Overuse of so-called "smart pills" such as Ritalin and Modafinil are harmful to students' health, experts say. Photo: IC

Gao Hong (pseudonym), an 18-year-old senior at a high school in Hefei, Anhui Province, bought 10 pills of Modafinil at 100 yuan ($15.2) in a WeChat online shop in May. A drug that is used to treat hypersomnia or excessive sleeping, Modafinil has recently gained popularity as "smart pills" among high school students in China.



Gao said she purchased the pills because many of her friends were talking about "smart pills," and she hoped they could help increase her concentration while studying.



"Of course, I don't 100 percent trust them, but I just [took a chance] since I want to get into a good university so much," she said.



Her hopes were however dashed when, instead of becoming smarter, she began to feel anxious and sleepy.



As the College Entrance Examination (also known as gaokao) approaches, so-called "smart pills" have gone viral. More and more parents are turning to them for help in the hope that their kids can get better grades. But experts warn that the pills mostly contain psychotropic drugs and can be detrimental to the students' health.



According to a Chinanews report on May 24, the Anhui Food and Drug Administration said that in most cases, the "smart pills" are mostly Ritalin and Modafinil, which are used to treat depression and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).



The pills stimulate the central nervous system and promote wakefulness, which could be one reason students might think they have "magical powers," but they do not strengthen memory or improve one's IQ.



Also, if taken long term, the pills can cause nervousness, anxiety, headaches, insomnia and even mental disorders like social anxiety disorder and panic attacks.



The sale of "smart pills" is rather covert; deals are usually made in an obscure way, which makes the trade hard to police, a May 16 Beijing Youth Daily report said. Most sellers get Ritalin and Modafinil from Europe and the US. The drugs are classified as strictly-regulated prescription drugs both in China and abroad.



Zheng Yulong, the president of the Zheng Yulong Nutrition Center and a famous dietitian in Qingdao, Shandong Province, said, "A balanced and varied dietary structure is much more effective than any drug."



He advised candidates to have more seafood, lean meat, egg, yogurt, and milk, which provide fine protein and therefore could fight against sleepiness. Fresh vegetables and fruits should also be considered, as Kalium and Magnesium could help relieve the students' anxiety, reduce the risk of hypertension and regulate gastrointestinal function, Zhang said.



"It's important to improve the proportion of roughage in students' diet because B vitamins and fiber can help revitalize brain cells, thereby helping them stay focused for a longer time," he said.



Gao, for her part, has given up the quick fix approach to studying and has written off "smart pills."



"I will not take the smart pills anymore in the future because they make me feel sleepy and even anxious," she said. "I realize that there's no shortcut, and a healthy lifestyle, including proper diet, work, and rest, is the real answer to a good performance in gaokao."