Does Anyone Have a Problem with Aspartame (Equal/Nutrasweet)?

[Christine]

I'm very skeptical about some of the internet topics regarding aspartame "poisoning." However, when I read some of the physical and psychological issues that affect *some* people, I seem to fit in many of the categories.

One week ago I stopped using an Equal. I mainly used about 4-6 packets a day, plus one diet soda. So, I'm not a huge abuser of it. What got me thinking that I might have a problem with it is that when my son was home sick, I began drinking a lot more products with it (because I was home) and I had some issues with sleeping and my bladder, and in general not feeling well.

I don't even know why I use the stuff as I am not overweight.

I may have noticed some slight improvements but not sure yet as it has only been a week, plus I've been sick on top of it.

So, can anyone tell me what their experiences are? I realize the FDA says it's okay and doesn't cause cancer. That's not my concern here. I do know that people definitely have problems with it and that's what I want to hear about.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I used to use artificial sweetners, but since breast cancer I just use a little sugar if I want my drink sweetened. What made me change was the suggestions to do so made in most of the material I read on cancer. If I have a diet soda or somehow eat something with artificial sweetner, I don't worry about it, but when given a choice, I use sugar.

 

[CathrynRose]

My g/f's father died from a brain tumor a few years ago.

When they were frantic trying to find methods on trying to get rid of this weird brain cancer he had, they stumbled across time and again - the only thing tying these types of tumors to other people with these types of tumors, was excessive use of NutraSweet - Asparatame - Equal.

Now that being said - I use it. I dont have the side effects that some people do experience. Im not saying it is, or isnt poison. But generally if it makes you feel bad, odds are there's a reason - y'know?

 

[Blondie]

Back when Nutrasweet first came out, I'd have a diet coke with lunch every day and about an hour later, I'd get a horrific headache.

I read something in the newspaper about it affecting people that way, so I stopped drinking diet cokes and my headaches disappeared! Coincidence? I don't think so.

 

[ducklite]

My DH gets irritable as can be if he has too much or"The Blue Stuff".

Anne

 

[ADisneygirl]

Back in the 90's I used to drink diet soda all the time. I was getting these terrible headaches and the doctor I saw, after several tests, told me to keep a food diary. I did for two weeks and brought it in to him. He immediately cut out my soda consumption. Cold turkey. It was tough, but after 2-3 days I didn't have the headaches! Doctor said he suspected the artificial sweetener because he had read reports about it affecting others that same way.

Never drank another diet soda or ate anything with nutrasweet in it again. Never had that terrible headache again either! I am a sugar girl now, and if I want a soda I'll have a regular Coke.

 

[luvwinnie]

Triggers my migraines.

 

[MzDiz]

Too much aspartame gives me muscle ticks, neck spasms (those are reaaally strange) and nasty headaches.

 

[kpk89]

I used to drink a lot of diet soda, and then in college I started getting horrible migraine-like headaches. Missed like a week of class, had to have IV painkillers because nothing I took OTC worked, and had a head CT also because they couldn't understand why I had these headaches. It finally subsided to the point that I was able to go back to class.

When I went to talk to the prof for the "Food and People" class (one of those general ed requirements) to get the notes, etc. and explain why I was out, one of the lectures I had missed was about food additives and artificial sweeteners. He suggested that I give up the aspartame.

I did, and no more headaches. Amazing. When Splenda came out I thought that was my answer . It also caused headaches. I don't know why, but all I know is I'm all about the real sugar now. In moderation, sort of.

 

[laura001]

Years ago I was on the Nutrisystem diet and had a terrible reaction to the food and general malais, went to the Dr. and he told me that it was because of the nutrisweet etc. in the food. I went off of the food and felt better immediately.

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

I gave up the "pink stuff" a few years ago. I had a week of horrid headaches and now if I have any sort of fake sugar (pink, blue or yellow) I get an insta-migrane. I can taste it as soon as it hits my tounge.

I do know the rats who got cancer from it were given more fake sugar then anyone would ever consume in their lifetime. And for people who can't have sugar the fake sugar is great. But when it comes down to it, fake sugar (including Splenda) is composed of chemicals and it can't be that good for you.

I also lost about 10lbs in 2 weeks once I stopped using the pink stuff.

 

[goodeats]

I have one 12 oz diet coke a day and no more. Sometimes I also have a yogurt or something else that has aspartame. I don't really see any side effects that I know of, but I feel like I should quit. I do get headaches when I try to quit from the lack of caffeine. I just don't like the feeling that I'm addicted to something. I think this is more of a caffeine issue than a nutri-sweet issue.

