Aspartame Anti-Testimonials©

We’re always told that the “placebo-controlled” study is the gold standard in research. And who can argue with the results of such a “fair” test? The placebo is just an innocent “sugar pill” — right? But for some time now I’ve been talking about what these ‘sugar’ pills really contain. (Hint — it’s not sugar.) Now, I’ve made a shocking discovery, an eye-opener about dirty secrets and industry lies.

It confirms what I’ve said many times about the placebo trick. They are specially designed for every single trial that uses them. So by creating the right placebo, you can create a very different outcome. And that’s why mainstream medicine’s insistence that placebo-controlled studies are proof positive of a result is a complete myth.

Those placebos are a ‘chamber of secrets’ that are rarely revealed. But finally, some of those secrets are being exposed. And that’s thanks to an activist who had the guts to stand up and ask the $64,000 question. Jack Samuels was a very brave and smart man. He was also so sensitive to MSG that the smallest amount could send him into shock. It was his acute sensitivity that started his decades-long investigation into MSG — and the industry that makes and promotes it. Along with his wife, Adrienne, a research specialist with a Ph.D., they learned more about the dirty tricks that are played on us by industry than anyone could possibly want to know.

And the Samuels knew there was “something more” going on when study after study done by industry reported that just as many people had bad effects from the placebo pill as they did from MSG. They knew that “couldn’t be true.” Unless, Jack wondered, they were doing the “unthinkable” and lacing the placebo with something that would cause the same bad reactions.

So during a meeting called by the FDA, Jack had his chance. He knew that a big shot with the MSG industry would be there, a man by the name of Andrew Ebert. He was in charge of the group that had funded all those expensive studies saying MSG is safe. And Jack stood up in front of that large audience and told them that something isn’t right. He questioned what was in all those placebo pills that were making everyone as sick as if they were eating MSG. And you won’t believe what happened next.

That industry bigwig I told you about in the audience, well, he was furious. He demanded to talk too, and he made such a stink that experts at the meeting took notice. One of them, a senior staff scientist, dashed off a letter asking Ebert to disclose what, exactly, were in those placebos used in all those MSG studies.

Now Jack didn’t learn about that letter — and Ebert’s response — until several years later. And when he did find out, well, it was one of the most shocking things he had ever uncovered. Ebert admitted — in writing — that a drug that can cause the exact same reactions as MSG was being used in those placebos. And they had been using that drug in their placebo pills since 1978!

Now you would think that would be enough to make all of those studies invalid. That’s what Jack thought. And he brought that letter to the attention of the FDA as soon as he found out. And what the FDA did was…nothing. So just what was that drug the MSG industry was using in its “placebo” pills? It’s none other than aspartame. That fake sweetener used in diet foods that can give you the headaches, heart reactions, and brain problems…all the same things that MSG causes.

Of course the food and drug industries probably won’t be telling us about their other placebo ‘recipes’ any time soon, But know this…even when something is “safe as placebo,” you could be in for a world of hurt.

Jenny Thompson, HSI eAlert – http://hsionline.com/hsi-e-alert-sign-up-today/

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I’m 32 and an Aspartame sufferer.  I started drinking four litres of Pepsi max daily between January 2001 and August 2004.

During this time I developed a catalogue of debilitating symptoms, none of which I ever considered to attribute to Aspartame consumption, naively I figured if a product has made the shelves and been deemed fit for human consumption, such a conclusion would have been born of fair and rigorous testing.

My symptoms which weren’t apparent immediately, included the following, weight gain (aggravated, very bad), anxiety, fatigue (a doctor diagnosed me as suffering from CFS), slurred speech, bright flashes in my vision, hives, rashes, allergic reactions (to animal saliva, and plants something I never suffered previously), phobias, insomnia, depression (terrible), confusion, a lack of clarity in thinking, fluid retention (around the waist.)

And these are just the symptoms I can remember.

After stopping, almost all of the symptoms I’ve listed have greatly reduced, with the exception of the fluid retention and the weight gain.

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I have had severe Aspartame poisoning. 8 knee surgeries, 3 back surgeries and a bowel resection. 27 years of mental illness. 6 years ago when I was storing diet pop in the trunk of my car and heating it up, I almost died.

I found out at that time about Aspartame and went off of it right away. The doctors said “I needed knee replacements” Today I have my own knees and my own mind, no drugs, no depression, no arthritis.

Today I’m free, so I have started giving talks about my recovery and would like to add your website onto the end of my DVD. Would this be acceptable to you? I’m looking forward to your reply.

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For years I have been drinking Diet Pepsi & Coke at the rate of 4-6 cans per day. I and all those around me noticed that I was losing my train of thought to the point where I was having long pauses when speaking within sentences and forgetting what I was talking about.

My memory was also being impacted as I couldn’t remember things like I once did, I was fatigued (always seemed tired) and my joints in my arms and neck ached. There were times that I felt my heart beating so hard and fast I thought that it was going to explode out of my chest.

I did not go to a physician regarding these symptoms, I just thought that I was aging and perhaps there was something really wrong with me that I didn’t want to know about.

After reading the article, I stopped consuming the above mentioned Diet Colas. This is the only thing that I changed in my diet to see what would happen. I now have been experiencing more energy, my normal speech has returned, my joint aches are almost gone, my heart rate has subsided and my memory has improved greatly!!

There should be a way to get these messages to masses – I plan on sharing this with all of my friends & relatives.

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I personally experienced reactions after ingesting Aspartame.

Prior to having children, I drank diet Pepsi occasionally. When my husband and I decided to start our family, I abstained from ingesting anything that contained Aspartame for fear that it would harm my baby. However, after giving birth, I found myself tired all of the time as most mothers do, so I started drinking diet Pepsi throughout the day. I consumed approximately

Three cans of diet Pepsi each day. I was experiencing terrible migraine headaches, fatigue, insomnia and nausea. In addition, when I worked on the weekend during the night shift as a nurse, I would drink more. My headaches were terrible. I was trying to care for patients, while my head felt like it would explode. I was taking Tylenol and Excedrin migraine medication on a daily basis.

Then, I finally noticed that the headaches were being triggered by ingesting Aspartame. If I chewed a piece of sugar free gum, eventually, I would come down with a headache. It frightens me that the food companies are still making products with this ingredient. How many people give their children sugar free gum? We are poisoning are children.

I want to thank you for your time and enthusiasm regarding this serious issue. I hope that the efforts to rid the artificial sweeteners are a success.

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I am 48 and live in Xxxxxxxxx in New Zealand. I have for many years (about 10 or so) had Cardiac problems, they have been diagnosed as ARVD (Arythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia), however this has never been able to be confirmed despite numerous investigative procedures. In addition I have been suffering from joint pain and deteriorating eyesight. Recently I was involved in yet another procedure to investigate my heart. The result was once again inconclusive. I was on a very high dosage of Beta Blockers. My last visit to the Cardiologist recommended reducing them to a minimum dosage.

Following the reporting of Abby Cormack’s case and your visit to New Zealand, I had reached the point where I was increasingly frustrated in my diagnosis. I was angry and frustrated and so after some investigation I topped ingesting Aspartame in any form. That was five weeks ago. I also stopped taking my Beta Blockers at the same time. I have now not had any heart palpitations in the last three weeks, I was having five or six each day (heart rate varying between 30 and 160 BPM at rest). In addition, my eyesight has sharpened, my joint pain has decreased and I am sleeping better.

I was consuming about 1 litre of Diet Soda a day and in addition was having Equal in my coffee about six times per day.

I am very happy with my progress and now read food labeling very carefully.

P.S. My wife is also very happy with my improvement, to the point where she is much more conscious of food labeling for both her and me.

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I battled high blood pressure from 1987 until 2006. My blood pressure had become uncontrollable. I had memory lapses where I could not remember someone’s name. My joints were hurting and aching and my prostate was enlarged.

My doctor just kept increasing my medications and the symptoms kept getting worse. After experiencing dizziness and nose bleeds from excessively high blood pressure, I had to stop eating and only consume distilled water.

After several days, my blood pressure went down to 116/65. I started eating only one food at a time and checking my blood pressure at intervals afterward to see if my blood pressure went up. I did not experience a problem until I drank a diet drink with NutraSweet. My blood pressure soared to 185/100 and stayed high for hours. As a result, I took diet drinks off my consumables list.

Then I had a cup of coffee sweetened with Equal and my blood pressure soared again. So I switched to decaf coffee sweetened with Equal and had the same thing happen again. My blood pressure soared and stayed up for hours. After that, I knew that Equal sweetener, (Aspartame), was the problem. I drank decaf coffee sweetened with sugar for a solid week, and it had no effect on my blood pressure at all. I even went back to regular coffee sweetened with sugar and had only a moderate blood pressure increase, (131/80), that lasted for about an hour.

On top of that, I haven’t had a memory lapse since I stopped using Aspartame. My joints had been hurting me so bad that I could not sleep through the night. My joints have not ached since I stopped using Aspartame – that is not a coincidence! On top of that, my prostate symptoms subsided too. I do not have to take any medications at all since I eliminated Aspartame from my diet. I think I had several TIAs as a result of high blood pressure induced by Aspartame.

I wonder how many people have died of strokes or heart failure from high blood pressure brought on from using Aspartame?

It is not a coincidence that my high blood pressure and my other health problems started when I started using Equal, back in 1987, and ended when I stopped using it.

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Ok, so this is a little odd and I thought I’d share in case it helps anyone else. I used to drink a lot (a LOT) of Diet Coke – it was the only thing that got me through the long days of study. I stopped for a while, can’t remember why and felt so much better, and then sometime later started again – at which point I was so sick, I had phenomenal migraines, nausea, exhaustion etc. I didn’t link the two at this stage, and then went to the doctor who did some tests. The results? Aspartame poisoning. Oh My God. I thought it was a myth created by freaks on the internet but it seems not. So now I have lost my caffeine source, and have to avoid life’s little pleasures like low fat Jell-O (I love it!), Diet Coke and copious amounts of other products.

Anyone else ever had a reaction like this?

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Back in the 1980’s, while still living in Australia, I used to work for a very well-known worldwide pharmaceutical company (whose name I won’t put here for legal reasons). I worked in the Research & Development Lab and we did some lengthy research on Aspartame as this well-known pharmaceutical company was considering putting Aspartame in one of their liquid antacid products.

The research done in Australia on Aspartame at that time — along with other research done in Europe — showed Aspartame to be a carcinogen (cancer causing) and the Australian Health Department would not provide approval to include it as an ingredient in the liquid antacid product (nor anything else for that matter).

I imagine those “rules” have been relaxed since the 1980’s because Aspartame is a real money maker. But to this day, knowing what I saw in that research, I have never ingested a product that contains Aspartame, and I do everything I can to talk my friends out of any dietary drinks or products that contain it also.

Just my 10 cents worth.

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I also was a big Diet Coke drinker, until this summer, when my HAIR started falling out! I went to a naturopath, who told me I was really dehydrated, and also told me to Google it. That was all it took, I haven’t had one since.

Many, many people have horrible reactions like you did, I’m glad they discovered what it was so quickly. There are so many problems it can cause.

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Thank you for responding. Since eliminating Aspartame-sweetened products, I have experienced a dramatic improvement in mental clarity, and coordination, and the disappearance of sudden exhaustion, blepherospasms of the left eye, myalgia, depression and anxiety. It was extremely helpful to compare symptoms with other sufferers. Thank you for your website.

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The case of a Wellington woman who became seriously unwell after consuming excessive amounts of the controversial additive Aspartame in chewing gum underlines the urgent need for consumer information and warnings about potential side effects, Green Party MP Sue Kedgley says.

“This case also leads me to repeat the call for fizzy drinks containing Aspartame to be removed from schools,” Ms Kedgley says.

Abigail McCormack began suffering crippling muscle cramps and tingling in her hands and feet, heart palpitations, anxiety attacks, depression and skin rashes, she thought she was dying after consuming excessive amounts of chhewing gum containing Aspartame. Ms McCormack is concerned that there were no warnings to alert her to the fact that Aspartame could cause harm. These health problems stopped when Ms McCormack stopped chewing Aspartame sweetened gum.

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Some months ago, Anita told me what she had experienced with the horrible pain she was in and that the “doctors” couldn’t do anything for her. Let’s face it, if the medical professionals told their patients, they would lose money.  That’s the way I see it.

I have suffered from fibromyalgia for more years then I care to think about.  Horrible, debilitating pain that just wouldn’t let up and the feeling of being a “pest, hypochondriac, or any other “problems”? that I might be told, and was!!!  There was nothing wrong with me, according to the doctors and in respects to doctors that I saw about my back pain, I was told that I better get used to, and learn, to live with it!   But that’s a different problem.

Back to the fibromyalgia.  I believe it was in March, this year, that Anita told me about the Aspartame and gave me some information in regards to it.  To tell you the truth, I didn’t really go along with it at first, BUT, after more research she had my attention.  I haven’t had one diet soda since then.  I drank it because it was supposed to be safe and therefore, no sugar.  I have lost more weight since I stopped using any kind of Aspartame.  It’s been nearly three months and I cannot believe the relief I am having!!!  My whole family is amazed.  One time I, without giving it a second thought, ate some Yogurt, and within hours I hurt so bad and after I was having such relief and then to have it hit me that fast really made a believer out of me.

Anyway, I’ve taken up too much of your time but thank you for being there for us.

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Wanted you to know that I get very ill within 45 seconds of ingesting Aspartame, I cannot believe it is still on the market.  People have tricked me with chewing gum saying it is made with real sugar.  Soon my stomach starts to hurt and my tongue feels like it has a film on it.

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You guys are doing an excellent job of getting the word out on this subject. However the physicians I have talked to are either neutral, uninformed or state they need research studies to confirm the existence of real dangers of this substance since so many substances have this ingredient but so few of their patients report or demonstrate side effects. As a R.N. with a Master’s Degree in Nursing and a person who has recently experienced severe neuro side effects as a result of drinking 700-1000 cc of Crystal Lite per day x 5 days for a period of about 2-2.5 months I can stay with 100 percent certainty that I had neurological damage and if had continued drinking this tea would have probably either been in a wheelchair or more likely dead. I had ataxia, gait difficulties, tremors, decreased left leg reflexes, total loss of appetite with an 8 lb. weight loss over a 2 month period and other neurological related side effects. I recently returned from Mayo Clinic in MN. They could not confirm or deny this relationship. Apparently they are not doing any studies on this substance but several on the effects of coffee!!. I met several people there and one stated she knew of a 12 year old boy who had stopped growing and finally it was attributed to Crystal Lite, another gentleman was there for neurological related issues but his doctors at home and Mayo could only say is weakness was probably a virus (as he sat drinking his Diet Coke there in the airport waiting as I was for our flight to Chicago.) I shared the info I had received from the interne on Aspartame side effects and his wife stated they drank “lots of Diet Coke” but would stop Aspartame intake and would inform their PCP and their neurologist. I have referred many people to the web site and warned others of this danger. The gentleman in the airport had not been on a statin as I had been so my MD thought my side effects could have been related to the known effect of leg weakness even in the face of a negative CPK he continued to believe all my reports were either statin related or who knows just what he thought. How can I help?

I am much better but it has taken 60-90 days.

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I am 51 years old. Last year, I was feeling so much pain and stiffness in my legs (especially my knees), that I had gotten to the point I could barely get out of my car and walk into a store.

