SMART DRUGS: EFFECTS AND USAGE

WHAT ARE SMART DRUGS?

A smart drug can be defined as a pharmacological substance used for the induction of improvement in numerous cognition facets like memory and attention. A number of pharmacological interventions have the purpose of bringing improvements in cognition in particular neurological and psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder (ADHD), and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). As a consequence, enhancement of cognition leads to a better quality of life as the individual is able to improve his/her functional outcomes. For this reason, both young and aged healthy populations around the world are considering the attainment of enhanced cognition through the employment of smart drugs (Stolerman, 2010).

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ANIRACETAM VS PIRACETAM: DIFFERENCE, DOSAGE AND STACK

ANIRACETAM VS PIRACETAM: INTRODUCTION

There is a very special category of drugs called Nootropics. The more common public nameis “Smart Drugs”. These drugs literally enhance overall brain function and health. This can be incredibly beneficial in the treatment of serious conditions and disease that disable and physically damage the brain. Nootropics can be beneficial in the treatment of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as repair damage brain tissue resulting from traumatic injuries. Nootropics are generally free of serious negative side effects and are not toxic when used well above proper dosages, albeit that is not recommended (South, 2014). Nootropics, like aniracetam and piracetam, may not affect every person in the same ways. What makes nootropics more versatile than other treatments is that the different nootropics can be used in tandem, at the same time. There appears to be no adverse effect from the mixing, in fact, it only helps to highlight each one individual focus and contribution. Two nootropics often combined are Aniracetam and Piracetam.

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AMPAKINES: THE EFFECTS OF NOOTROPICS

AMPAKINES: THE EFFECTS OF NOOTROPICS

AMPAKINES

AMPAkines are benzamide compounds which are a class of agents that modulate the activity of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA) receptors in post-synaptic neurons (Samartgis et al., 2012). Aniracetam, piracetam, sunifiram, unifiram, cyclothiazide, CX717, IDRA-21, CX516, CX546, and BDP are some of the drugs classified as AMPAkines. They are also referred to as nootropics or cognitive enhancers because of their effect on neurotransmission that, in turn, has been shown to positively affect memory and learning.

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OXIRACETAM VS PRAMIRACETAM: DOSAGE, SIDE EFFECTS AND BENEFITS

OXIRACETAM VS PRAMIRACETAM: INTRODUCTION

There is a very special category of drugs, kindly referred to as “Smart Drugs,” called Nootropics. These types of drugs have, through a number of different means, are able to enhance memory, recall, cognitive and concentration on tasks at hand, particularly in people who suffer from conditions like dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and varied instances of brain trauma, either through injury or disease. Research has determined that the bulk of nootropics are non-toxic, are beneficial, and carry few if any side effects that anyone need be concerned with, when taken in correct doses. In fairness, however, while research into these drugs has been consistent since the 1960s, there are still some aspects of nootropics that remain a mystery to experts. For example nootropics, like many drugs, does not affect every single person in the exact same ways with the same doses of the same substance. However, the majority of research is positive and promising. Two of the most common nootropics are Oxiracetam and Pramiracetam; understanding how they are similar and different requires a closer comparison.

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SMART DRUGS: EFFECTS AND USAGE

WHAT ARE SMART DRUGS?

A smart drug can be defined as a pharmacological substance used for the induction of improvement in numerous cognition facets like memory and attention. A number of pharmacologic interventions have the purpose of bringing improvements in cognition, in particular, neurological and psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder (ADHD), and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). As a consequence, enhancement of cognition leads to a better quality of life as the individual can improve his or her functional outcomes. For this reason, both young and aged healthy populations around the world are considering the attainment of enhanced cognition through the employment of smart drugs (Stolerman, 2010).

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MODAFINIL VS ADDERALL: COMPARISONS

MODAFINIL VS ADDERALL: SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES

SIMILARITIES

Modafinil and Adderall (amphetamine) are psychostimulants indicated for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy, and sleep disorders arising from shift work (Steiner & Van Waes, 2013). Adderall and modafinil act on the norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), and serotonin (5-HT) transporters significantly boosting the amount of extracellular monoamines in the central nervous system (Natarajan & Yamamoto, 2011). They reverse or inhibit the reuptake of these three neurotransmitters to achieve prolonged action. Transporter inhibition leads to the release of monoamine stores inside neurons that also amplify wakefulness, memory, and attention (Wood et al., 2013).

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ADRAFINIL VS MODAFINIL: COMPARISON, EFFECTS AND DOSAGE

Adrafinil vs Modafinil: Similarities

Modafinil and adrafinil are or were used to treat the same medical conditions, namely narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia, and obstructive sleep apnea (Dubey et al., 2009). In addition, adrafinil was administered to elderly individuals in France until 2011 to enhance mental functioning (Docherty, 2008). Meanwhile, modafinil is being investigated as an off-label treatment of ADHD (Kim, 2012). Both, however, are classified as psychostimulants and are available in forms suitable for oral intake. Modafinil and adrafinil are nearly alike in chemical structure except that adrafinil is a precursor drug to modafinil (Rao et al., 2008). Once administered, adrafinil is transformed by the liver into modafinil so that both drugs produce the same active metabolite which is modafinilic acid (Dubey et al., 2009). They belong to the same class of monoaminomimetic agents, or those that influence monoamine re-uptake and release, known as alpha-1 adrenergic agonists.

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