![]() In an exciting collaboration between the University of Cambridge, Department of Psychiatry and the Imperial College London, Division of Surgery, it has recently been discovered that the ‘smart drug’ Modafinil improves cognitive flexibility and reduces impulsivity in sleep deprived doctors. Given the continued need for innovation in this area, pharmacological methods could conceivably be used to combat fatigue at some time in the future. Indeed, fatigued doctors risk making poor judgements and committing serious medical errors. ![]() Therefore, it is useful to examine whether there are more effective cognitive enhancers, with fewer detrimental side effects, for those whose failures in attention, concentration and problem solving may lead to deleterious effects, including jeopardy of safety in the military arena, or serious adverse events during operations.Īlthough measures to reduce doctors’ working hours have been implemented in both the United Sates and Europe, surgeons performing long, arduous operations remain susceptible to the effects of fatigue, and frequent transitions from day to night work expose junior doctors to the risk of impaired psychomotor performance. For doctors there is the undesirable side-effect of tremors at the dose required for maximum effects (600mg), which is common. Why might this be? And how will it change our society? Are people using these drugs just realize their potential, or is it that pressures to perform in a globally competitive environment means that individuals’ feel that they cannot afford an ‘off day’ due to lack of sleep or stress? This is perhaps particularly true of certain professions, where there are issues of safety to oneself or others, such as the military, doctors, etc.Ĭaffeine is the current stimulant of use for many people, as it is widely available, and effective: however, its wakefulness-promoting effects are transient. ![]() There is an increasing lifestyle use of cognitive enhancing drugs, or smart drugs by healthy people. ![]()
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