I would literally have to get out of the car and stand beside it for 3 or 4 minutes before I could start walking. I got really scared, because my job is in sales and I was starting to have trouble making sales calls. I remembered an article I had ready years ago in Oxygen Magazine about Aspartame, as well as a story in Readers’ Digest about a woman who was about to take her last vacation because she thought she would be unable to walk in the near future. Her brother (I believe) had read an article about Aspartame and told her about it and, within a month after discontinuing its use, she was able to walk on her own again.

I was drinking several diet drinks every day, as well as using Aspartame to sweeten cereal, etc. I decided to just try going without it, and within 2 days I could feel a difference. After a month, I was totally pain free. At the time, I was going to a Rheumatologist at the Kirklin Clinic in Birmingham because I have Raynaud’s Syndrome. I had told him about the pain in my legs and knees, and he put me on Mobic and 2 Tylenol Arthritis Strength every six hours. Although it did help, it didn’t completely alleviate the pain. He had done a series of tests because of the Raynaud’s, and because my father had severe rheumatoid arthritis, but found me to be arthritis-free. When I got off of the Aspartame, I went back for a checkup and told him about what I had done, and he said I was certainly not the first person to tell him this same thing. He totally believed I had “healed myself” — his words. Now, I am off of the medication and doing great. I have told several others who have gotten relief by going without Aspartame.

I try to tell as many people as I can, because it has made a tremendous difference in my life.

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I am responding to your article/web page on Aspartame. I am 44 years old and have been suspecting Aspartame as a major health hazard since it hit the market. I have been “dieting” all my life to stay thin and because of all the hype about saccharin causing cancer, as soon as NutraSweet hit the shelves I was all over it. I ate everything they had with it and added the packets to my numerous cups of tea on a daily basis. As soon as it was in soft drinks, I drank that too. In 1982, I had a child born with a major heart defect, and then in 1985 I had another child born with cranial-facial deformities. Even at only 23 years old, I was beginning to suspect the product as a possible cause of the completely unrelated birth defects my children had and wrote to the governor of Ohio (Celeste) explaining my suspicions. The governor’s office wrote back saying they were not aware of any problems with the product but did not give me any advice on how to pursue the issue. The rest of my family and friends convinced me that the government would not allow a product on the market if it were not safe so I continued to drink it. By my late 20’s, early 30’s I was sick of the daily headaches I was having. I hate taking any kind of drug (go figure) and I hated having to take pain relievers all the time. At that point I had read some serious articles about Aspartame which made me truly believe I was right all along. I stopped using it completely (mind you I had still been adding it to my numerous cups of tea daily) and my headaches stopped. I still have blood sugar problems (insulin sensitivity?) to this day which cause me not to be able to eat large portions of carbs at a time or I become completely dysfunctional. I maintain a lower-carb diet (1/2 cup of carbs at a time mostly) to control it. On occasions where I can’t take it and have to have a donut or something, an hour or two later I become extremely irate, shaky, and hungry, can’t think straight or barely have a conversation without wanting to kill everyone. I think this is permanent damage as I have been off Aspartame for about a decade and I still have problems with that.

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I am wondering how Cindy’s CAT scan turned out. I know she didn’t mention anything about NutraSweet, but for those who did, I also have had an experience with it and it was most unpleasant. It was about 8-10 years ago. I had been drinking diet soda for a good while when I started having these spells. The closest thing I can think that they would be like is a stroke. I would start to get a headache, then become dizzy or light headed and pretty quickly too. Then my speech wouldn’t cooperate with me. I could think of someone’s name and see their face, but not say their name and I felt slurry too. I also would have pain in my left arm. I know this sounds crazy, but I experienced it. I stopped drinking diet things and it stopped. I don’t have that happen anymore. I have to give God the credit for me being able to find out what it was. It had to be His hand and I sure do thank Him for it!!

When I read these other posts about the NutraSweet, I thought I would share. Hope it is of some help to someone.

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I have been fighting the war of Aspartame for the past 13 plus years!

Diet Coke started my seizures.  I would pass out after drinking Diet Coke, my Drs say it is not related and that is has to be something else, but I stopped using Diet Coke and no more passing out, that was 13 years ago, but then now everything has artificial sweeteners in it and low and behold whenever I consume something with Aspartame in it wham I pass out! I get a terrible headache, and very sick after an episode, memory loss, confusion, just a terrible feeling my entire body goes thru, my EEG shows I am having migraine headaches even when I am not, but yet my neurologist and family DR both say it’s perfectly safe to consume, when I know what it does to me but all the medical tests they have done, blood work, echo cardiograms, halter monitors, except the EEG which shows I am having migraines when I am not have all been normal, HELP what does it take to prove this is poison to me what can I ask the DR to test for to help me prove my case? I am afraid that the Aspartame will one day kill me! Please help ME!

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I don’t know if anyone else has drawn the same conclusions as I have, or maybe it hasn’t even be suggested yet; but I have found that NutraSweet had caused my mood disorder. I had been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder (who hasn’t) and had been medicated for years. Within the last year I had stopped consuming diet soda with NutraSweet and noticed a considerable improvement in my mood. On occasion when I did ingest NutraSweet a mood swing would follow within 72 hours. The swings were hardly noticeable from 1 soda, but, with multiple sodas the mood swings increased.

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Hello Thank you for the information on Aspartame. I tried xxxxxxx LIGHT yogurt and I had severe panic attacks that were so horrible.

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I’d like to share something with you and (if you would like) your readers. I hope the following helps you to get people to “think before they consume”.

Plus, I’d love to find out if others recall the news program.  I certainly cannot be the only person alive who remembers this!

Back in the ’80s, when “NutraSweet” had first been approved by the FDA, I was in the process of going through tests, and it was right around that time I was finally, after a life time of seizures, definitively diagnosed with epilepsy originating in the temporal lobe.  My neurologist, the man who persevered, went to bat for me, and finally made the diagnosis, was Dr Michael Weintraub of Briarcliff Manor, NY.

I’d been back and forth to Dr Weintraub’s office so many times, his face and voice had become a part of my regular life.  And “NutraSweet” was all the rage, being touted as the new “safe” artificial sweetener, to replace the carcinogenic substance “saccharin”.

I was sitting at home one evening, watching the Eyewitness News program on ABC Channel 7 out of New York City (everyone must remember Roger Grimsby and Bill Beutel?), when to my surprise, a very familiar face appeared on the screen.  It was my own doctor, Dr Weintraub.  The report was on Aspartame.  Dr Weintraub had the papers in his hand, the study results, and the letters, from the neurologists who had been on the FDA review panel of those studies, strongly recommending that Aspartame NOT be approved.  He went on to explain how Aspartame can cause seizures, and if a person has a personal or family history of any kind of seizure condition, can increase and seriously complicate existing symptoms.  He showed the data, he discussed the studies, all of the facts where there.  He then expressed his great dismay that, despite all of the medical professionals’ strong recommendation that approval be denied, the FDA approved it anyway.  He warned that anyone with any history, or family history, of any kind of seizure condition stay away from anything with “NutraSweet” in it.

After the interview, the Eyewitness News Team stated that, the next night, a follow-up program would be aired on the same subject.  I tuned in the next night.  Nothing about Aspartame was mentioned.  There was not even any indication that they’d done the show the night before.  For some reason, the newsroom had shelved the story.  I’ve tried searching old archives of Eyewitness News, and can find no mention of the story, and yet I clearly remember it, as did my Mom (who passed away several months ago).  I have wished, many many times since, that I’d had the clarity of mind to give Dr Weintraub a call.

I had been drinking diet soda for a brief time before seeing the report — and had been having terrible trouble with my seizures (which are “simple partial” seizures) at that time.  I’d have seizures that would literally come and go non-stop for days, and they would not only be extended in time, but of a severity that I’d never experienced before.  I threw out the rest of the Diet Coke and gradually the seizures went back to “normal”.

Today, if I even accidentally get a few sips of Aspartame in diet soda, which has happened a couple of times when someone in a restaurant gave me the wrong beverage, I’ll launch into a prolonged and intense seizure episode.  This is bad stuff, and I’ve had “Eyewitness” evidence that the substance was approved against all medical recommendation.  Not only that, but now food manufacturers no longer have to put obvious labels on their products.  Did you know that it’s become difficult to find a pack of gum, even the gums that are not labeled “sugar free”, without getting Aspartame?  Even good old “Juicy Fruit”, which has been around for as long as there have been teeth to chew it, now contains Aspartame!  It supposedly “makes the flavor last longer”!  There is poison hiding everywhere!

When Sucralose/Splenda came out, a friend was gung ho on it, and bought me a box, claiming it was perfectly safe, just “modified” sugar, and had no aftertaste.  I gave it a try.  Well, to start with, it does have an aftertaste (though not as bad as Aspartame’s).  After the first use, I waited.  No seizures that day.  Wow, could it really be true?  So, I used it for a few days.  The buildup was slow, not like Aspartame, which hits me right away.  But within three days of using Splenda (and not even a lot of it,  just a little sprinkling on my oatmeal, etc.) the seizures began.  I also experienced horrible gas and stomach pains, and then diarrhea.  I stopped using it, and the symptoms cleared up.

Not wanting to judge the product, which this friend to this day still raves over and thinks I’m “imagining things”, I’ve given Splenda several other chances, with the same results (only the symptoms begin faster) every time.

Poison is poison, and packaging it in a sunny yellow box doesn’t change that.

I don’t know if you’d be able to track down that old Eyewitness News story, or even others who witnessed the report.  I’m not even sure where Dr Weintraub is today.  We moved far out of the area almost twenty years ago, and I haven’t kept track of him.  All I have is my own memory and my own word for you on the story.  But I swear I was not imagining it, it was real, it was there, and I couldn’t have been the only one who saw it.

Good luck in your fight!  I’m definitely lending my hopes and positive thoughts to your success.

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First of all, Doctor, let me say how much the community at large owes you for your tremendous research and energy on MSG and Aspartame.

Secondly, as time goes on, more and more people will hear your message and begin to feel appreciative of you.

But in the meantime, people are continuing to make themselves and their children ill with these awful food additives.

I want to tell you about a personal experience. For years I have suffered with terrible allergies and hay fever.  One day a doctor gave me a sample of “Claritin” and the next time my allergies bothered me, I took one tablet.

Well, for the rest of the day, life was difficult. I could not get my brain to tell my muscles what to do.  It’s as though there was a disconnect between the brain and the nervous system.

Of course I resolved to never take this product again. (It did relieve my allergies but at what a cost!)

Then recently a friend suggested that I take Loratadine. She offered me one of the OTC tablets she had with her.  It was amazingly effective. I remarked on that – and added “I wish I had known about this – I cannot use Claritin because of the side effects it causes me.” I then explained to her about the weird brain-nervous system disconnect that I felt when taking Claritin.

She replied “Well, they are one and the same thing. If Claritin bothered you, I imagine that later today Loradatine will affect you too.”

As it turned out, it did not bother me at all. And later when I got to the store and checked out the respective labels of the two products, I found out that in the version of Loratadine I was taking, the manufacturing company did not add in Aspartame.

But in Claritin, guess what? Aspartame is added – and you pay extra for that as well.

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Thanks for your quick and informative reply.  I can’t tell you how many of those symptoms I have/had.  The skin reactions in the past, chronic dry eye, doctors have looked into Sjogren’s a few times, dramatic visual changes with no cause found, unexplained joint pain. I can’t believe it.  No one ever asked about artificial sweeteners, I never thought about a connection until recently.  I thought I was really healthy.  I exercise daily, eat very healthy, diet soda and Splenda were my only vices.  I didn’t think they were great for me, but I had no idea.  I didn’t consider it to be the cause until no one could figure out my thumb.  When my plans to become a surgeon were jeopardized with the immobility of my dominant hand, I started looking into possible causes myself.

Thank you so much for your time and your knowledge.  I really appreciate it!

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Again, thanks for sending me this information.  I have quit all artificial sweeteners and my thumb is almost 100% back to normal!!!!  I am so amazed!!! Thank you, thank you, and thank you!

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In Aug. of 2005 I had a real bad operation on my tummy. It took 100 days to get over the operation. After the 100 days I was better a few days I thought. In Dec I got up one morning fell to my knees I tried to yell for help and could not get the words to come out. People around here could not understand what I was saying I was slobbering and slurring when I tried to talk. I got up with help and would run in to the walls and my feet tried to go faster than my body. I was so scared. Went to the hospital here ER 3 times 1st thing they did was a drug and alc. test all 3 times they could not find what was wrong.

A couple weeks later I went to another county hospital ER same thing. A week later went to another county hospital ER. They did and said the same thing. The 1st 2weeks I went to a walk in clinic they gave me meds for enter ear that I really did not have. I had no health insurance at all.

The last ER I went too they told me to go to my regular doctor. I did and he asked me how many diet drinks a day did I drink. I said at least 2 or 3. Because I did drink at least 2 or 3. He sent me to a Neuro doctor.

I went they did a spinal tap and MRI and other things he really found nothing they did some guess work and said it was rare that he thought it was ataxiay cerebilitis ( http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/001397sym.htm) but I would be better in a couple months.

OK months went by and I was no better than I had lost all my motor skills could not write talk much and walk like a drunk. I fell all the time if i stood up very long or go to the store I had to have a wheelchair. I pulled to my left. They did test to see if I had a stroke. I could not remember anything. I would forget where I put something I put up 5 minutes before. The past year and a few months my Arthritis that I have had for a few years did not get twice as bad but like 4 times as bad. My kidneys got real bad like I was going every 10 minutes to let go of a few drops.

A few months ago went to ER here in so much pain after they gave me something in an IV for pain. I passed at the hospital 3 kidney stones 1 was about the size of a jelly bean 2 others were real small. While all this time I had no common sense at all. I could not comprehend nothing i had only a 1 track mind. I know that I am not telling all this in order but I am not over it yet and I am doing the best I can do. But I am much better. My nerves got real bad and still are but I will not take anything to control them. I got so depressed that I took and ordered a pretty leopard room rug and nailed it over my living room windows and made a frame around it made a pretty picture. But there was no light in there and could not see outside. I wanted to be in the dark. I had told my kids this last Christmas that this would be my last Christmas here. I really felt it.  Each day I felt I was getting worse. I never felt any better.

About 6 weeks ago my best friend that lives here was listening to a radio with Dr. Blalock talking about Aspartame and he gave a website about it. We went to it read it and about all the symptoms fit me to a t. All the things the other doctors thought I had was just picking out like maybe 1 or 2 things.

But this site about Aspartame had all of them. So I went back to my family doctor and told him this. Dr. Lewis I did not lie to you but you ask me how many diet drinks did I drink a day i said at least 2 or 3 which is true but i drink 6 to 12 a day I craved them. He had done a research on Aspartame before cause of his wife had trouble with it. He told me to stop it so I did all at once. 2 weeks later i was thinking a little better my doctor has now took me off 1 of my sugar meds. Lower my hb meds and cholesterol meds. I am more clear-headed not dizzy. Walking straighter, not falling, nerves are not as bad, I am typing this, my memory is coming back to me and I am not forgetting as bad. I forgot to say since i have been sick I have trouble staying awake. That is not much better yet. My pain is getting back to like it was before.

