Highly caffeinated drinks like Red Bull and coffee might not help students as much as they think this week. Health professionals are warning too much caffeine can actually be counterproductive.

Lacy Grotheer, international and area studies senior, said she doesn’t like to drink coffee, but uses it to help her stay awake.

“Last night I had three cups in an hour,” she said.

Caffeine can temporarily increase alertness because it stimulates the central nervous system, said Maggie Pool, Health Promotion Coordinator at Goddard Health Center.

Coffee has more caffeine than any other stimulating beverage, according to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Web site. Each cup of traditionally brewed java contains between 65 and 120 milligrams of caffeine.

Senior Chris Zoski said he has studied for weeks non-stop for many of his finals during his college career. When he has those types of finals, he resorts to caffeine, he said.

“I rely on Mountain Dew mainly,” he said. “I love Mountain Dew.”

Most people can handle up to 300 milligrams of caffeine a day without a problem, Pool said, but too much caffeine can cause anxiety, dizziness and “jitters.” Extreme cases can include an overdose of caffeine, which may cause nausea and vomiting.

There is no specific treatment for caffeine overdose, and if students develop any of these symptoms they should stop caffeine consumption immediately and drink plenty of water, she said.

“Eating may also help alleviate the symptoms as well,” Pool said.

In the event of overestimation, the uncomfortable symptoms should go away on their own, but if they persist, students should consult a health care provider, she said.

Too much caffeine can also interfere with a normal night’s sleep, which is counterproductive to the effective methods for staying energized during crunch time, Pool said.

Students should maintain a healthy diet, exercise regularly and get adequate rest, she said.

If possible, Pool said students should avoid crunch time altogether.

“The healthiest option is to prepare effectively in advance and not delay studying until the last minute,” she said.

Desiree Reina-Ortiz, University College freshman, said she is trying to approach her first college finals experience with healthy study habits.

“I try not to get distracted,” she said. “I make a schedule and plan it out as much as I can so I won’t feel overwhelmed.”