Test Takers Turn to Medication to Ease CSAT Anxiety... Warning Issued Over Indenol Misuse

With the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) scheduled for November 13, some examinees are turning to medication in an attempt to ease their nerves. Driven by excessive anxiety and concerns that they may not perform to their full potential, students are considering taking drugs. However, experts warn that adolescents without underlying health conditions should be cautious, as taking such medication without proper guidance can lead to side effects.

On the 6th, one week before the 2026 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), art-focused students at Maechun High School in Buk-gu, Daegu, are hanging messages with phrases supporting senior examinees on a bulletin board. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

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Recently, posts about considering Indenol ahead of the CSAT have been appearing frequently in online communities for test-takers. One student wrote, "I have irritable bowel syndrome, so if I feel like I am running out of time during mock exams, I start to get stomach pains," adding, "My cousin recommended Indenol, calling it a 'CSAT drug' and an 'interview drug.' I heard it helps relieve anxiety and shortness of breath."

According to data obtained by Assemblywoman Choi Boyoon of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, Indenol was prescribed to children and adolescents under the age of 19 a total of 1,319,000 times over the past five years (2020 to August 2025). By year, the numbers were as follows: 154,737 cases in 2020, 196,123 in 2021, 235,925 in 2022, 250,918 in 2023, and 290,379 in 2024, showing a steady increase. The number of prescriptions last year was approximately 87.7% higher than in 2020. The spread of telemedicine is believed to have contributed to the increase in prescriptions for prescription-only drugs.

Although Indenol is a medication used to treat cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and arrhythmia, it has gained a reputation among students as an "anxiety-relief drug" or "CSAT drug." The Indenol package insert clearly states that its safety has not been established for those under 19 years old and that it should not be administered to this age group. Reported side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, headache, and hypotension.

Additionally, there have been cases where students have mistaken methylphenidate, a medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as a "concentration-boosting drug" and considered taking it. While methylphenidate can stimulate the central nervous system and improve concentration, misuse or abuse without a medical diagnosis can cause side effects such as headaches, insomnia, and anxiety. In rare cases, symptoms such as hallucinations and aggressive behavior may also occur.

On the 3rd, ten days before the 2026 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), Buddhists are praying at Gatbawi on Palgongsan Mountain in Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk. Photo by Yonhap News

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Although the sale of drugs targeting students' anxiety has long been a concern, related advertisements are still rampant online. In particular, on social networking services (SNS), there are numerous posts promoting food and drug products with phrases such as "memory improvement for examinees," "study-enhancing drug," and "ADHD medication."

Parents are also making inquiries about "supplements for examinees." Through online communities, parents are posting questions such as, "Please recommend a supplement that helps with concentration for examinees," "Is there a supplement to take right before the CSAT?" and "What medicine can reduce fatigue?" As information exchange about relieving anxiety and managing condition becomes more active, products with unproven claims are also spreading by word of mouth.

Amid this, there are also many advertisements making exaggerated claims about efficacy. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety recently reviewed online posts advertising or selling food and drug products using phrases such as "supplements for examinees" and "ADHD medication," and identified 773 violations. The main violations included 29 cases (64.4%) of false or exaggerated advertising claiming unapproved functions such as "memory improvement (enhancement)," and 13 cases (28.9%) of advertising that misleads general food products as health functional foods such as "supplements for examinees." Notably, there were 728 online posts illegally selling, brokering, or advertising methylphenidate products, an ADHD medication.

Meanwhile, in the period leading up to the CSAT, it is important for students to maintain psychological stability and a regular daily routine. Experts advise that to relieve tension, students can benefit from slow, deep abdominal breathing or by sticking to their familiar study routines as usual.

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