Oh yes let me tell you about my kidneys. 2 weeks after I stopped Aspartame at 3 am I got up and went to the bathroom and I stopped and stomped the floor something did not feel right. For the 1st time since I had been sick my dancing feet was gone. I was walking right. And I went to the bathroom and my kidneys acted a qt. or more and ever since then I would go and each time do a lot at a time and I only go 3 or 4 times a day where I was going every 10 to 15 mins . at night i would go 5 to 6 times now maybe 1 time.

All i have done to help me is stop taking in Aspartame. I do not buy anything with Aspartame in it. I am trying to open other people eyes too.

Each day when i get up i do feel something is better. Now when i lay down to go to sleep I do not think that I problem will not wake up in the morning. I am no longer depressed and now I tell myself that I am getting better and going to overcome this and live.

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I am almost 99% now except I have narcolepsy and cannot drive. Doctors think it was caused for the poison I never had it before. My sugar has gone nuts in the last few months I am up to 8 to 10 shots a day 3 diff insulin. I have lost some weight after getting off Aspartame. Everything else is about gone and back to what it was before I got Aspartame poisoning. Thanks so much for asking.

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I came upon your website and found the information interesting. I am an ICU RN for 30 of my 33 years as a nurse. I used to drink Diet Coke all day long. At least a 6 or more pack a day. My internist told me to stop drinking it because I was having such leg cramps especially at night. It was worse with increased activity at work being on my feet. I stopped for a while, and my cramps got somewhat better. I then started to drink flavored water when I went swimming in the aqua therapy pool at the YMCA.

I used to drink at least 2 liters of that stuff. It was delicious. But my leg cramps came back again. I then realized that the sparkling flavored water had Aspartame in it. The cramps I had were not the usual uncomfortable walk it off cramps. They were severe almost called 911 severe cramps. Like someone took molten broken glass and was ripping my legs from the groin muscles to my inner leg. They would also come in my calves and in my feet. It was like someone took a ratchet and was cranking up the muscle and the pain. You could feel it tightening. It would last for 15- 20 minutes, crying in agony.

Then it would start to go away. When you think it was gone you could feel the muscles cranking up again. This would go on for 3-4 times a night. The next day your legs muscles would be hurting from the tightening process. When I stopped all Aspartame products the cramps mostly went away. I rarely have them and not the extent as when I was drinking the drinks. I can only assume that the cause was from those drinks.

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I began to experience back pain associated with sitting down about six years ago (2000).  The pain became progressively worse as time went on. Because I sat at my job all day, the situation was becoming unbearable.

I went to a back specialist who arranged for an x-ray, which showed no significant problems with my spine.  Nonetheless, I went to physical therapy, which provided limited relief.

About a year ago, I began to experience symptoms of colitis.  I again went to a specialist and had a colonoscopy.  The doctor reported that there was no apparent damage, but that the colon was swollen over its entire length. He could offer no explanation for the swelling. The diagnosis was therefore “non-specific colitis”.

Later, I began to notice that the pain in my back seemed to correlate with the amount of diet Pepsi I was drinking.  So, I decided to stop drinking it for a while.  To my surprise (and great joy) the pain in my back began to subside and is now nearly completely gone.  As an added bonus, the symptoms of colitis also subsided.

I have celiac (allergy to gluten ­ e.g., wheat) and I learned that Aspartame might cause symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).  I think that the Aspartame caused my colon to swell significantly, which caused the symptoms of colitis.  In addition, the swelling must have put pressure on some nerves in my back.  When I stopped drinking diet Pepsi (Aspartame) the swelling went down, the pressure was relieved and the back pain went away.

This allergic reaction to Aspartame may be linked to my celiac or it may be just something that happened to me.  If it is related to celiac, it is important to note that celiac is under diagnosed.  Approximated one in 130 to 150 Americans has celiac. It is also important to note that I drank a lot of diet Pepsi for many years (about four 12 oz cans per day) before these symptoms emerged.

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I am VERY upset about the legalization of this horrible substance, I do believe my very severe migraines, borderline narcolepsy (even falling suddenly asleep while driving) weight gain, depression, depression about my weight gain, low thyroid, food addiction, memory loss, while having severe migraines my eyes were so blurry I literally couldn`t see, stress from the belief that my migraines were going to KILL me, and poor night vision (inability to see distance and very dry eyes).

I seriously believe all of these things listed have been directly caused by ASPARTAME that was in my Diet Coke and Diet Dr. Pepper, I drank these things thinking they are “ok” since they ARE legal totally unaware of the horrible effects, I even allowed my daughter to chew gum and drink soft drinks with Aspartame .

I believe this not only because of learning about what it REALLY is but also because I did NOT have any of these problems until after I started drinking Diet Coke, I know exactly when I started drinking Diet Coke because I had a step-grandmother who drank it (she was led to believe it is Good for her since she was a diabetic) when her son married my mom, we started buying Diet Coke and I started drinking it, not knowing any of the TRUTH about Aspartame I kept consuming this poison that is brand named ASPARTAME.

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I am a 38 year old diabetic woman (been diabetic since giving birth to my seven year old daughter).

I have been drinking diet pops, mainly Diet Coke or Pepsi max, for most of the last 25 years. I started drinking diet pop when my mum used to tell me about the ill effects of ingesting sugary drinks. I must admit that I drank up to 2 litres of pop daily for a lot of years, containing both Aspartame and caffeine.

I heard of an Italian research into the side effects of Aspartame, and decided last year that I would reduce the intake of diet pops to be only for festivities.

Then in about April this year I started feeling quite depressed, nauseated, irritable and I felt that my heart seemed to be beating harder, and went to the doctor. She suggested that because of my last few years,- losing my husband, father-in-law and grandparents, breaking up with my new partner, deciding to move back to Norway to my own family etc. would all be contributing factors of my feeling “down”. But I am not the depressive type, so when I went home, I looked up on caffeine on the internet, to see if that could have anything to do with it, which it had in a big way. I’d stopped drinking it approximately 3 weeks previous. But to my horror it also stated that Aspartame as a sweetener could also make me feel this bad.

I asked my doctor about the effects of Aspartame in the body a year ago after reading about the Italian research, but he laughed at me and asked where I’d heard of that, and said anything in moderation is fine.  I went home and continued drinking diet pop, but not as much as before. However I stopped drinking that and coffee at the same time; went cold turkey, and got the withdrawal from both at the same time. I went through hell, but I made it through to the other side feeling on top of the world, and I only have small periods of “depression” if I drink big amounts of pop in one day. A few days after drinking a lot of pop, I get one or two days feeling a little down again.

But the biggest proof I could get came when I had my 6 monthly diabetes checkup. Every time before the nurse asked me if I drink a lot of alcohol which I do not. Nevertheless the liver tests they do have showed up that my liver is abnormal, and shows symptoms as if I drink a lot. Every test that is, apart from the one taken approximately 3 months after stopping drinking diet pop. Now my liver is normal. I told the nurse I have stopped drinking diet pop, and she agreed with me that it could well have been the Aspartame, and that the doctors don’t know everything.

The Italian research showed among other things that Aspartame could turn into some form of alcohol in your liver! I think that just proved it in my case. I also had a lot of problems losing weight before when I drank diet pop, but when I stopped I lost nearly 5 kilos in 2 months. I also feel like I have a lot more energy, I don’t snap at my daughter as much, I am over all a lot happier and feel great about life in general. So Aspartame really played a big role in my life making me feel lethargic, out of puff and short tempered, and also gave me a lot of tummy problems. I’ve got IBS, but since I stopped taking Aspartame, my symptoms have reduced a lot. I say “taking” on purpose, as I now class it as a type of drug.

But be aware all you people out there, there are other sweeteners on the market which can be just as harmful as Aspartame, so be very careful what you switch over to. The only one that I have found so far that can seem to be safe at the moment is STEVIA which is an old plant which the Japanese have used for nearly 20 years, and people in Brazil and Paraguay have used it for hundreds of years. I have a sister who is a homeopath, and she recommended stevia to me a little while ago, as an alternative to Aspartame and other sweeteners.

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I have had many of the same symptoms as listed in the other letters including headaches, muscle weakness, short-term memory loss, and depression. But what really gave me a wakeup call was the Bells Palsy. Bell’s palsy is the unexplained paralysis of one side of the face. I started using Equal when it first started getting popular.

I started with the headaches, then the short term memory loss and depression but not wanting to link it to Equal. Then the muscle weakness started with tingling in the back of my head and I started thinking it may be linked to the use of the equal but still continued to use it. Then (about 5 years ago) I woke up one morning with no control of the left side of my face. The Doctors diagnosis was Bell Palsy. They said they don’t know what causes it. Since then I stopped using Equal and the headaches stopped, my short-term memory improved, the depression has stopped, the muscle weakness has stopped, the tingling is gone and the facial paralysis is 95% recovered. Unfortunately the facial paralysis will not 100% recover. After some time had passed since I had stopped using Equal I was curious if it really had something to do with the things I was experiencing so I started using it to see if it was all in my head. Within a few days I started having the headaches and tingling in the back of my head again. I know it’s not in my head now it definitely is the Equal.

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I’m a New Zealander that has recently moved to pursue my accounting career. I have had severe reactions to Aspartame over the past 6 years (since I was 21 years old) and have always wanted to contact an authority to let them know of my reaction but was unsure about who to contact. I have just been doing some research on the internet as I have recently bumped into an old friend who also has severe reactions to Aspartame; this prompted me to do some investigating re how many people this effects and to what severity.

I have accidently ingested Aspartame twice since my initial reaction – as I was unsure about what caused it until I narrowed it down to Diet Coke (and Equal). The reactions I have had have been severe and life threatening and combine seizure, tachycardia, heart arrhythmia, sudden drop in blood pressure, chills, vomiting, nausea, dizziness, surreal feeling, shock, severe sleepiness/drowsiness following attack, as well as headaches, inflammation and fatigue.

I on constant guard when eating any processed food as I feel that I may not be lucky enough to survive the next reaction. I would like to know if it is compulsory for food manufacturers to label any products containing Aspartame. I avoid any sweet food that I have not made myself from raw ingredients but would like to be able to eat out more.

Prior to these reactions I had no history of bad health or any health problems and had no food or chemical allergies. Since the reactions I have become quite sensitive to some chemicals, things like petrol.

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Good evening. I was on the web searching for something not even pertaining to Aspartame. I know that I was meant to read your article, and testimonials from all of those men and women. Oh my gosh! I am not a pop drinker diet or otherwise. But I consume a lot of yogurt.

I was eating regular yogurt, no fat free etc. When I came down with double pneumonia this past January, I had to go home with someone to take care of me. I have ill health due to some illnesses. My daughter eats Yoplait, fat free so I started eating that instead. I continued when I returned to my home. About a week ago, I realized that I was having headaches which I never get. And I had gone to my Dr. a couple of weeks before that, and they detected an irregular heartbeat. I was shocked. I have a good heart. So I tried to figure out what I was eating that was different.

And after reading the ingredients on the yogurt, I knew it was from the Aspartame. I immediately quit the yogurt. I haven’t had a headache since which is a relief. When I go for my Dr. checkup, I will find out about the irregular heartbeat. Thank you for having that web site. A relieved reader.

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Eve walks again after diet change

A Shropshire woman who spent a year without the use of her legs has said she can now walk again after cutting the artificial sweetener Aspartame from her diet.

Eve Terry, 24, of Main Road, Pontesbury, is convinced that avoiding certain food and drink that contain the ingredient — such as low calorie yoghurts and soft drinks — has led directly to her remarkable recovery.

In April 2004, Mrs. Terry’s face swelled up and drooped and she often felt tired, but doctors were at a loss to tell her what was wrong.

“I looked like I had had a stroke and people kept coming up to me to ask me if I had,” she said. “Then about three months later I woke up one morning and my legs just felt as if they wouldn’t hold me up.”

But in April of this year, Mrs. Terry was referred to Dr. Sarah Myhill, a GP based in Knighton, Powys, who immediately told her to cut Aspartame out of her diet. Within six weeks, she had regained the use of her legs and her face was almost back to normal.

Dr. Myhill diagnosed Mrs. Terry as having Bell’s Palsy, which is a disorder of the facial nerves. She was also found to have Guillain-Barre Syndrome, which causes nervous system problems.

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If I live till March 7th 2006 I will be 71 years old!  I will not attempt to hold you for too long, but PLEASE listen to my TRUE story. ASPARTAME, EQUAL, and NUTRASWEET is not safe for human consumption!

I started to use EQUAL in early 1990’s. 6 months into using Equal as a sugar substitute, I started to have seizures, sometimes twice a day. I went to 3 different doctors and had all kinds of tests run. All the tests came back that I was in good shape!  I asked the last doctor, if I was in such a good shape, why was I having seizures, my hair falling out, my eyesight gone bad, and to make matters worse, I was losing my memory! I did not drive my car for over a year. For two reasons, I was afraid of having a seizure and hurting myself or someone else or killing one or the other, and because my memory was so bad I was afraid of leaving my home and not knowing where to return to my home!  After three different doctors told me “I was in fine shape”.

I am a saved by the GRACE of GOD person and I began to pray to the LORD to help me solve this problem.  My idea came from GOD by installing in what little brain I had left from using Equal, to start eliminating my foods one by one to see IF I could tell what was wrong! I told my hubby I was taking something into my system that was not agreeing with me or I had cancer and not one test was finding it! So, the elimination started.

I kept having the seizures, and etc.  I had been using Equal for 4 years by this time.  In the process of elimination I only had one other to eliminate and that was Equal.  I did not believe the FDA would approve something like that so destructive to mankind until I quit using EQUAL and I quit having seizures! Never had another seizure, my hair quit falling out, my eyesight returned, and THANK GOD my memory returned.  I called the consumer 800 number on the back of the Equal box and told the lady what I had lived through!  She said “well you can’t prove that because it (Equal) doesn’t show up in the blood work”.  Well. I knew then that tests had been made to see if all the chemicals that make up Equal would show up!  Monsanto Chemical Company made sure when they put that chemical out to the public as a sugar that they would be protected!   I know that when I quit using that “horror” called sugar substitute I got well again!!!  You, the FDA and all that is involved will answer to The GOD of heaven one day and give an account for all the people that has suffered and died from the lies that you tell.  Do you know what would be nice? IF YOU could help take it off the market!!  Start telling the truth. What would you give in exchange for your SOUL????  There are 3 things MONEY can’t buy HEALTH, HAPPINESS, and HEAVEN.     My health has returned to me and I am not on any type of medication.

THANK GOD, I am alive today to tell you my story.  Won’t you please help others?

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I just read Henry Kliebenstein’s article (“Steer clear of those artificial sweeteners” Sierra Sun page B2 Feb. 17) on artificial sweeteners and thank you for getting the word out.

Just Google Aspartame and poison and you will have a lot to write about. A year ago I thought I was going to die. I put everything in my wife’s name and I had been feeling sick for a few years. I was getting allergies I never had before and highly sensitive to formaldehyde, which is in plywood and I work around. I could smell it across the street and had to stay away from it or have allergy symptoms.

Last November I was starting to have debilitating pains in my hands. I thought I would have to stop working all together. I had poisoning symptoms so I Goggled formaldehyde to see how bad it was in the products I work around and Aspartame came up. I had been using Aspartame in my coffee and everything you would put sugar on for four years and I was floored to find out it metabolizes into formaldehyde.

I also saw stories that paralleled mine. I stopped taking this drug (Aspartame) and all the symptoms went away – thank goodness.

