[super.senpai]

saw an episode of Silicon valley about a child prodigy programmer who needed ritalin to perform at a stellar level. recently ritalin was mentioned again, amongst college students, at my local barber shop. Just curious… obviously if the individual has prescriptions for it then no harm or foul. however, curious to know how many people (who don’t need the prescription) taking the exams are taking ritalin for that competitive edge.

BEC: 72,72, 77
AUD: 47, 63

[stamata]

Whatever you take, be careful. I know some people who take it who are fine. They only take it once in a while so it doesn't seem to affect their overall well being. But like someone else on this thread said, it can make you go nuts if you depend on it. One of my friends from college got prescribed vyvanse (she didn't need it, she apparently lied to her doctor and from what I head it's pretty damn easy to get a prescription) and she went pretty crazy. She used it to lose weight (30-40 pounds in less than a year (she wasn't a big girl to start with, but now she is skin and bones..) and to focus on school/job. She is a pretty intense compulsive liar now who is obsessed with herself and getting ahead. Make sure you EAT when you're on it for health's sake, don't take it regularly, and do not take it to party.

AUD - 76
BEC - 86
FAR - 78
REG -73, 69, 86! DONE

[Anonymous]

I think the important thing for you all to remember is that the drugs being discussed here are only useful because they mess with your mind. I've had a doctor straight-up tell me they don't know how a drug will affect you until you take it. So, you're willingly having your mind manipulated by an outside source (this pill) that is “most likely” to have a certain result, but you don't know for sure. Before taking any kind of mind-altering drug, I urge you to research it thoroughly. Read many many accounts of how it affected people (more than the handful of people in this thread). Learn what the worst-case scenario is and decide if it's worth that to you. For some drugs, the worst long-term side effects for 99% of people might be gaining nervous ticks – for others, they might be complete changes in attitude and strong addiction. It's up to you to be informed about what's going into your body. Don't risk the rest of your life in order to pass an exam sooner or easier.

That being said, though, for people who truly have a problem, there are some medications that can truly do wonders to help them. If you never had a problem before the CPA exams, then I doubt that you truly have a problem…but if you do truly have a problem, then seeking medical assistance could be very valuable for you.

Just don't take any of this lightly.

[TiffaNiffaNi]

@mikiluv

You can probably get ADD meds relatively easily from a primary care doc. Modafinil, on the other hand, at least as I understand it, is almost always only prescribed for narcolepsy and (off-label) multiple sclerosis (and parkinsons, etc.)

FAR: 7/17/14- 79
AUD: 8/20/14- 91
REG: 10/1/14- 88
BEC: 11/10/14- 85

Becker Self-Study

[wannabeCPA123]

I don't think that meds are needed to pass an exam like this bro.

FAR 78
REG 87
BEC 78
AUD 78
Passed all exams on first try! Good luck to everyone!

[Mjganier]

I have narcolepsy and the most I can take is B12. Stimulants don't agree with me well, coffee included. Any time I feel a nap coming on, I just give in and sleep for 20-30 minutes and it's usually all I need to keep going. Both Adderall and Modafinil kept me on edge, gave me the jitters, and my heart to race/flutter a lot. I do have some damn good sleep meds though and without that I wouldn't be able to function at all.

FAR 8/18/2014--87
AUD 10/18/2014--78
REG 11/24/2014--76
BEC 2/28/2015--76

"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough"-Albert Einstein

Study Mats: Cpaexcel study text and EQ, Ninja MCQ, Ninja notes

[mikiluv]

As DESPERATE and tempted as I feel, I guess I shouldnt abuse these medications if I truly do not have an problem. I think I'll still think about it after I try out my new method of studying………………….until then, good luck to you all!

[Valerie_Jo]

I think there's something seriously wrong with a person who wants to take a medication they're not medically in need of. Really people….just study and pass the exams. It sucks, but just do it. Stop looking for an easy way out.

FAR: 84
BEC: 88
REG: 33 (winged it, bad plan), 77
AUD: 72 ,72, 81 FINALLY DONE!!!!!!

WI Ethics Exam Passed - 92!!!!

Licensed CPA in WI

[mla1169]

I'm just amazed by the ease of getting ones hands on Adderall. I am diagnosed ADD but had to see my primary care, a psychiatrist AND a neurologist to get a unanimous diagnosis.

Interesting article below, seems like amphetamines have more a placebo affect than people are willing to acknowledge.

https://healthland.time.com/2010/12/21/adderall-may-not-make-you-smarter-but-it-makes-you-think-you-are/

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[M.O.D.]

I am weary of reading the title of this thread.

You should all know that Riatlin is a powerful amphetamine, and is considered a controlled substance, ie a drug, and you could all end up with drug convictions if you get a hold of it and use it without a prescription.

BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
CMA I 420, II 470
FAR 91, AUD Feb 2015 (Gleim self-study)

[Mr. Dim]

This thread blows my mind. Disclose my controlled substance abuse on a public internet forum? I'll pass.

FAR - 95
AUD - 98
REG - 92
BEC - 10/4/14

[Guti]

I guess some of you guys live in Disney World if you think gifted students with almost perfect scores on their SATs do not take Ritalin or Modafinil. I have family members and friends who went to MIT,GA tech, and Oxford, and according to them about 25% of students from these three universities take either Ritalin or Modafinil just to compete with the other already gifted students who are taking all these prescriptions they don’t need. Lets not talk about Nootropics like Phenylpiracetam,Noopet, and Piracetam cause then the percentage of users go up to 60%.

FAR-84
AUD-
REG-
BEC-

[mla1169]

who in this thread said they don't think OTHER people take controlled substances without a prescription? Pretty sure that much is common knowledge.

1560 on my SATs LONG LONG LONG before anybody ever started taking meds for adhd and probably before half of you were born.

Live in Disneyworld? count me in!

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Mr. Dim]

The popularity of these drugs doesn't make their abuse any more legal. All I'm saying is the prudent speed-junky CPA candidate would not want to publicly disclose such information.

FAR - 95
AUD - 98
REG - 92
BEC - 10/4/14

[taxman89]

“other people are doing it” is never a good reason to do something illegal/wrong.

Aud-75 3x I knew i never liked you
Bec-77 1x being in the bubble is stressful
Reg-82 4x its not me its you...and no we cant be friends
Far-78 1x easiest section

[Anonymous]

I think of some you older folks would be amazed/bewildered/disgusted by what goes on during finals weeks at large state institutions. Scratch that, any recognized and accredited university in which competitive students enroll.

[Author]

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