
corobo 4y ago
> Is it fair to say that stimulants having a significant impact is an indicator for having ADHD? Honestly I'd say it's the opposite. Stimulants barely touch the sides with me, even the non-prescribed types a younger version of me may or may not have dabbled in were pretty ineffective.
- luckylion 4y ago
  They don't work for you, I take it? I had read about how stimulants don't do much for the average person and that much of it is placebo. I know they do a lot for me -- well, Modafinil/Armodafinil does, I haven't tried any other because I'm so happy with these. I feel lucky I have something that works, I don't mind not having a diagnosis. It'd make sourcing them easier and free, but at $2 a pill and with the multiplier effect it has on my productivity, that doesn't even register. I hope you've found other ways to improve your experience.
  - corobo 4y ago
    I had thought the dosage I'm on was working and then I lost a freelance client after slipping too far behind schedule. Decent pay it was as well, cleared a bunch of the debt I'm lugging around. ADHD tax haha, it is what it is. Waiting on an appointment to review the meds
    - luckylion 4y ago
      That sucks, hopefully you'll find some that work better. It used to be kind of like that for me, though me feeling guilty to let people down usually made me fight to barely make it. It's day and night now, I just sit down in the morning and get to work. It helps that they let me hunt squirrels as long as I make enough progress on the main topics, but even things where the work is super boring you just need to put the hours in is now just "okay, works for me" where it would have been a week of agonizing start, work 30 minutes, pause for 3 hours. I've been more productive in the past two years than I have been in the ten years before that.