But I still couldn’t get away from it. I was chewing gum with it and I found out we were giving chewable vitamins to our child that also contained the poison. Do you know there are about 500 products that have this in them?

So do some reading online and get the word out please.

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I am an xx year old Middle School Counselor that works with youth ages 11-14 here in xxxxxxxx, New Mexico.

I see an average of 30 students a week in individual counseling sessions dealing with issues ranging from peer conflict, effects of family’s drug use (methamphetamines in particular), all the way to suicidal ideation and clinical depression.

The last two issues are the ones I would like to emphasize in this letter, as they deal directly with the effects of Aspartame ingestion.

Aspartame Suppresses the Levels of Serotonin in the Brain Serotonin is a naturally produced brain chemical that is necessary for healthy functioning and emotional well-being. We know that low levels of serotonin correlate with depression. When interviewing students on the circumstances surrounding their depressive symptoms, I inquire about the ingestion of sugar-free gum and diet sodas, both of which contain Aspartame.

9 times out of 10 the students indicate regular Aspartame ingestion. I inform them on the effects of Aspartame ingestion, and ask for them to discontinue use of products containing Aspartame. During follow-up, all complying students report a significant reduction in depressive symptoms.

According to one recent report, 5 suicides have been linked to Aspartame ingestion.

Please do all you can to pave the path to ban Aspartame from our food, drinks, candy and gum. We must look out for the well-being of our unsuspecting youth (as well as others). It is our moral, ethical and legal obligation to do so. As a person of power within our governmental structure of our great state, please do your part to protect our citizens.

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I’ve been consuming NutraSweet for 2 1/2 years and suffer from Atypical Facial Pain (one of the 92 side effects of Aspartame.  After reading an article online about Aspartame and my condition I stopped drinking diet pop 3 weeks ago.  The pain is decreasing.  I take 1/2 of the medication that I was for pain.  I haven’t been able to locate any information on how long it takes to recover from the side effects of Aspartame or if the condition I have will be permanent.  Has anyone in the group recovered from their side effects?  Any information would be very helpful to me.  Thank you.

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In 1985, I was a sophomore at the University of California, San Diego. That’s when I began drinking Diet Coke regularly. I didn’t drink coffee. By the spring of 1986, I was starting to notice that my health and mental abilities were deteriorating. My illness escalated rapidly one evening when I was struck with a strange high fever, unlike anything I had experienced previously. My neck was swollen out to my jaw line, and I was shaking all night. In the morning, I went to the student health center. The nurse who saw me said, “It looks like you have a healthy case of mono.” However, the mono test came back negative. Next, they tested for strep, and that was negative, too. On a third visit, they sent me away with a diagnosis of tonsillitis. I knew it wasn’t tonsillitis, but I did not seek further treatment at that time.

I never really got better. Over the next several months, I continued to grow increasingly ill in some alarming ways. What I noticed first was that I had a constant sore throat. I also had chronic severe headaches and low-grade fevers. I was profoundly tired all of the time. One morning, I woke up with a stabbing pain in my eye. It was bright red.

Again, I sought treatment at the student health center. They gave me drops for conjunctivitis, despite my insistence that this was not pink eye. A few days later, the pain was unbearable, and they referred me to a specialist who diagnosed iritis, a condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the iris. Untreated, it can lead to blindness. My eye responded to treatment, but I began having unusual eye infections and irritations fairly regularly after that. In the fall, I had a painful outbreak of shingles at the base of my spine. It felt as if my body were falling apart. I slept much more than my friends, but I rarely felt rested.

I started having one strange complaint after another. My hair would come out and my toenails would fall off. I was sensitive to bright light. I developed mild mitral valve prolapse (a type of heart murmur). I had one vaginal infection after another for no apparent reason, and my urethra was frequently irritated. My bowel movements were never “normal.” I either had diarrhea or constipation or strange ribbon-like stools.

By early 1987, I was starting to experience severe depression and memory problems. I had always been a top student, with strong verbal skills. I was a literature major, and I knew something was going horribly wrong when I began having difficulty retrieving words. Thinking I might have pms for the lack of any other plausible explanation, I went back to the health center. They referred me to the on-campus psychological counseling office, where I was diagnosed with depression. I had sensations that my body was not quite solid, as if I were dissolving. However, I knew that was I was experiencing was not primarily a mental health problem. It’s as if I had suddenly gone from being a 20-year-old active co-ed to getting stuck in a 90-year-old’s failing body.

I was an athlete in high school and had always been quite physically active. I had been an honor student since junior high school, and was always involved in lots of extracurricular activities. However, as my physical deterioration continued, even light exertion could cause me to drop to the floor from dizziness and exhaustion. As things progressed, I developed fibromyalgia. I remember telling my mother, “I feel so tired that my bones ache.” I had recurring laryngitis, conjunctivitis, yeast infections, bladder infections, and fairly severe irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). My throat was nearly always painfully raw. I started having outbreaks of eczema and strange rashes that no one I consulted could diagnose.

I continued drinking Diet Coke and chewing gum with Aspartame throughout college, but I never suspected a connection with my illness.

In graduate school, I would attend classes in the evenings, but I had no energy for anything other than struggling to keep my grades up despite the “brain fog” that was almost always present.

I was a member of Mensa, and had always been a top student. However, by this point, it was a real struggle for me to string two thoughts together. Under stress, I’d stammer and struggle to say what I was thinking, which was a dramatic change from how I’d been previously. My roommate attended class, held a part-time job, and had an active social life. Whereas, I’d sleep in 14-hour stretches and wake with barely enough energy or focus to complete my studies.

Writing was excruciating because I so uncomfortable, tired, and mentally slowed. My frequent visits to the on-campus health services continued for persistent infections, inflammations, and other mysterious complaints.

I graduated in 1990, and started my career. When I saw the first reports on television about Gulf War Syndrome, I told my mom, “I know this sounds crazy, but I have what those guys have.”

Their testimonials matched what I was experiencing so closely. I felt strongly at the time that there must be a connection. A couple of years later, as my Aspartame consumption was tapering off, I had a bout of episcleritis. It’s similar to iritis but less serious. The ophthalmologist took a health history and recommended strongly that I consult a rheumatologist.

After an extensive round of tests, she diagnosed me with CFIDS and fibromyalgia. The only lab results that came back abnormal on a regular basis were my sed rate tests. She assured me that my symptoms were not “all in my head.” Upon receiving the IBS diagnosis from a gastroenterologist, I stopped drinking sodas. From that point on, my health started to improve.

For years, I wondered what had made me so sick for most of my twenties. I thought I might have been accidentally exposed to an experimental pathogen or toxic weapon because that sort of research was conducted in the area where my college campus is. I even had a titer drawn for brucellosis because they manufactured a weaponized version of it near where I lived. (They sold some of it to Sadam Hussein, so I took this possibility seriously.) However, my test came back negative.

I turned 40 this year and now enjoy excellent health. I feel ten times younger than when I was in my twenties. I attribute this improvement to cutting out Aspartame entirely when I started working with a naturopathic physician three years ago. I sleep, exercise, socialize, work, think, and feel like a “normal” person again. I feel as if about 95% of my mental capacity is restored.

NOTE: I think it’s interesting that La Jolla, the location of my college campus was when my illness started, has been identified as a “hot spot” for the CFIDS epidemic. We would get our Diet Coke in cases from the Price Club (before it became a Costco). Is it possible that Diet Coke sold in the area sat in some hot warehouse to a point where the beverages became toxic?

I’ll be glad to answer any questions or provide more information in support of raising public awareness of the severe threat Aspartame poses to those of us who have adverse reactions to it.

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Sorry, but I’m not very good at computer mail yet. In the spring and summer of 2004 I became very sick. After doctor and ER visits and an overnight hospital stay, I found the cause of my illness. Thanks to you and my computer I learned about Aspartame poisoning. I dumped the poisonous garbage and got immediately relief. Now I have a very severe sensitivity to the poisons (I’m not going to be politically correct and call them toxins) in all products containing fragrance. Apparently Aspartame opened the door and Renuzit air freshener was the trigger.

I’m writing a book that could possibly blow the lid off the callous, despicable disciples of Satan who put these debilitating concoctions on the market. If it’s as good as the people who’ve read some of it, it’ll certainly have people talking. It will not be like anything written in the past, not even close. Hopefully my health will allow it to be finished in a month or two. It will be titled xxxxxxxxx. I truly believe GOD put HIS hand on your shoulder and told you to do everything in your power to alert people to the dangers of Aspartame. I also believe HE put HIS hand on my shoulder and told me to write my book. I’m not a “writer” and never in my wildest dreams did I think my little world would come to this. They poisoned me the first time and I let them slide. Now, after they poisoned me again, it’s high time they were made to pay up. I won’t close with GOD BLESS YOU, because he already has.

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Glad to hear you are also aware of this problem. I have am allergic to Aspartame also. I have to be so incredibly careful what I eat but unfortunately I ingested diet pop in an alcoholic beverage a few weeks ago sending me into emergency at a local hospital. Seems each time my reaction is more severe. My parents heard that Mexico is going to ban it so if you have any information on this, please forward it to me. People need to know what it does!!

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I’ve been avoiding Aspartame ever since I figured out that it was giving me migraine headaches.  I had heard that there were thousands of complaints of adverse effects almost a decade ago.  My daughter developed a blister under her tongue after chewing sugarless gum.

Thank God this gentleman in Italy researched the use of Aspartame more thoroughly.  He very well may be saving thousands from suffering and death.

Aspartame is made from toxins.  Avoid it like the plague.

Read it here for yourself and you decide.

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About 6 weeks ago, my boyfriend came home from the grocery with a box of 100 packets of NutraSweet for our coffee. Usually I use Splenda and have had no adverse reaction to it. Closing in on Thanksgiving, I noticed I was developing lower back pain, joint hip pain and an overall sense of not being able to get out of bed in the morning. I related it to shoveling snow. Maybe I strained muscles. But it continued and began to scare me. Was I sick? Right before Christmas day it occurred to me it was getting worse. Deep, arthritic pain (I’m 46) and although I do have some degenerative arthritis. The onset was so sudden and strong. I knew it had to be something else. It came to me just after Christmas day. The NutraSweet. I immediately stopped drinking it in my coffee and within TWO DAYS the pain was completely GONE. I am convinced it was the NutraSweet poisoning me.  Just wanted to share this with someone who is aware of its dangers. Thank you,

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I’m new to the group and still trying to learn how to communicate with other members.  Please forgive me if I am posting this to the wrong address or in the wrong place.  I recently reported my memory loss and vision problems caused by aspartame to the FDA Medwatch.  I wanted to thank you for all of the good work you’ve done to educate the public about Aspartame.  I’ve consumed high levels of Aspartame for years because I believed it wouldn’t have gotten FDA approval if it wasn’t safe.

About a year ago I started to notice that I was having word finding difficulty and frequent lapses in short term memory.  As this became progressively worse I became worried about my ability to remain gainfully employed.  While researching memory problems I found various articles written by you and others about the dangers of Aspartame usage.

As an experiment I stopped using Aspartame for 2 months.  Within the first 2 weeks my carbohydrates and sweet cravings started to diminish.  But the biggest surprise was the drastic improvement I’ve seen in my short-term memory and visual acuity.

I’ve had various health problems since I started ingesting Aspartame.

I developed a non-malignant cranial nerve brain tumor in 1990.  It was growing inside the cranium at the root of the 7th cranial nerve.  The excision caused the left side of my face to be permanently paralyzed.

My question is. Is there a connection between heavy Aspartame use and non-malignant neurolimas, neuromas or cranial nerve tumors?

Thank you for all the work you’ve done to spread the word about this poison.  You’ve greatly improved the quality of my daily life!

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I was a person that used Aspartame regularly in everything as a sugar substitute. Coffee, soda, cakes, pies, even gum. Over time I became very, very ill. I didn’t know what was wrong with me; doctors didn’t know what was wrong with me. I was slowly increasingly getting sicker. I had extreme joint pain I could barely walk from the parking lot at work to my desk. I’d have to leave 30 minutes earlier than usual just to allow the time to walk in. Elderly people at the stores would pass me.

I was slowly deteriorating. Some doctors thought it was fibromyalgia in which there is no cure. I had no energy, I was always feeling nausea I am only 37 years old and I knew there was something wrong but I didn’t know what. I began feeling very sick instantly after drinking or eating Aspartame. I decide to stop using Aspartame because that was the only change that I had made previous the onset of my condition. I began to drink detox tea and went back to using sugar. I immediately felt better and as time passed the joint pain has stopped. Still to this day if I accidental consume an Aspartame product I feel the effects immediately after ingesting the substance, so quick that I don’t even have time to finish the product before I discard it because of feeling ill.

I was feeding these products to my at the time small children and I’m so devastated to know that I may have hurt them. I thought that I was doing something healthy for them. I didn’t know that this substance was unsafe. I believed that if it was being used in a product that it was tested and approved to be safe. Our lives were definitely touched by Aspartame and it will affect our household always in the way we eat, drink and buy products. We will always use sugar from now on. I hope that my feedback is not overlooked and that action would be taken to remove Aspartame from the market. I may have very well continued with the consumption of this product without second guessing my diet decisions.

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Understand you are compiling a list of Aspartame victims, my husband spent most of last year flat on his back, had tons of tests with all convinced he had MS until he had clear MRIs (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). Eliminated Aspartame and he has had only one more “bout” in 8 months – which we think we can track to accidental Aspartame ingestion.  If you know of anyone doing anything to combat the sale and use of this horrible drug in America, please let me know.

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Hello, I’m a former National Merit Scholar and University Student. I say “former” because Aspartame has utterly butchered my brain.

That’s right. I was a 21 year old with a bright future and an even brighter mind. Traditionally, I’ve scored anywhere between 130-150 on IQ tests with ease. On a recent exam, I nailed just 98 — with difficulty. My mental capacity has been severely, dramatically, and — perhaps — permanently altered due to excess consumption of this chemical disaster.

In the midst of a severe depression, I swilled the stuff in ridiculously extreme amounts. Three 44oz drinks a day were not uncommon. Looking back, it’s easy to conjecture that Diet Coke actually instigated and aggravated my psychological problems. As a statistic of one, I offer the following observations about my experiences, written as honestly as I can muster.

In the beginning, I was an extraordinary skeptic. Diet Coke was my favorite drink, and I trusted the industry funded studies above all alarmist “nonsense”. People I knew warned me about how my habits could affect me, especially given my talents, but I shrugged them off. “MIT dosed people with 14,000 grams of the stuff,” I’d say, “it’s safer than water!”

How wrong I was.

I thought my addiction was merely caffeine, but caffeine never satiated me. I always craved the sweet fizzy brew; a chemical junky, always on the hunt for my next brain fix. Over the months, as my appetite and consumption of Aspartame increased to absurdist levels, I noticed the following:

1. It caused me to stop thinking. I recall having an exceptionally clear mind — sharp, precise, and swift. After drinking Aspartame, I noticed a very clear annihilation of my memory. I could not broach topics or relate ideas. People would ask questions like “What was your favorite movie with actor X?” I simply could not link those words to a face or picture in my mind. It’s as if someone were speaking Spanish. You do not know how disconcerting this is until it occurs.

