While Class 12 students in the country are gearing up for entrance examinations to secure a seat in top-notch colleges and universities, the stress is immeasurable. Experts say that this makes them consume over the counter (OTC) drugs and caffeinated products to stay awake during the nights to prepare for their exams. These ‘anti-sleeping’ pills are usually prescribed by doctors to treat oversleeping issues and other sleep disorders like narcolepsy.
As per the media reports, in a recent incident in Lucknow, a Class 10 student consumed ‘anti-sleeping’ pills or drugs along with coffee during the nights to prepare for the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) examinations. This led the student to undergo brain surgery due to the overdose of the pills.
Some of these drugs or pills are used by neurosciences experts to treat individuals who are in coma. “These pills are sold in over the counter. Misuse of these pills can lead to serious effects like erratic heart beats, sleep loss which in turn leads to strokes,” says Dr Murali Mohan, senior consultant neurosurgeon and director of neurosciences, People Tree Hospitals, Bangalore.
He also said that students consuming these drugs can pass out anytime and are bound to have cardiac arrest and brain stroke.
Why are ‘anti-sleeping’ pills not recommended?
Wakefulness promoting drugs are strictly prescription medicines. These medications are invaluable in treating patients with excessive day time sleepiness specifically narcolepsy. They work in the brain altering hypocretin, orexin pathways (for setting a balance between wakefulness and sleepiness), says Dr Satyanarayana Mysore, sleep specialist, HOD of pulmonology, Manipal Hospitals, Bangalore.
“While these ‘anti-sleeping’ pills are necessary for treating narcolepsy, they should not be used or abused in conditions which they are not meant for. Growing minds of students, require restorative sleep including spells of dream stage,” he added.
He also said that promoting wakefulness and nullifying restorative sleep does not help the learning minds to retain information or better memory and does not lead to increased performance in the examination. He said that the studies have shown that if you revise a particular paragraph of the syllabus—within 24 hours or trying to voluntarily recall can lead to better retention of the memory.
‘Taking anti-sleeping’ pills in excess can lead to cardiac arrythmia and these pills will not allow individuals to stay calm or peaceful, says Dr Vikram Huded, senior consultant interventional neurologist and chief of neurology, Narayana Health Institute of Neurosciences, Bangalore. “Students will end up being inattentive and strictly not advised during the exams,” he said.
Risk factors of ‘anti-sleeping’ pills
There are multiple risk factors when these ‘anti-sleeping’ pills are used in overdose, says Dr Abdul Aziz Riyaz, consultant neurosurgeon, Sagar Hospitals, Bangalore. While highlighting the risk factors, he said that these pills are also prescribed for neurological recovery in individuals where the brain is not functioning to its full capacity. “Hence, to keep your brain alert and function as a stimulant to brain, these pills are recommended by closely monitoring the individuals.”
Hyponatremia
This is a condition when the concentration of sodium in your blood is abnormally low. Excessive doses of these pills reduces the sodium levels. When this happens, the water content in your body rises and your cells begin to swell. This leads to cerebral edema.
Cerebral edema
The swelling of the brain occurs due to overdoses. Since the brain is protected by the skull, there’s no space for it to swell more and it starts compressing the brain.
High blood pressure
These pills lead to fluctuations in BP and affect the overall functioning of the body.
Prepare effectively for exams sans pills
As students strive to meet their academic goals, they may not be aware of the effects that ‘anti-sleeping’ pills can have on their mental and physical health, according to Dr Manoj Kumar Sharma, Professor of Clinical Psychology, SHUT clinic (Service for Healthy use of Technology), National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore. He said that time management, adequate distribution of syllabus content, avoiding late night studies and taking “me time” is important for students during the exam.
As an academician professor, principal of RV College of Engineering (RVCE), KN Subramanya says that the problem lies in the students’ where they procrastinate their study time from the start of the academic year, resulting in unnecessary stress. “They should also start group studies and engage with peers for better performance in exams,” he said. Engaging with faculty time to time helps clear any confusion prior to the exam time.
Doctors do not prescribe pills for exams, as they do not recommend any medical advice. Dr R Narasimha pediatrician said, “Instead, we provide various tips and tricks to students to help them stay positive and eat well before the exams.”
However, Dr Mysore said that the pharmaceuticals industry, medical professionals, regulatory bodies should try to bring these drugs under Scheduled Act and should be strictly prescription-based medicines.
Takeaways
- Experts recommend not to consume over the counter (OTC) drugs and caffeinated products to stay awake during the nights to prepare for the exams. These ‘anti-sleeping’ pills are usually prescribed by doctors to treat oversleeping issues and other sleep disorders like narcolepsy.
- ‘Taking anti-sleeping’ pills in excess can lead to cardiac arrhythmia and these pills will not allow individuals to stay calm or peaceful.
- Experts recommend time management, adequate distribution of syllabus content, avoiding late night studies and taking “me time” for students during the exam.
- Pharmaceuticals industry, medical professionals, regulatory bodies should try to bring these drugs under Scheduled Act and should be strictly prescription-based medicines, say experts.
