Harm caused by the use of lisdexamfetamine to increase the academic performance of medical students: integrative review

Authors

  • Beatriz Gordilho Bacos Universidade Santo Amaro (UNISA), São Paulo, SP
  • Valentina Colombo Bergamini Universidade Santo Amaro (UNISA), São Paulo, SP
  • Frank Menezes Rodrigues Universidade Metodista de São Paulo (UMESP) – São Bernardo, SP
  • Danyelle Cristine Marini Centro Universitário das Faculdades Associadas de Ensino (UNIFAE), São João da Boa Vista – SP
  • Cleidivan Alves dos Santos Universidade Federal do Delta do Parnaíba (UFDPar), Parnaíba
  • Bianca Lorayne de Almeida Viana Universidade Santo Amaro (UNISA), São Paulo, SP
  • Ana Paula de Vasconcelos Universidade Paulista (UNIP), São Paulo
  • Francisco Sandro Menezes Rodrigues Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37497/JMRReview.v3i00.57

Keywords:

Attention-deficit, Hyperactivity disorder, lisdexamfetamine, university students, legal drugs, indiscriminate use of psychostimulants

Abstract

Lisdexamfetamine (LIS) is a central nervous system stimulant used to treat Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), improving attention, concentration and reducing hyperactivity. However, it is important to highlight that the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA), the regulatory body for medicines in Brazil, does not recognize the efficacy and safety of LIS outside of its indications contained in the medicine leaflet and, in addition, the inappropriate use of this substance becomes a risk factor for the occurrence of anxiety, cardiac arrhythmias and glaucoma. This is an integrative literature review carried out in PubMed, LILACS and SciELO databases searching the descriptors “Lisdexamfetamine”, “ADHD”, and “Students”. Around 23.3% of medical students use these substances to overcome fatigue and improve performance, with Ritalin and Venvanse being the most common. However, 57.1% use these medications without a prescription or diagnosis of ADHD, obtaining them illegally. In general, all medications should only be used after medical evaluation and verification of real need, however, in the case of psychostimulants, caution must be even greater. Therefore, it is crucial to raise awareness among patients who are not diagnosed with ADHD about the long and short-term implications of self-medication with LIS, seeking to combat this public health problem.

Author Biographies

Beatriz Gordilho Bacos , Universidade Santo Amaro (UNISA), São Paulo, SP

School of Medicine, Universidade Santo Amaro (UNISA), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Valentina Colombo Bergamini , Universidade Santo Amaro (UNISA), São Paulo, SP

1School of Medicine, Universidade Santo Amaro (UNISA), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Frank Menezes Rodrigues, Universidade Metodista de São Paulo (UMESP) – São Bernardo, SP

Universidade Metodista de São Paulo (UMESP) – São Bernardo, SP, Brazil.

Danyelle Cristine Marini, Centro Universitário das Faculdades Associadas de Ensino (UNIFAE), São João da Boa Vista – SP

Department of Medicine, Centro Universitário das Faculdades Associadas de Ensino (UNIFAE), São João da Boa Vista – SP, Brasil.

Cleidivan Alves dos Santos, Universidade Federal do Delta do Parnaíba (UFDPar), Parnaíba

Universidade Federal do Delta do Parnaíba (UFDPar), Parnaíba, PI, Brazil.

Bianca Lorayne de Almeida Viana, Universidade Santo Amaro (UNISA), São Paulo, SP

School of Medicine, Universidade Santo Amaro (UNISA), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Ana Paula de Vasconcelos, Universidade Paulista (UNIP), São Paulo

Universidade Paulista (UNIP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Francisco Sandro Menezes Rodrigues , Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo

Postgraduate Program in Cardiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil. 7Postgraduate Program in Interdisciplinary Surgical Science, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

References

Teter, C.; McCabe, S.E.; LaGrange, K.; Cranford, J.A.; Boyd, C.J. Illicit use of specific prescription stimulants among college students: prevalence, motives, and routes of administration. Pharmacotherapy 2006, 26, 1501-1510.

Nabar, M.J.M.; Algieri, R.D.; Dogliotti, C.B.; Gazzothi, A.M.; Jiménez-Villarruel, H.N.; Rey, L.M. The use of psychoactive substances in Anatomy students and its implication in learning. Educ Med 2011, 14, 129-132.

Barros, D.; Ortega, F. Methylphenidate and pharmacological cognitive enhancement: social representations of university students. Saúde Soc 2011, 20, 350-362.

Repantis, D.; Schlattmann, P.; Laisney, O.; Heuser, I. Modafinil and methylphenidate for neuroenhancement in healthy individuals: a systematic review. Pharmacol Res 2010, 62, 187-206.

Arria, A.; Wish, E.D. Nonmedical use of prescription stimulants among students. Pediatric Ann 2006, 35, 565-571.

Habibzadeh, A.; Alizadeh, M.; Malek, A.; Maghbooli, L.; Shoja, M.M.; Ghalibi, K. Illicit methylphenidate use among Iranian medical students: prevalence and knowledge. Drug Des Devel Ther 2011, 5, 71-76.

Urrego, M.; Orozco, L.A.; Montoya, L.B.; Soto, L.B.; Velasquez, D.V.C.; Castrillon, J.J.C.; Rocha, B.C.C.; Serna, J.C.; Sandoval, K.S.T.; Arango, C. Use of amphetamines to improve the academic performance in students of the University of Manizales, 2008. Arch Med (Manizales) 2009, 9, 43-57.

Bogle, K.E.; Smith, B.H. Illicit methylphenidate use: a review of prevalence, availability, pharmacology, and consequences. Curr Drug Abuse Rev 2009, 2, 157-176.

Lucas, A.C.S.; Parente, R.C.P.; Picanço, N.S.; Conceição, D.A.; da Costa, K.R.C.; Magalhães, I.R.S.; Siqueira, J.C.A. Use of psychoactive drugs by health sciences undergraduate students at the Federal University in Amazonas, Brazil. Cad Saúde Pública 2006, 22, 663-671.

International Narcotics Control Board. Psychotropic substances: statistics for 2006, assessments of annual medical and scientific requirements for substances. United Nations: New York, United States, 2006. Available online: http://www.incb.org (accessed on 31 December 2023).

Itaborahy, C.; Ortega, F. Methylphenidate in Brazil: a decade of publications. Ciênc Saúde Coletiva 2013, 18, 803-816.

Downloads

Published

2024-04-23

How to Cite

Bacos , B. G., Bergamini , V. C., Rodrigues, F. M., Marini, D. C., Alves dos Santos, C., Almeida Viana, B. L. de, Vasconcelos, A. P. de, & Rodrigues , F. S. M. (2024). Harm caused by the use of lisdexamfetamine to increase the academic performance of medical students: integrative review. Journal of Medical Residency Review, 3(00), e057. https://doi.org/10.37497/JMRReview.v3i00.57

Most read articles by the same author(s)