{"id":103677,"date":"2019-09-27T16:27:21","date_gmt":"2019-09-27T14:27:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=103677"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:24:29","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:24:29","slug":"study-drugs-are-overpriced-rubbish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2019\/09\/27\/study-drugs-are-overpriced-rubbish\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Study drugs are overpriced rubbish’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Study drugs come in all shapes and sizes, but they all promise the same thing: a concentration boost thanks to caffeine and other active ingredients. It\u2019s a promise that sways many students, but do any of these drugs – for sale in both the campus supermarket and the Studystore shop – actually work?<\/p>\n

\"\"

The study buddies are for sale for about 12 euro at both Spar supermarket and Studystore shop. <\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEsther Dijkstra<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

No, says Marcel Bouvy, professor of pharmaceutical sciences at Utrecht University, in the Dutch daily Telegraaf<\/em>. \u201cNo one has ever been able to prove that these pills boost concentration. People are looking for a miracle cure that doesn\u2019t exist.\u201d Not mincing words, he goes on to describe the popular pills as \u2018overpriced rubbish\u2019 and \u2018quackery\u2019.<\/p>\n

The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority has also taken a decidedly sceptical stance on the supposed magical properties of such pills. \u201cWe don\u2019t recommend taking study drugs,\u201d the organisation<\/a> writes on its website, stating that the pills could even be harmful if they contain too many vitamins, minerals or herbs.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the pills\u2019 manufacturers remain firmly behind their product, referring to studies which they say prove the efficacy of the drugs\u2019 active ingredients. According to the Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, however, the active ingredients in study drugs are also found in a normal, healthy diet. And a cup of coffee or two (don\u2019t go crazy now) can also do wonders for your concentration.<\/p>\n\n\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t

De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t