2. It gave me neurological and heart disorders. At the height of my consumption, the ring and pinky fingers of my left hand went COMPLETELY NUMB FOR TWO WEEKS STRAIGHT. Simultaneously, I experienced a discomfort and thudding sensation in my chest, as though my heart was overworked and on the verge of failure. As is usual with these circumstances, physicians could find “nothing wrong with me”. I’ve NEVER had conditions like these in the entirety of my life, and WHAM.

3. I became profoundly forgetful and dissociated, as though I were walking through a dream or under heavy medication. Daily events and situations ceased to have any personal meaning to me. It’s as though I’d taken a Novocain shot to the cranium.

4. I sunk into the darkest depression I’ve ever known. My emotions were so out of control I’d get dry heaves, have suicidal ideation, sit motionless for hours, lock the door and stay in bed, etc. etc. Had this happened before? Did I have a history of mental illness? No.

All of this and I hadn’t even hit the ADI!

My doc says many of my cognitive difficulties were probably due to the huge amounts of caffeine I was consuming. Bullshit.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I’ve imbibed every caffeinated concoction on the planet in copious quantity: coffee, tea, regular cola, cappuccino, hot chocolate, whatever, and NONE of them have given me symptoms like this.

On the contrary, they usually offer a temporary nootropic affect, giving me better focus.

If you’re considering drinking the stuff, consider this: if any ONE of the three deadly toxins in this hell-molecule lives up to its potential, you’re causing slow, irreparable damage to yourself. Not just your body but to YOU, your mind. Aspartame wears things away, erodes them at a level you can’t perceive. One day, you could conceivably wake up and feel 75%. Or 60%. Or 20%.

After four months without, I still feel as though I’m recovering from a traumatic head injury. My physical symptoms are long gone, as is my depression. My slowness of thought and memory have markedly improved.

Overall, I can only pray that my mind will completely recover with time. if not, I’m purely thankful to have abstained when I did. I very much appreciate life now.

There’s a humble old adage that applies very, very well here: “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.”

And there’s a good damn deal of smoke around.

BURN MONSANTO!

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Great Website! People need to be made aware of the dangers of Aspartame.

I am 25 years old and reside in England. I used to drink bottles and bottles of Aspartame sweetened cool drink, eat Aspartame sweetened yoghurt etc. Ha, ha, I thought I was helping myself lose weight.

The worse of my problems was symptoms of diabetes. I was certain that I had diabetes and had myself tested.

According to my first test results I was diabetic; then I learned about the dangers of Aspartame, cut it out of my diet and everything returned to normal.

The symptoms I had were:

* Excessive depression

* Extreme hunger (resulting in a 12 kilogram weight gain)

* Symptoms of diabetes (drastic drop in blood sugar levels making me shaky until I eat something sweet)

* Extreme, unexplained, tiredness (I used to get up at 6 am, I worked part time until 13h00, then came home, had lunch and go to sleep until 17h00, had dinner and went to bed around 20h00, many times even earlier)

* Uncontrolled urethra infections

* Drastic drop in body temperature, making me shake with shivers in the afternoons even though the heating in the house was running.

At 24 I thought that my life was basically over, because I had no normal life anymore. Until I learned about Aspartame. Now that I have cut it out of my diet all these symptoms have disappeared. I am living a normal life now, keeping up with a full time job and other activities. I am not controlled by hunger anymore, have lost all the weight I gained and I don’t feel depressed anymore. No more shakes and shivers! What a difference it made!

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Recently my sister forwarded to me an email about the dangers of using artificial sweeteners. I wanted to share with you my recent experience. I have been using artificial sweeteners for many, many years, but in moderation. Recently however I starting drinking 4-6 glasses of Crystal Light, plus drinking diet pop in the evening. I was attempting to lose weight. However I started to experience severe vertigo, stomach aches and some other symptoms. Vertigo runs in my family so I didn’t think too much about it except that it seemed different from other times. THEN, I read the article that had been sitting in my in basket. I was so surprised about the dangers of Aspartame and what I was doing to my body. Coincidently I also had run out of my Crystal Light so I went back to drinking bottled water. All of my symptoms, the vertigo, stomach aches and asthma went away. I will now try to completely eliminate this poison from my diet.

I am now spreading the word to my co-workers and friends.

Thanks

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I do know that I get very sick when I have Aspartame and that I’m not the only one. Of my own personal friends I know *at least* 8 of them have serious health problems if they have it. Some of them have seizures, others vomit, some just have minor symptoms.

I avoid it as much as possible and I won’t touch diet pop.

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Just four days ago I received an article in an email from a close friend. The wife of a former Army Air Core Helicopter Pilot who served during the 1982 conflict.

The report was about the use of sweeteners that is found in many food and drink products. Because of my ongoing search for answers as to why my wife Mandy developed a life threatening brain tumour which required urgent surgery to remove and why our daughter Rachel has suffered from epilepsy since she was just 3 days old, I decided to check out the information given to me.

I was horrified at what I discovered.

I have since become a member of “Mission Possible International” and will begin to inform my fellow country people of the serious potential risks associated with Aspartame.

Now I do not wish to bore you all with personal grievances, but the following might surprise you.

Since we learned about Aspartame and its deadly toxins, we did a search of items in our home and was amazed at just how many products contained Aspartame. We decided to stop using any products immediately, that was four days ago and the results have been quite striking.

Rachel as mentioned has regular night time seizures and until four days ago I personally do not remember a single night in the past 18 years that I have not had to attend her, usually several times in a single night.

Well since we removed the Aspartame products, especially the instant chocolate and diet mineral water. Rachel has not had a single attack in four consecutive nights. This is short of a miracle.

I learned that Aspartame can seriously affect the ability of regular prescribed drugs and it is highly probable that Rachel’s medication was being affected. It also makes me wonder if Mandy’s tumour was in fact directly linked to Aspartame; it is certainly something we have to consider.

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Struggling with his diabetic diet, Richard Larson, Willits resident, discovered a diet root beer that appealed to him and there were times he would drink a six pack in a day. That has all changed.

I began having terrible headaches, he says. Finally, after seeing his physician and then checking out Aspartame, a sweetener used in diet drinks, he eliminated what he calls a serious poison from his diet.

To say I was scared was the very least, he says remembering going for a CT scan to see if there was a brain tumor.

Larson came to Willits 10 years ago with his father, the late Glen Larson. The two loved to hunt and fish. Glenn was a widower and son, Richard, had experienced a divorce. Arriving here in 1995, the pair settled on Pine Mountain and shared the outdoors activities they enjoyed.

Today, Richard Larson is producer of redwood planter boxes, hope chests and bird houses, when he is not on the internet researching Aspartame.

Just call up Aspartame (or Aspartame) and headaches at Google on the internet, he invites.

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My husband is a vet and he was told a story by a client about someone who was diagnosed by the doctors with MS.  A friend told her about Aspartame which she stopped and all the symptoms disappeared.  I had been suffering with mild dulling headaches for some time, I stopped having Aspartame and I haven’t had a headache since.  Not enough people know about the dangers of Aspartame, it is all around us, it is very difficult to buy some products e.g. fruit squash, without Aspartame.  I will try to raise peoples’ awareness of this problem.

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Several years ago I was doing a Weight Watchers diet program.  I developed terrible abdominal pains, as intense as labor.  My doctor did all sorts of tests and found nothing except my wallet. He kept asking me what I was doing different and of course not realizing it was Aspartame I could think of nothing.  Eventually I quit the diet, lost weight but was always bloated.  I figured I was just getting old and losing my shape at 40 something.  Out of the blue months later I figured out and I don’t know how–that it was the diet stuff.

A few years later my son went to the hospital with terrible abdominal pains and vomiting.  About a year later he consumed 2 liters of pink diet grapefruit juice and had a migraine so bad he crawled to our family car.  He was 16 at the time. They found nothing wrong with him.

Since then we realized since I had “allergy” to it, apparently he does also–some allergy–it is just plain poison.  He has gotten into it several times at picnics with diet Jell-O stuff and Crystal lite.  He gets migraines and his face and tongue go numb.  He has to cook all his own food at college because his roommates will not quit using the garbage and he gets terribly ill.

When I started studying Aspartame more, I discovered that when I was using it I had developed large fibroid tumors resulting in a hysterectomy.  I also had blurred vision, a feeling of spaciousness, leg twitching, headaches, lip twitching, and bloating.  I never realized until later that all those things were most likely caused by “the poison” I was consuming.

This is a crime that the FDA does not take this hideous garbage off the market–the health of our American people would improve greatly just by not using Aspartame. Seizures and headaches alone would probably come down greatly.

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Seven years ago I went on a diet and lost a lot of weight one of the things I did was add all diet drinks and sweeteners to my diet. Shortly after starting this new eating lifestyle I started having the following symptoms;

• Headaches/migraines
• Menstrual cramps
• Fatigue
• Memory loss
• Tingling hands
• Heart palpitations
• Depression
• Stomach pains
• Insomnia
• Gastritis
• Eye twitching
• Back pain
• Joint and muscle pain

Allergic to all antibiotics (started 5 years ago almost killed me) Sensitivity to all medications

My doctor thought I was a hypochondriac I was constantly in his office with another complaint he tested me for lupus, MS, fibromyalgia, Lyme’s disease, arthritis and depression. They found no positive results. It left me for years just treating the symptoms with medication and then 5 years ago I started to have allergic reactions to every medication they put me on. Is this a common symptom? I have been Aspartame free for 2 months and feel such better. I tried to drink a new Coke zero this weekend and I have been sick since. I know it’s the Aspartame that has poisoned me.

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I am overwhelmed by all the stories on the Internet on Aspartame poisoning. I live in the Tulsa area.

I believe Aspartame made me have MS or appear to have MS. Has it been proven that Aspartame causes brain lesions? Within 6 weeks of giving up diet soda, my MS symptoms disappeared.

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Hello, I just thought I should share my reactions to Aspartame with you. At first I would just get headaches from it.  Then I would leave it alone and try it again at a later date.  Well, my reactions in the past 2 years have been something altogether different.  If I have any slight bit of Aspartame, I have severe pain in my abdomen.  Followed by an hourly vomit session until all of my stomach content is expelled.  I seem to have an excessive amount of bile in the vomitus.  Anyway, that’s been my experience.

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For a few years, my doctor has told me I have Diabetes type II. I had gestational diabetes with three of my children and they said I basically “kept” it afterwards.

After reading some things people posted here about NutraSweet, I figured I better stop using it. Well, ever since I STOPPED using NutraSweet, my blood sugar has been totally normal. PERFECTLY normal, not even a hint of diabetic tendency.

It’s been over 2 years now and it’s been the same way, no NutraSweet – no high blood sugar. I don’t know if that was causing it or not, but I will never use it again!

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I need to find some alternatives to white sugar that are lower calorie. I have quit using sweeteners because I was feeling awful all of the time. I started reading everything I could get my hands on and found out what these sweeteners break down to once they are in your body. It scared me bad enough that I no longer have any desire for a diet soda. And believe it or not my aches and pains are disappearing, my mood is improving and I’m beginning to feel really good again. My concern is that I love my coffee with sugar and tea, lightly sweetened, but I’m not wild about switching to sugar now especially since I struggle with hypoglycemia and my family’s history of diabetes.

Do you guys have any suggestions? I’ve heard that there are products available, but I do not want to waste a lot of money trying things that taste nasty.

 

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I was feeling AWFUL, hypoglycemia, had no energy, headaches all the time, muscle aches and pains, and Galactorreah (unexplained lactation) the whole ball of wax. Anyway, I went to the dr. had to do tons of tests and MRI junk, they thought it was a pituitary tumor, they found nothing, so my doc tried to diagnose me with depression. She gave me Prozac, muscle relaxers and Ambien I was astounded that she had prescribed this after just 2 visits with her. Anyway on the way home I thought, I’m not depressed just stressed.

I did not fit any of the criteria for depression that wasn’t on the list of things for someone needing to relieve stress. So I didn’t take any of the meds and would hate to have to start any. ANYWAY, I started reading and came across some articles related to sweeteners and how they react in your body. I was amazed at what I was reading. So I decided to quit all sweeteners. I feel like a different person. I don’t have the sweet tooth that I did before and my “brain fog” is gone, I am sleeping better, the headaches are gone. I cannot believe the changes that I am feeling since I eliminated them. Anyway that is my 2 cents worth.

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9-10 years ago, I was diagnosed with “undifferentiated connective tissue disease”, whatever that is (a big name for something causing me a lot of pain, and no real idea what).  Subsequently, I was diagnosed with Reynaud’s disease and fibromyalgia.  I lived on the highest does of every NSAID out there.  I had to take Darvocet or Vicodan at night for pain. I lived on antidepressants.   My mother read several articles about the effects of Aspartame – and knowing that I have drank only diet sodas since she can remember (I am now 41 years old), she urged me to stop using anything with Aspartame in it.  I told her she was crazy, but that I would give it 3 months.

I saw my rheumatologist in July of 2004.  On that day, he drew blood (as usual) and I told him I was going to give up anything with Aspartame for 3 months.  I then wanted to redraw my blood and see if there was a difference.  He told me it was a waste of time.  He had never heard of such nonsense.  I went home that day (July 15) and gave it up.  By the 3 month mark I had set for myself, I was able to cut my meds in half – completely eliminating my meds at night.  I decided to continue since I did see a change.  To this day, I am off everything.  I have an occasional Aleve for “old age” pains, but no nsaids, no narcotics/analgesics, no antidepressants.  I have not been back to me MD to tell him, but plan to soon.

I truly believe it was the Aspartame.  Two months ago, I started dieting.  I read labels for Aspartame.  I never thought yogurt would have Aspartame in it, so I didn’t look.  After eating this type of yogurt for 2 weeks, I was developing my old pains – hips, knees, neck, shoulders, fingers, etc.  I decided to check the label and what do you know – Aspartame.

I stopped immediately and within one week, I was feeling better.

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I was fortunate to have begun my own internet search for info about Aspartame, in early December 2003. It only took a few hours to find enough evidence to convince me to totally abstain from this toxic substance. A recovering alcoholic (drank very heavily from adolescence to age 27), I had developed “reactive hypoglycemia” in 1981 (blood glucose level 34 mg/dl @ 3-1/2 hours into a 5 hr. GTT). To “treat” the hypoglycemia, I eliminated simple carbohydrates and sugars from my diet, and substituted sugar-sweetened sodas with diet drinks. The symptoms of the hypoglycemia abated, but within 7 years I became a very labile diabetic. I continued to use the Aspartame-laden products for several years. My diabetes was extremely difficult to control, and other changes took place. After a bout with a bacterial pneumonia in the summer of 1991, with which I lost about 40 pounds, I have never been able to get my weight much above 150 lb. (I am 5′ 10″). In 2001, I mysteriously developed high blood pressure, though my cardiac & circulatory condition proved excellent, and cholesterol and triglyceride levels were very good. The hypertension was treated successfully with lisinopril, for about a year, when the blood pressure began to increase again. The lisinopril dosage was doubled, and again the hypertension remained in control for about another year. At that point, my endocrinologist tried an array of antihypertensive drugs, from Clonidine to Lotrel and diuretics. The lack of any logical explanation for the high blood pressure caused me to take a careful look at my lifestyle. I had quit smoking cigarettes (April 1983), and the levels of stress were not significantly changed. The one thing that came to mind was the fact that I consumed moderately large quantities of diet soda, and other products containing Aspartame. The aforementioned internet search soon took me to the Dorway website. After reading much of the info on that site, I immediately stopped using everything containing Aspartame. At 3 months, one unexpected benefit was a complete disappearance of shoulder pain, formerly diagnosed by an orthopedic surgeon as “diabetic frozen shoulder”.

