How far would you go to get the grade? Is it really possible to forget the good old fashioned tutors in favour of a brain boosting wonder drug? Welcome to a chemistry lesson you might want to listen to.

Nootroptics are known as smart drugs, the steroids for your brain that improve mental function, concentration, and memory. These drugs are usually prescribed to people with cognitive difficulties, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). They are used ‘off label’, as you want, when you want, an unsupervised lifestyle choice. They work by changing your levels of neurochemicals (things like neurotransmitters, enzymes and hormones), so you’re left with an improved oxygen supply and your nerve growth is stimulated.

Think about a cocktail of a Red Bull and strong black coffee that packs one hell of a punch. Knowing their potential brain boosting effects, online sellers have cottoned on to their money making potential as University students buckle down to hardcore study. A quarter of college students in the US have already bought into their promised concentration and memory increasing potential. But is it worth UK students believing the hype? Will a quick fix brain makeover really help our chances when the inevitable exams arrive?

We should be aware that the intense marketing strategies of these companies may not compare with the effects of the drugs in your future mental health. According to the Department of Health, buying several of these drugs from illegal organisations is not against the law, as they are legal. You can buy many of them without being arrested.

The problem is that most have not been formally tested. Obviously the main concern with the use of these drugs is their long term effects. Basically, doctors advise against their use if not prescribed for a medical condition. The research boffs say they’re highly addictive and impossible to ban.

After all, these are chemical substances and not the new coffee – after use they can make you feel like you’ve been on a bender. To be honest, if you’re buying them off a website you often won’t have a clue what you’re really getting.

It’s an ethical debate that rages on between the fairness of drug use on other students, as well as the person using the drug. One A-level student commented on this in a recent article for The Times: “On Ritalin and Modafinil, no matter what you’re doing, you’re interested. I studied politics, which usually I couldn’t give a toss about. Four hours in, you have the choice to work or not, and you prefer to work. I screwed around all year and then worked really hard for my exams – on drugs. Some say it’s cheating, but it’s not like in sport, where you can be banned for taking steroids.”

Nootropics can have dangerous side effects. They have the ability to speed up or slow down the brain’s natural response and brain activity when you take them. The result? A gradual shut down and irregularity in your brain’s normal functions and possibly an addiction to boot.

There is also the danger of developing Serotonin Syndrome, a reaction to recreational use or an overdose of particular drugs that is potentially life threatening. Symptoms of this could occur within minutes of ingesting a drug and consist of an increased heart rate, shivering, sweating, and over responsive reflexes, amongst others. There is also a danger of heart and organ failure because of the effects on your heart, liver, and kidneys.

There are 27 different types of smart drugs in the UK currently. These drugs allegedly increase your mental capacity at exam time, but will their super brain effects give you superhuman health in the long term?

It is always risky to take prescription drugs without consulting a doctor first, and smart drugs are no exception. These drugs are only intended for use in relation to certain medical conditions, and are not meant to be used as a study aid. With the full extent of the health effects of these drugs on healthy individuals unknown, if you use smart drugs you are playing games with your health.

So what’s the bottom line? It might seem that the use of smart drugs would be worth it for some people during tough revision sessions or when you are pulling an all nighter. But when all the effects of these drugs are still not known, is it really worth risking your health in the long run for a few extra hours of study?

Substance Name: Red Bull

Street Name: The energy drink that “gives you wings.”

Cost: 24 cans at £24.34 if you really wanted an online bargain.

What it does: Pretty much what it says on the can, a combination of taurine, caffeine, B vitamins, sucrose and glucose. It keeps you wired and alert. It’s used by students worldwide for a bit of a caffeine kick when they’re pulling an all nighter.

Side effects: The main side effects are impacts on your heart and circulation. It increases the risk of coronary disease, and isn’t the best idea for you to have if you have blood pressure problems or atherosclerotic disease.

Substance Name: Modafinil

Cost: £10 for 10 pills.

What it does: “Does for drowsiness what Prozac did for depression.” It’s the most used smart drug on university campuses, and is a stimulant that works like coffee. It stimulates the brain’s productivity so much that it leaves you feeling awake without feeling wired like Ritalin does. It turns off your need to sleep and usually works for about 48 hours.

Side effects: Insomnia, decreased appetite, anxiety, headache and rapid heartbeat. There are very few statistics on the effects of this drug., and its long term effects have not been assessed in healthy individuals.

How do the two main smart drugs measure up to the most used student staple, Red Bull?

Substance Name: Ritalin/Methylphenidate

Street Name: Vitamin R

Cost: £58 for 10 pills.

What it does: It is normally used to treat children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or Narcolepsy. Ritalin is closely related to the illegal street drugs Methamphetamine, street name “crystal meth.” As a stimulant, it increases the levels of Dopamine in your brain, enabling you to have enhanced pleasure, movement or attention. It is classified as a class B drug, meaning you can be arrested if you are taking it without a prescription.

Side effects: Fast, pounding or uneven heartbeats, feeling like you might pass out, fever, sore throat and headache with severe blistering, peeling or a red skin rash, aggression, restlessness, hallucinations, unusual behaviour, or motor tics (muscle twitches). Some experts say that the drug can become addictive so should only be used for the condition it was prescribed for.