My concerns with the nutri-sweet is that it could cause cancer down the road. I'm also concern that it causes cravings for real sugar. Maybe I'll quit tomorrow :>

 

[HaleyB]

If you want some good insight look up the testomony of the chemist that invented this stuff. He went before the FDA and begged them not to approve it for soft drinks. He said he would never allow his son to have any.

 

[Christine]

Well, I've been using Equal for many years. It started when I wanted to lose some weight. I drink about 2 cups of tea a day and then one soda. I figured that by cutting my sugar, I could shave off several hundred calories in one day.

I have had vague feelings of unwellness for years and never even thought about the aspartame until recently. As I said, I was home for about a week caring for my son and I think I just "doubled up" on the amount of Nutrasweet products I was consuming. I noticed that I was very achy, had lots of fatigue, and my bladder was irritated. Honestly, I don't know if I can pinpoint this to the Nutrasweet or not, I just know that I haven't felt really *well* in years and I thought I would give this a shot. Since I am sensitive to same many medications and other substances, why would I think this one would be any different??? I guess I'll know for sure in a few weeks. I haven't been having any headaches though. Well, I shouldn't say "any", just a few. But, then again, I used to one of those people that NEVER got a headache.

My biggest thing is tachycardia. For years, I've been having bouts of tachycardia, especially in the morning (when I consume most of my Nutrasweet). After that one week of downing a lot of Nutrasweet, I had severe fatigue, aches, bladder spasms (no bladder infections), then I had some of the worst rapid heart rate ever. I could have just been getting sick.

All I know now is that I've stopped the Nutrasweet and I have experienced some of the lowest heart rates that I've had in awhile (in fact on Saturday night I was at around 60--which isn't great either!!!). Again, it could just be my weird body, but I'm hopeful.

 

[suzannen]

I only use nutrasweet when I have my iced coffees and I've never had a problem with it. But, I did get terrible headaches and nausea whenever I used Splenda so I gave that one up for good.

 

[Moonmom]

One way that I can help control the the frequency and severity of my migraine headaches, (most of the time it works) is by watching carefully what I eat, (along with the usual exercise, stress reduction stuff, one daily med, etc). It's not always fun.. (it's been years since I ate salami or ham.. I remember that I loved it... I wonder if it's still as yummy as it used to be?)
Aspartane wasn't something I ever used regularly... but when I was doing the food diary to track what might be triggering the headaches and migraines there were a few times that I'd had DH's diet drinks that contained them. And each time... and I had a "Whopper" afterward.. the worst of my migraines.
I'll stick to plain old sugar! I don't have a problem with weight... so the "Splenda", which is made from sugar.. and though I wasn't thinking of using it anyway she was of the, "if it what you're doing now is working, don't mess with it." But she did seem to imply it was a safer alternative when I mentioned that DH was using Equal. He switched to the Splenda and said he liked the taste better....(but we keep our drinks separate!!)

 

[Pea-n-Me]

A heart rate of 60 is great, Christine.

 

[Becky2005]

All I know is that my mother & brother get severe headaches when they drink anything with Nutrasweet in it. It took us a bit to figure out what the culprit was. I don't have any problems with it but after seeing their reactions, I just try to avoid anything with it. I'm sure it has probably slipped into some of the foods I eat and since I don't have that same reaction, I don't worry about it but not knowing how the kids will react, I try to avoid having anything with it.

I know having real sugar won't have any of those type of side effects.

 

[PeterPanette]

I also lost about 10lbs in 2 weeks once I stopped using the pink stuff.

In the South Beach Diet book, the doctor who authored it said that artificial sweeteners are just as fattening as real sugar. It's like your body has a Pavlovian response to the sweet taste. You ingest the artificial sweetener, and your body goes, "Hmmm...here comes something sweet....start up all the usual physiological responses to sugar!"

To the OP: I've suffered all the symptoms you spoke of - fatigue, headaches, urinary tract troubles - when I was dieting and using lots of artificial sweeteners. Once I went back to "real" coke....the problems stopped cold. Not that real Coke is good for you! It wreaks havoc with your body as well, just in different ways.

Ideally, we should all be drinking only water, and using real cane sugar in moderation in our food.


Charlene

 

[Feralpeg]

I normally drink about six Diet Cokes a day. I've never had any problems from it.