I can now actually shoot baskets with my daughter, and the range of motion has returned to almost normal. Also, my vision has actually improved, documented by semi-annual visits to my ophthalmologist. 20/55 left eye and 20/50 right eye has improved to 20/25 and 20/20! My intraocular pressure (22-23 in 2003) has dropped (17-18 in Feb. 2005). My complaints of “bright spots” diminished to almost nothing, but the Dr. is monitoring “background retinopathy” and a nevus near the optic nerve of the left eye. I shared with him my certainty that the improvements in vision are a direct result of stopping the use of Aspartame. Other effects, unfortunately, have not subsided. At age 50, I suffer from moderately severe ED. The new drugs for treating this disorder have not been effective, nor was a trial of transdermal testosterone patches. My diabetes is still difficult to control, but better with an insulin pump (I am considered type 1, as there is no evidence of pancreatic function). The blood pressure continues to fluctuate at times, and I have difficulty with fatigue and inability to focus on my work (I am a manufacturing engineer). All this said, however, I can only consider myself fortunate to have learned of the dangers of Aspartame when I did. I am certain that I would now be in much worse physical condition, perhaps even dead. I would guess that there are many thousands of people who have been permanently impaired and physically compromised by Aspartame poisoning. Nonetheless, I am offering use of my information by you, or anyone else that is able to use it, for the furtherance of the cause of banning Aspartame. It seems that the love of money truly is the root of this evil!

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I have had Aspartame seizures off and on since year 2001. I first experienced the seizures when I bought a box of Slim fast bars to eat at work. I am a janitor and I work alone. I felt fine before I ate the Slim fast bars, but then all of my left side including my face and tongue went numb and tingling. I thought I had a stroke until I spoke with one of the ladies who works at the building I clean, and she gave me an article on Aspartame. I also made another discovery with my Estrogen pill “PREMARIN” it also has Aspartame in the dye. I was getting petite mals in the stomach until I quit taking it. I didn’t my doctor know any of this until I spoke to a lawyer. When I didn’t receive an answer back from xxxxxxx xxxxxxx I went to see a lawyer in [Location] where I live, and he said, “I have to let my doctor know about this and be tested.” My doctor knew nothing about Aspartame. He didn’t know Aspartame causes seizures and brain tumors. Thoughts were running through my head,

“OH G-R-E-A-T here I go educating another doctor!”

I have an appointment set up with a Neurosurgeon for September 22, 2005, and all the research I have done on Aspartame I made sure I dropped copies of information off at Dr. Bakker’s office ahead of time. On August 10th 2005 I went to see a dietitian, and she knew “NOTHING” about Aspartame. I took a binder of information in with me, and the Dietitian replied, “It’s better for you to rely on the computer for your information than to talk to me because I know nothing about Aspartame. I sharply replied, “So it’s better for me to go All Natural than to take my chances on the food industry? The Dietitian said, “All her clients respond with the same attitude as mine when they leave her office also.” I buy only ORGANIC FOOD, and I do not eat in restaurants anymore.   Since I have gone all natural I have been seizure-free. I would like to file a class action lawsuit against the Aspartame Company. My Family Doctor said if I go through with this Aspartame test and have a seizure I could lose my driver’s license, and then there goes my livelihood because I operate my own Janitorial Company myself. I need all the advice you can give me including on How to Deal with the Doctors Here In [Location] Concerning Aspartame. Having to deal with Aspartame Poison has limited me to the “Do’s and Don’ts.” Could you please help me with the class action lawsuit or give me some guidance on how to go about taking action against Aspartame.

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Both my wife and I have numerous symptoms and have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and Arthritis. She has MS and was almost to a point that she could not walk and her pain was almost unbearable for her. I have Pseudotumor Cerebri (over production of spinal column fluid that builds up in the cranial cavity).

I was a Diet Pepsi addict; that is all I drank, and often would drink over a gallon a day. My wife only drank one to two bottles a day. Both her MS and my PTC were out of control on this chemical.

Since we stopped drinking and eating the Aspartame, the symptoms of our fibromyalgia and Arthritis are very rare occurrences. Both her MS and my PST have gotten better. We have been working for over 5 months now trying to detoxify our bodies.

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Why isn’t there a warning label in diet soda or the packets of that poison? I had many of the symptoms as most that I have read here and as soon as I realized that the coffee in the morning, diet soda in the afternoon and evening was making me crazy. I had blood work for years and my DR’s said there was nothing wrong with me and I thought feeling like crap was the new normal. Try feeling like crap every day for fifteen years then finding out that it was the poison in the diet soda and the sweeteners in my coffee that was making me sick. I also don’t understand why this is not or hasn’t been a huge story on any or all the network news. There must be thousands of people suffering and NOT knowing that it’s in the diet soda or the sweeteners in the coffee that’s making them deathly I’ll. Someone needs to break this story.

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I was driving my truck on night and had to pull over with an acute bout of vertigo.  I’m a physician and was not immediately alarmed, rather, annoyed.  From that point on, every 4 or 5 minutes, I developed a sense of disequilibrium with occasional bouts of vertigo.  This lasted every waking hour for more than 7 months. With the typical, “Physician, heal thyself,” mentality, I did NOT want to go through the typical route of over investigation so prominent in our current healthcare model.

At the point leading up to my initial onset of symptoms, I was drinking 1200 – 1500 mL of diet pop daily.  I had been doing this for more than 20 years.  I had increased my consumption to almost 3 liters of diet pop for about a 2 month time period leading up to my symptoms.  As I had no other neurological signs or symptoms, I started looking to things like Aspartame.  As an easy test, I discontinued use of all diet pops and anything sweetened with Aspartame.  Over about 3 months, my symptoms went away.  Not conclusive, but certainly welcome results.

About 2 months after my symptoms went away, I began drinking diet pops again.  About 2 weeks after I began consumption of them, my symptoms returned at which point I ceased consumption all together. Within three days, my symptoms also went away.  As I realize that this is, by no means, conclusive evidence of Aspartame toxicity, I personally believe it did.  Mine is a simple “n of 1” study of which I was an unwilling participant, but I have NO signs or symptoms associated with the whatever was plaguing me, SINCE I discontinued use of Aspartame.

I just thought I’d share my experience with you.

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Hello, I would like to provide my story so it may help someone out there. I have drunk a lot of diet cola for about 20 years. Symptoms started when I was 25 (9 years ago). I was an avid skier, pretty darn good I must say. Instead of getting better every season, as all people do, I was getting worse. I would tire quickly and get a rash on my face and go home after a couple of hours, feeling ashamed that I could not keep up with my regular crowd of friends. I also had shoulder pain and headaches. I thought that I was just getting old. I could not keep up with my college classes, my memory was awful; I had to drop out because my grades were not good enough to receive loans anymore.

(My GPA was 3.4 the first 2 years). I became too tired to be social, only had one or two friends. A few years later I was numb on my left side. An MRI showed a lesion in my spinal cord, the neurologist thought it was MS, but not enough proof to diagnose me yet. A few years later I went numb again. Two lesions on my brain this time, unexplainable. I was so tired and depressed I couldn’t function.

The anti-depressants didn’t help at all so I quit taking them, against my doctors’ advice, I felt a little better actually. I started taking “speed” like drugs because caffeine wasn’t doing it for me anymore and if I didn’t take them, I was afraid I would need to be hospitalized (fatigue), and my kids would be taken away from me. Luckily, before I became addicted or strung out or “tweaky” my mother in law e-mailed me a story about Aspartame because it sounded just like me. I quit drinking diet drinks about 6 months ago.

I take no drugs anymore (except caffeine). I can function now. I can take my kids to the park and clean the house! I feel like I am about 85% back to normal now, hopefully I will keep improving. I still want to learn to surf; a year ago I thought it would never happen. I now annoy and pester anyone who drinks or eats artificial sweetener to stop. Most do not listen or care, but if I can even help one person it will be worth it.

Thanks for reading this!

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I started using Aspartame when it went into all the diet sodas on the market and I had severe headaches and stomach pain on the day that I started drinking the soda with this sweetener in them. I proceeded to have very severe memory problems – I could not remember even small normal words such as cup and pen- I knew that I knew the word -but I could not pull the word out of my brain to use it in conversation. I would be talking and in the middle of a sentence stop talking because I forgot what I was talking about and I could not remember – the harder I would try to remember the farther away it seemed to go. Someone could tell me what I was talking about and I could maybe finish the sentence or 2 or three sentences. I would be driving along and a 6 to 8 foot section of the road would just disappear I could still see the road further ahead of that section but if I moved my eyes up toward the section of road that was still visible it would disappear also. I had to try to stay within the lines on the sides of the road by using -what I guess would be peripheral vision. I could not sleep and even when I thought I was asleep my husband and daughter would walk into a room and start talking to me – when I asked why they insisted on talking to me when I was asleep – they told me I was laying there with my eyes wide open.

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I just found your website and would like to share with you the problems that I had from drinking diet pop with Aspartame in it. I had joint and muscle pain, tingling hands, fatigue and insomnia. I could hardly stand to use my hands, I felt like a cripple. I went to the doctor he tested me for lupus, MS, fibromyalgia, Lyme’s disease, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome and depression. He couldn’t diagnosis anything, what I had was a mystery to him. I had to wear braces on my arms for 6 months. Eventually all symptoms subsided and my life got back to normal and I never figured out why the symptoms came or why they left, that is until I hear about Aspartame. I now know that the symptoms went away because I stopped drinking diet pop every day, I just never put the two things together. I never dreamed that I was causing the problems myself by drinking several cans of pop a day. I am very careful now about Aspartame now that I know what caused the problems and they have not returned.

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I just read your story about Diet Coke. I had several symptoms of MS and Lou Gerigs disease. My doctor asked me to stop drinking diet pop and in two weeks my symptoms were gone!  Unreal

Keep up the good work.

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First of all, I have spinal stenosis. Those symptoms are lower back pain, numbness after standing for a while and neck pain. Occasional hand tingling, really no big problem.

But here were my ASPARTME symptoms: ALL MS / ALS symptoms!!!!

1. Muscle twitching

2. Dizziness (not related to sinus pressure)

3. Feeling like I was in a psychedelic scene of a bad horror movie

4. Problems swallowing, very scary!!!!

5. Muscle contractions that made my whole body contract!!!!

6. Hoarse throat

7. Sporadic finger twitching

When my spine doctor tested my strength he said I was “a bull”, which was a good sign against neuro-muscular disease. He asked my about Diet Coke and I had been consuming high amounts.

I stopped and my symptoms disappeared in two weeks. I still want to sue Diet Coke for the scariest two weeks of my life!

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I have never been able to eat or drink artificial sweeteners of any kind. A mint or a piece of gum causes me to be nauseated, dizzy, confused, severe migraine, panic/anxiety. My symptoms are severe and I have to be very careful about what I eat or drink. I was prescribed cough syrup by my family doctor and couldn’t use it because it has NutraSweet in it. What about our children who have allergies NutraSweet and don’t know. Liquid penicillin, cough syrup, vitamins, what can we do about it?

Do we have any control?

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I have never liked NutraSweet but now none of my family uses it. My niece was only two years old when she started having seizures. They took her to a clinic and determined that it was not epilepsy. At one point she went into respiratory arrest and almost died if she hadn’t been in the hospital at the time I believe she would have. They put her on Dilantin which made her a zombie and she still had seizures. One day when she had another seizure my brother called me asking me what he could do (she had passed out again). Out of the blue I remembered that when NutraSweet first came out, seizures in epileptics and young children was a possible side effect. I asked him if she had been having any. They had been giving her NutraSweet popsicles because they were concerned with how many she was eating (more than 4 a day). I told him what I remembered and they took her off the Dilantin and NutraSweet. She only had one more seizure (we think she got some sugar free Jell-O at a picnic). She went from having seizures that could not be controlled to no medication at all in a matter of weeks. The doctors did not want her taken off the meds. They would not listen to my brother about the NutraSweet connection. Now she is a fine and healthy second grader.

I know of many diabetics drinking diet sodas. This is a known hazard and has been from the start. When will our medical community start to listen? How many children are having seizures now due to NutraSweet?

And it seems that every epileptic I know is using NutraSweet because their doctor says it is Okay to have it!!! (at least 4 people) Thank you for being out there to inform people. I just wish more people would listen.

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For some people, just getting off Aspartame is enough to recover from problems they may be suffering but in my case, it took a lot more.  My first “episode” was a lot easier to handle – I just stopped using the sweetener and within a couple of weeks, I was a new person.  At the time, I wasn’t aware how harmful Aspartame was – I just knew I was sick and assumed it was something I was doing. And I was right. I was I would have followed my guts.

A few months after that, I went to the doctor for a physical and mentioned my experience w/Aspartame. I thought she would be happy to hear I figured out the problem since no one could seem to figure out what was wrong with me. Instead, she laughed it off and said it was impossible.  The doctors thought I was a hypochondriac and actually diagnosed me with a mental problem.  They prescribed me all kinds of mental drugs but luckily I didn’t take any of it. Taking her word, I started drinking my diet sodas again and within several months, my symptoms came back and this time it was severe.  I had all the tests you can name, they couldn’t find anything wrong with me except for what I was telling them.  They finally diagnosed me with depression!  I have lost all my faith in doctors.  I thought I was going to go crazy – none of them would listen.  That’s when I found all the info on Aspartame and talked you.  It was a rough time – I visited Dr. Harding (she a blessing) and she worked miracles for me.  God bless her!

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In my mid-thirties, I began drinking diet sodas to lose weight.  After 2 years of initial use, I began having headaches and dizziness on a daily basis.  Over-the-counter medications did not improve my symptoms.  Then I began experiencing chronic fatigue, extreme weakness, body pain (flu like), \’head in a fog\’ thinking, back pain, irregular, painful and debilitating menstrual cycles. I also experienced hypoglycemia symptoms, bloating, breathing difficulties, heart palpitations, excessive thirst and hunger, severe itching, nausea, numbness and tingling of extremities, night sweats, tremors and blurred vision.  At times I actually felt as if I were being poisoned.  On Sept 22, 2004, I had a seizure.  After all the doctor visits and medical tests, it was determined that I was very healthy, with the exception of an incidental finding, cerebral aneurysm. My PCP prescribed Zoloft for panic attacks, which did help to relieve my symptoms temporarily. I continued to struggle through each day. I knew I was dying, and was ready to go because I was so miserable. Several weeks ago, I learned that 2 of my neighbors, both female, have been sick with the same symptoms.  We had our well water tested, heavy metal screening, looked into the possibility of toxic mold in the homes, until I discovered the toxic effects of Aspartame poisoning.  I confirmed with my neighbors and they in fact consumed large amounts of diet soda (NutraSweet) as well.  I am now 2 weeks without Aspartame in my diet, and I am beginning to feel much improvement in my health.  Most of my symptoms have improved tremendously, or disappeared. Even those around me have noticed a difference in my behavior, focus, and particularly my energy level.  I am convinced that I am a victim of Aspartame poisoning.

Thank you for taking my story.

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I am someone who has a story about Aspartame. I think I went to the Doctor about 5 years ago because I had numbness and tingling in my face which I thought could be the start of a tooth nerve dying. Ex-ray said no. I think that was probably the first experience I had with numbness and tingling which progressed to a full body flush and tingling which happened about 20 – 30 times a day.

It seemed to occur in parts of my body where I had an injury of some sort – a broken bone in my foot etc.

These symptoms lasted for about 30-60 sec. and did not knock me off my feet but sometimes, if it included a vision problem in my left eye, I had to consciously make and effort to stay in control of my body. In the fall of 2003 I went to my family Dr. who sent me to the neurologist. Of course they looked for things like stroke, MS, epilepsy etc. I had an MRI of my head, a carotid artery test, x-rays; saw the ophthalmologist, orthopedic surgeon and the neurologist 3 times. He couldn’t find anything – I think he thought I was making this up. All he said was if it was still happening in 30 days I should come back. Well, I was seeing ads for food which said “no Aspartame” and I began to wonder. I drank diet ice tea and used other food products since they came on the market. I consumed a large jar of diet iced tea every 2 wks in addition to diet soda etc. I decided to eliminate Aspartame from my diet and after about 2 wks the numb/flushes started to subside. It took almost 6 mo. before they were gone entirely. It hasn’t happened for 6 -7 mo. I received your e/mail address from my daughter who is a professor in the science department because I have wanted to tell this story to someone because I felt it had some significance for others who have undiagnosed neurological problems.

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Since I can remember I have always drunk diet drinks had sugar free sweets and other food products. About 6 years ago I experienced severe fatigue, loss of feeling and tingling in my fingers and down one side of my body. I even experienced paralysis in my legs. I was sent to see a neurologist and he put me through lots of tests suspecting that I had MS. All tests came back negative. My Mum then met a lady who had MS and told her about Aspartame. I then cut it out of my diet completely and my symptoms disappeared.

I have been fine since.

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I only have a few moments to write you a quick note. But I first and foremost would like to thank you for all the information I have obtained through your website about the toxicity of Aspartame.

I have been experiencing strange symptoms pertaining to my health for quite a while, that I couldn’t put my finger on. I will go into details at a later time, but last week it all came to a head with one piece of sugarless gum. I have been drinking a diet iced-tea with Aspartame for quite some time and never put two and two together until this past week with an awful reaction to one piece of gum. The day prior to this last episode, I had a slight feeling in my throat as if I had suddenly got an awful sore throat, which went away, and that night I drank some iced tea. The next day, the only thing I put in my mouth when this reaction was set off was a piece of this sugarless gum, and I felt the most awful pain like a firecracker went off in my mouth, and I believe my throat was closing up, my throat hurt incredibly. Dr. said it sounded like and allergic reaction, and I took Benadryl which really didn’t help completely, but the symptoms subsided.

Since that day, last Tuesday, I have had no Aspartame at all, and I can’t begin to tell you how much better I feel. I have people telling me it’s too soon to tell if that was really the problem, but as it stands right now, I truly believe I have been a victim of this monster called Aspartame.

If possible could you let me know if you think that small amount of time could make such a marked improvement in my overall health. I feel 25 again, not 65, and I am 42. I can’t thank you enough.

I wish more people would look to additives as a source of problems, I know I will be spreading the word. My vision is improved, my eyes don’t hurt, I sleep better than I have in months.

Thank you, Thank you!

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My wife’s reaction was so severe that the doc’s thought she had multiple sclerosis for a while. Then she gave up gum with NutraSweet (Aspartame) and voila! No more symptoms! There’s been not a little bit of cover-up for this chemical.

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I grew up drinking Diet Dr. Pepper in the 80’s (I think when it was still saccharin).  In the mid-nineties I was a college student.  I started having memory problems.  I’ve always had wonderful short-term memory and did some of my best studying right before a test.  But suddenly I was forgetting everything I had just studied.  I was actually in danger of flunking a difficult class.  I was also getting very bad headaches.  A friend of my parents told us about an actress he knew who stopped drinking diet sodas a month or two before her play would start.  It was late in the semester but I stopped drinking Diet Dr. Pepper and stopped eating diet popsicles. The headaches went away.  My memory improved a lot and I managed to make a high enough grade on the final exam to get a C in the class.

I tried to stop drinking Diet Dr. Peppers completely, but I seemed to be addicted.  It wasn’t until after I was married that I kicked that habit.  And my husband could always tell if I drank a Diet Dr. Pepper – he said I started noticeably forgetting things.

During my days of NutraSweet, I gained weight, got headaches, developed eye migraines, developed hypoglycemia and had memory problems.  My memory has never recovered 100%.  At this point, I am completely off of all artificial sweeteners.  I tried Splenda when it came out, but I seemed to develop an addiction to that as well.

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About 15 years ago I worked in a warehouse that was not air conditioned and I was drinking sodas all day long. Needless to say I started to gain weight, so I made some sugar free Kool-Aid to take to work. Well I got a headache that felt like the top of my skull was being crushed in all the way around the top. The next day more Kool-Aid and the very same headache. So I have never used anything with Aspartame in it since. Guess what I have never had such a monster headache like that again.

But my real story is this; my mother was using NutraSweet in coffee and tea and drank Diet Coke. In March of 2000 she was having a dry cough so I had taken her to the hospital doctor’s office and while she was there she had congestive heart failure. It was caused by a buildup of fluids around her heart. So this meant her kidneys had gone bad. Then she had to go on dialysis 3 times a week. One morning about 2 years ago she was so sick, I took her to the emergency room and they ran all kinds of tests on her, X-rays, blood work, EEG, EKG and found nothing. 2 days later the same exact thing again emergency room and all the tests again. The doctors found nothing.

Then I remembered my own experience with Aspartame and did a web search and found your site. I couldn’t believe the number of people having such a wide range of problems after taking something with Aspartame in it. Well I threw everything with Aspartame in it away and got her to understand she could never have Diet Coke again. It took about 3 to 4 months before her problems went away.

She has not had anything with Aspartame in it and guess what she has not had those same problems since. There is no way for me to prove it, but I believe it was the Aspartame that destroyed her kidneys and caused the need for dialysis.

This is a woman that did not drink or smoke or use anything to excess, so why would her kidneys fail? There are lots of other people that are her age and do not require dialysis. It doesn’t take a PhD or a rocket scientist to see a connection here. So my advice to everyone if you have just half a brain you won’t use any kind of artificial sweetener esp. Aspartame.

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I recently moved to a new apartment, and before my kitchen was functional (a period of 6 weeks) I was eating out. Breakfast and lunch each day was purchased at a local petrol station food store, and included iced teas, cool drinks and similar. At that time I was not aware that Aspartame was contained in these drinks. There may have been other poisons in the “freshly made” plastic packed sandwiches which I am still not aware of. However, I now know that there were artificial sweeteners (not otherwise specified) in some of the drinks I was purchasing.

My symptoms included dull feeling in the head, growing confusion, dizziness, numbness in my fingers and toes and clumsy behavior (all of which I recognized as neurological symptoms). I started dropping things, banging myself and injuring myself while working on the new apartment. This was dangerous since I was using power tools, and at times was working at height. I was so disoriented and unaware of my surroundings at one time that I drove into a post and smashed the front end of my automobile. My fingers became so insensitive that I started having trouble typing (I am normally a very fast touch typist) and considerable trouble playing the piano (including pieces I know well and generally have no trouble with).

I was puzzled to find that I was having trouble with relatively simple mathematics; I am a product designer and must often use applied mathematics consisting of simple differential equations and routine techniques for analyzing material strengths and so on, and also relatively straightforward hypothesis testing statistics. Why, I asked myself, were these things becoming so difficult?

Reading became difficult. It was partly a cognitive problem, so that when I could see the words I found difficulty understanding what was written. More and more I was re-reading sentences to catch the meaning. I was also having visual problems, and had my eyes tested for new reading glasses – which it turned out were not needed.

I then blamed the Chinese restaurant for putting too much MSG in my food; without a kitchen at home I was going there three or four times a week. The owner responded to my complaints by reducing MSG in general and serving me with MSG free meals. The symptoms did not improve.

I then supposed that my problems may be related to a blood condition, and had extensive tests done, including tests for rare conditions such as G6PD activity deficiency, and cytochrome P450 enzyme activities. (Was I a so called “poor metabolizer”?) These tests all proved to be normal.

Finally I realized that the drinks may be poisoning me. I investigated further and discovered that some of them probably contained Aspartame. Of course, I immediately stopped consuming these drinks. My kitchen is now operational and I cook my own food from fresh vegetables and organically grown produce were possible.

In the several weeks following cessation of purchasing drinks from the station, my symptoms largely cleared up. However, not everything is back to normal and it is clear that I have been neurologically damaged. I have recurrent tinnitus, in the form of a constant hissing sound in the background – at times a whistling sound. This was present before moving house, but is now significantly worse. It spoils my music listening pleasure, and sometimes keeps me awake at night.

I also have damaged sight. I printed out an Amsler grid and tested myself. I could see some slightly wavy lines and other patches which were blank (not black, simply empty where the lines should have been visible). These are diagnostic for macular degeneration. My reading is still somewhat hindered by patch vision in the foveal centre. I shall now start on a course of AREDS supplements to slow down the visual loss; presumably once macular degeneration has started it continues into age related macular degeneration (AMD).

I conclude that the Aspartame in the drinks is responsible for the episodes and for the neurological, auditory and visual damage I now suffer. My life has been irrecoverably reduced because of this misadventure.

Alas, nothing shall be done to redress this situation as long as Bush remains in the Whitehouse. And (many Americans do not realize how forcefully their domestic affairs impact other peoples; I am Dutch) nothing shall be done in this country until the US had legislated Aspartame out of legal use.

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I had always practiced a healthy lifestyle so when Aspartame came out I wouldn’t have anything to do with it. Then due to a health problem I suddenly gained quite a bit of weight. I went to a Dr. who put me on a diet that includes several sugar-free foods & drinks. Reluctantly but to help lose the weight I consumed them. 2 weeks later I was overcome by dizziness, and felt like my head and ears were going to explode, it was debilitating. I went to vertigo specialist at a top medical facility and they couldn’t find any explanation for my vertigo. I was placed on many medications with no relief.

My mother found on the net that Aspartame caused vertigo. I stopped using it right then and within a few days the dizziness stopped but will come back with a vengeance if I even accidentally get a stick of gum with Aspartame, I get so dizzy it is like I am drunk.

I feel my equilibrium is permanently damaged because of it. Before I could watch TV and enjoy a movie. Now, I can’t because the movements make me motion sick. My whole family has had reactions to this poison Aspartame. My Father loses his memory, my sister gets hives on her tongue, my aunt went deaf until she stopped drinking Diet Coke, and my mother has memory loss & hives from it. I tell everyone that it is a toxin and to please not drink it, but sadly most don’t listen.

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Aspartame’s deadly effects are most certainly true.  I am living proof, that if I had not heard about Aspartame 8 years ago and discontinued its use, I would have been dead by now.  I used to drink diet soda’s about 4-6 cans a day, and used all diet products because at 120 lbs. I thought I was fat. (Soda, gum, Jell-O, pudding, hot chocolate, Crystal Light, kool-aid, etc.) All diet products used Aspartame for a sweetener. Even though I was using all these “diet” products, I kept gaining weight.

I thank God daily that 8 years ago my son brought home an article sent by his science teacher about the effects of NutraSweet.  At that time, I was experiencing many of the symptoms described in the article, heart palpitations, dizziness, brain fog, memory loss, extreme fatigue, depression, blurred vision, muscle soreness, and worst of all, I had a large mass in one of my breasts (my breast had become very deformed, sore and so much larger than the other that I couldn’t even find a bra to fit).

I had a biopsy done and it was not cancerous, so I was supposed to go back for a re-check in 6 mo. (I did not go back in till 18 mo. because of fear).  During that time, I got rid of everything that contained NutraSweet, started drinking mostly purified water and some coffee or tea).  I worked at drinking a lot of water daily to try to flush my system out.  What I had done in those 18 months seemed to work because when I had the re-check done, the mass was gone!  The heart palpitations were gone too.  The doctor and radiologist said whatever I was doing, to keep it up.

They were amazed that a mass that size could go away on its own.

Today I am 47 years old and I believe that I still suffer from depression, fibromyalgia and I have recently been diagnosed with thyroiditis, because of my diet soda intake and other diet product usage from years earlier.  But, I know that Doctors will never admit my problems are caused from Aspartame poisoning.  Not when Monsanto keeps donating huge sums of money to the American Medical Association.  The doctors will keep their mouths shut, at the expense of us!  They’re some doctors that are speaking out against Aspartame, but they are few.  I am one of an ever-growing number who have educated themselves on diet and nutrition because I choose to live!  I will not sacrifice my health or life for a Diet Pepsi!

I would like to see this TOXIC DRUG removed from the human food chain.   And if possible, I would like to be a part of the law-suit against Monsanto.

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During the past few years I became somewhat “addicted” to Breath-Saver mints. I typically ate 4 or 5 a day, and bought big packages of them at Costco. I also drank four or five diet Pepsis a week.

Symptoms came on gradually, and I never made the connection to Aspartame. They included attacks of gastritis, extremely painful episodes that woke me up at night. Doctor prescribed Prevacid which helped, but I had never before had such painful stomach troubles. I am 53 years old.

I also seemed to suffer more from headaches, depression, and fatigue.

About a year ago I began having severe joint and tendon pain in my shoulder. Popping and grating sensation whenever I moved my arm in certain ways. Went to physical therapy, didn’t help.

Had an MRI which showed tendonitis but no joint deterioration. I became unable to sleep on my right side. Chiropractor could not help. Cortisone shots did not help. I work at a desk, and some days were so bad I could hardly function. Took lots of Advil. Certain activities such as bicycle riding and running aggravated the pain and I had to stop doing them.

A couple months ago I somehow began to wonder about Aspartame and researched it on the internet, and quickly found your informative website. After reading many of the articles you have posted, as well as other people’s experiences, I decided to completely stop my Aspartame consumption. It has had amazing results after fairly short time.

My shoulder pain is 90% abated, hardly noticeable now. I stopped having gastritis attacks.

Other symptoms have improved.

I am convinced I was being poisoned by Aspartame. I do not pretend to understand the physiology of how it was affecting my shoulder, but if Aspartame did not cause the condition, it apparently made it much worse.

My chiropractor was very interested in my experience, and is mentioning it to many of his other patients. He finds my recovery fairly remarkable.

Thank you for your good work in informing the public about this harmful product.

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Last year, I had been drinking Diet Coke constantly in a new job that I started last May, Breakfast, mid-day, evening. Probably 4-6 cans a day. Then I decided I liked coffee and started drinking coffee with Equal (Aspartame) in it. Sometime in September I began being very dizzy when I woke up in the morning.

A few weeks later, it progressed to the point that I was dizzy most of every day and it became severe whenever I would lie down. I went to see an Ear Nose & Throat doctor and went through many tests. Nothing could be found to cause the dizziness. He prescribed valium and a fluid reduction pill. I never took the Valium. Dizziness continued. Rolling over in the bed caused violent dizziness and resultant nausea. Shortly after the doctor’s visit, I had a friend tell me to just try cutting out all Aspartame for a while. I had my last Diet Coke/coffee with Equal on a Wednesday. It took until Sunday before it was out of my system, but on Sunday I woke up and was not dizzy at all and have not been dizzy since. I think that the HOT coffee broke down the Aspartame into methanol and was the final toxic blow. No artificial %$#% is going into my system any more (as much as I can help it).

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I am glad that I found this site and have been reading through most of the case histories. Artificial sweetener has caused so many problems for me I don’t even know where to begin. I started out by using Aspartame in my coffee. I used to drink 5-6 cups of coffee and drank 3 tablets in each cup. I kicked my coffee habit later on but started drinking artificially sweetened carbonated drinks. Approximately 6 – 8 cups a day. I also ate yoghurt with Aspartame in and other products like sugar free chewing gum. I suffered from imbalance in my hormones which could not be explained. I just later on accepted that it will never change. I started having frequent infections which could not be cured by antibiotics. I suffered from very bad depression. I also gained a lot of weight which I just could not get rid of and I suffered from all kinds of cravings, especially sweet cravings. I used to crave sweets so much that I felt like I was going insane until I ate 2 – 3 bars of chocolate or Ice cream. I was tired all the time and had frequent mood swings. I also got blurred speech at times and was unable to concentrate.

My husband told me that my weight problem was caused by the artificial sweetener and I did not want to believe him. Finally I decided just to prove a point that he is wrong I will stop using artificial sweetener. My whole life changed after that. I have lost 4 kilograms in the past two months. I have completely stopped having cravings. My hormones are balanced and I’m having my period regularly and on time. I have no more infections. My mental health have improved so much that I feel like a completely different person. I will never use artificial sweetener again.

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I didn’t know why I was getting headaches until I started digging around.

Aspartame causes “brain lesions”. I stopped eating/drinking NutraSweet/Aspartame products and my spontaneous headaches stopped. Don’t imbibe it. If you don’t notice a headache, it’s probably too late.

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In 1998 I switched to Diet Coke because I am overweight. Also in 1998 I started having bouts of Vertigo. The very first one was not severe, but lasted about a month. After the first one, I would have bouts that were so severe I could not get out of bed. If I did, I would throw up from the motion sickness. Last year it was so bad that I was constantly “dizzy”. If I looked up, turned my head, laid on my left side, etc.

I went to a neurologist and while she was taking my history she asked me how much caffeine I consumed. I told her that I drink probably a 12 pack of Diet Coke a day, not to mention the ones I drive through McDonalds and get. She told me to immediately quit drinking Diet Coke because of the NutraSweet and to switch to regular to wean off it completely. She was concerned about caffeine withdrawal so she wanted me to drink regular coke so not to have the withdrawal headache. I quit drinking the Diet Coke in May of 2003. From June, 2003 until now I have not had one episode of vertigo. Today I am having a bout with it and have determined it to be because I have been chewing a lot of sugarless gum. I will now throw it all in the trash.

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I am someone who has known about the poisonousness of Aspartame all along; being I was fortunate enough to have a chemist as a friend.  I was dumb enough to recently ingest it for a week when starting a diet not long ago, and suffered for it. It aggravated arthritis IN MY EYE, along with headaches.

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Hello! We were e-mailed some information about Aspartame this evening, and the other “artificial” sweeteners by my husband’s uncle, so we went on-line to investigate the rest of the answers that we had questions for, needless to say, what we’ve found, is quite hair raising, and made me so mad, I could spit rocks. When someone is told by our TV ads, or a personal friend, that there is one sweetener that is better than the other one, you start using it, because you really want to believe it, main reason is that there isn’t a PH.D around that would tell you anything different, just that my blood sugar is high, my ears ring, my joints ache, I get dizzy quite often, I have mood swings, I get heart palpitations that just almost take my breath away, & that I retain water, but the Dr. says I’m “normal???” & I am given no other answer, except if they think that a pill can fix it, they are right there to give you a prescription for it, they smile, and get rich!!

As of tonight, we went through our cupboards, and pantry, and poured out all of our “diet drinks”, and everything in the refrigerator that had any type of artificial sweetener in it, and we were really shocked to find out how much junk stuff, that even is in yogurt, not all of the yogurt, just some of it, that we had to throw out. I will let you know how long it takes for me to feel like I’m back to normal, or just about, because I used to have a lot more energy, I didn’t have blurred vision before, & I just had my eyes check not too long ago.

We thank you for your fantastic articles, and all of the other information we found, and have learned a lot from them. If it isn’t organic, or when we read the ingredient label & it has an artificial food color or sweetener in it, we will not buy it. We don’t get addicted to a soft drink; we just will make sure it won’t kill us, or make us feel like we are almost dead. We have a family member that is dying from brain cancer, and I don’t know if it was the diet drinks or not, but we aren’t taking any chances, we like life, we’ve been educated real fast, and will always remember. Thank You

Update after two weeks.

I would like to tell you that so far, I am feeling quite good!! My right wrist is even getting better, no dizziness, which I think is great!!! I even seem to have more energy also, I’m not getting as tired so easy, no hot flashes either. When I want to sweeten something, I use either orange blossom honey, or evaporated cane juice, which we buy at our local health food store. I hope you have a great day!

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My list of health problems grew longer and longer over the course of drinking diet sodas for 15 years. Never did I imagine it was all related to the diet sodas. I have been very angry since this discovery, as I still have severe memory loss – at times struggling for words just to finish a sentence. I had severe insomnia for years. I experienced the spots, floaters and chronic fatigue, tingling in my hands, eating binges, and headaches with blind attacks. Toward the end I was having severe muscle spasms/contractions in my legs constantly – I thought I was going to reach the point of not being able to walk at all. Fortunately, my mother had received an email with a list of the negative reactions caused by the consumption of Aspartame/sucralose. I immediately stopped all use of any fake sugars. All of the symptoms I have listed above eventually went away, with the exception of, as I stated earlier the memory loss. It is very embarrassing and I work hard at hiding this problem from my friends, family and colleagues – I know there are times my husband genuinely worries and is perplexed by the memory loss. He, as well as many others, think that I am crazy when I tell them the cause. I discovered this 6 years ago and am appalled that so many others are still suffering because of this poison. I want to thank you for your efforts in educating the public – you are doing a great service!

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I would like to let you know that 3 ½ weeks ago I quit all aspartame and anything diet.  24 years ago when I was pregnant with my second child my doctor told me to go on a diet because I gained 13 pounds in one month. I switched to diet soda and anything that was “diet”. In the past 6 months I was diagnosed hypoglycemic and also with hypertension. I am 45 years old and was always healthy. 6 months ago I kept getting light headed and feeling like I was going down.

Since I am a server in a restaurant pouring coffee 8 hours a day, this is not a good thing.  I have a middle ear problem so figured that is what it was from. Then they told me after test that my blood sugar was 53. Then I was diagnosed with high blood pressure. To make a long story short no diet anything for 3 weeks and I am back to 90%.

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About 5yrs ago, I was buying NutraSweet at Costco in the box of 500s and using it like crazy in coffee and iced tea. I also drank a lot of Diet Pepsi. I started to have memory problems and work and my boss threatened to fire me for being too slow. I would get lost driving in my own city doing errands. I forgot to pay the mortgage twice and left a gas stove going all day.

I saw my doctor and he sent me for a CT brain scan and they found nothing wrong. Soon after the test I read in Prevention magazine that NutraSweet can cause short term memory loss.

That next morning I used no NutraSweet in my coffee and noticed a huge difference! I wasn’t foggy headed and could think so much clearer! So now I use Stevia in my coffee.

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Several months ago I started a diet, it was wonderful and I lost 25 lb. The book that help me with this diet told me not to drink any soft drink with Aspartame, but since I needed something sweet, I figured out that it was OK. After 3 months of dinking soft drinks with Aspartame I started to feel very tired, my muscles hurt a lot and I was very stressed. The funny thing was that I was very tired during the summer, and, since I am a teacher, I do not work in the summer. Why was I tired and stress out? Why was my neck very tense and my legs hurt?

I got an email from my brother in Mexico about Aspartame, I read all the symptoms that Aspartame cause according with this letter and I realized that I was suffering from intoxication caused by Aspartame. I decided not to take Aspartame anymore. Now I am feeling a lot better. I believe Aspartame was intoxicating me.

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I was reading your toxicity reports on Aspartame and was grateful someone out there is informing the public about this harmful chemical. As a child I had many side effects associated to this chemical.

Headaches, Dizziness, Fatigue. I was taught never to eat it no matter what the circumstances. I have found many new chemical names on “Sugar-Free” products over the years and try to avoid “Sugar-Free” anything due to my reactions and knowledge of chemicals including Saccharine and Aspartame (NutraSweet).

I am curious if you have noticed Phenylalanine which from my research is just another name for Aspartame that has been used in “Sugar-Free” candies, gums, and even Fitness Supplements. Check out this link http://www.sweetpoison.com/phenylalanine.html

Thought you should probably add that to your list since they are one and the same and this stuff is nasty. Brain Damage is not something we need our country to have a high dose of. I want to thank you again for keeping this info on the Web

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This letter is in response to your requests for information regarding my symptoms to what I believe is Aspartame poisoning. My symptoms first began in early 2003. In late 2002, I began to gain weight. My diet included approximately 8 liters of Pepsi per week. As part of a strategy to combat this weight gain, I switched from regular Pepsi to Diet Pepsi around the end of 2002.

Soon after, I began to notice my feet felt unusually cold at night. This progressed until I was soon too uncomfortable to sleep at night without wearing socks. By late February 2004, a second symptom arose. At this time, I began to notice that my left eye would become numb and unresponsive whenever I would relax or prepare to go to sleep. This partial paralysis was upsetting to me, and I soon began to consult eye doctors. Several months and three eye doctors later, I was referred to a general MD. This MD’s office diagnosed me as most likely having MS. This precipitated a number of expensive tests for MS at a local hospital. These tested included a CAT scan, an MRI, and various blood works. All came back as negative for MS.

At this point I was frustrated with paying for expensive tests and consulting lots of doctors who seemed to have no idea what was wrong with me. I stopped seeing any doctor at all. My symptoms slowly, but ungrammatically, progressed.

By early summer of 2004, however, a new symptom arose. At this time, I began experiencing tremors. At first I simply had strange feelings at time. Soon, however, I noticed visible shaking. This occurred mainly when I was relaxed or waking up in the morning. This shaking quickly progressed over the span of 2 or 3 weeks to the point that considerable shaking and even facial spasms were waking me up in the morning.

I told a friend about my situation and how I didn’t have the time and money to be wasting on doctors who couldn’t tell what was wrong with me. I was scarred however, and announced my intention to start seeing more medical professionals.

My friend commented that I might be a victim of Aspartame poisoning, and that I should stop drinking Diet Pepsi. I took his advice. Within a few days, my symptoms of a year and a half were noticeably better. Within a month, all of my symptoms were gone. Following this, I unknowingly began using some other products containing Aspartame. My symptoms began to return. After realizing that Aspartame has many names, I ridded myself of these products as well. My symptoms once again subsided. All of this has left no doubt in my mind that I have been a victim of Aspartame poisoning.

I am looking to stop Aspartame use nationally and to recover my considerable expenses, both emotionally and financially, in having to go through all of this. Please keep me up to date on any pending class-action lawsuits.

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As with many of you, I am a skeptic. It is difficult to make me believe something like this. But, I will speak from my own experience. Not the tale told by a friend of a friend, but me personally.

Up until 2 days ago I’ve been drinking Diet Coke and Diet Dr. Pepper. Probably 3 or more cans a day. Progressively, I’ve felt worse and worse over the past several months. I also started drinking more and more diet drinks.

My niece warned me about Aspartame. I didn’t listen and kept on drinking the Diet sodas. My symptoms included declining eyesight, fatigue, headaches, dizziness, aches in my neck, overpowering stress and a feeling of desperation. I did not want to get out of bed in the morning; I could have slept all day.

Two days ago I stopped drinking the sodas. It is the first time in over a year and a half that I’ve gone this long without a diet soda. The day after I stopped, I woke up feeling better. This morning, it is twofold. I feel better than I have in months. I’ve got a great energy level. I can breathe better, see more clearly, think clearly and I hopped out of bed.

I ask myself. Is this merely coincidence? There is nothing else I’ve changed in my diet or routine. If I was hearing this from a friend then I may doubt some but this happened to me, just this week.

The energy I feel is natural, not that of any stimulant. My attitude is that I could conquer the world and I have my confidence back.

This experience is enough to make me never consume Aspartame again. When I see a Diet Coke, it looks like a skull and crossbones to me, and I don’t miss it at all.

 

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Funny how the sites that claim Aspartame is harmless somehow have more credence than the ones that come out against it. I’ll go with my personal experience. I had about 10 symptoms, stopped using NutraSweet, and voila! Doing much better.

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I just found this website and thought I would send you my story.

I grew up in the home of my grandfather who was a diabetic. As a result, the only sodas in our home were diet and as this was back in the 70’s and early to mid-80’s they were sweetened with saccharine. I used to drink to least one to two 12 oz. cans of diet 7-UP a day and I couldn’t stand the overly sweet taste of regular soda.

In approximately 1985 or 1986 (I believe the same year 7-UP switched to Aspartame) I started experiencing debilitating migraine headaches. These migraines would begin with me seeing little flashes of light (I believe it is called and aura) and then such extreme pain that I could not work or even move. At the time I had also started taking oral contraceptives and my gynecologist thought that was the problem. I promptly quit taking the contraceptives and the migraines continued daily, usually lasting for several hours each day.

Because ceasing the contraceptives had no effect on the migraines, my gynecologist thought maybe I had a vascular problem (his code name for an aneurism) or a tumor. He decided it would be best that I go to a neurologist for further testing.

Fortunately my insurance provider required a return trip to my family doctor before going to yet another specialist and my family doctor was a very practical man who understood that many migraines are actually reactions to food.

For the next month I was placed on an allergy diet. Basically I was allowed to eat nothing except boiled potatoes or plain rice. I was allowed no coffee, tea, wine, chocolate, cheese, and absolutely NO SODA, diet or otherwise.

Within 4 days the migraines stopped and I was told to add one food at a time to my diet and see what happened. Lo and behold the only thing that triggered my migraines was the diet 7-UP. At first it made no sense, because I had been drinking diet 7-UP for years, and then I discovered that they had replaced the saccharine with this new so called wonder sweetener NutraSweet. I then conducted one personal experiment with NutraSweet and that was to eat a breath mint sweetened with it. At the time I had been given a wonderful drug called Ergostat that would stop the migraine if taken when I had an aura. So I ate the breath mint and within 5 minutes I had an aura, took my medication and blocked the migraine.

I have never purposefully eaten anything with NutraSweet in it since and the only migraines I have had in the past 20+ have occurred when I have accidentally consumed NutraSweet. I feel lucky that my family doctor had the good sense to suggest I had an allergy or food reaction and not just ordered a battery of tests that would have found nothing. Because of this I did not continue using the poison and I have sounded off to anyone who would listen about what a vile horrible product it is.

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My mother and I always drank diet everything, so when Aspartame took over, we had no choice.  Two years later, my mom began having grand mal seizures (and I developed migraines).  They did all the tests, and found nothing wrong.

We had heard about a connection between Aspartame and seizures, so we stopped using Aspartame.  After a year of being seizure free, a friend gave my mom diet soda in a glass.  That night she had another seizure.  That was it.  Aspartame was banned in my house.

Fast forward to two years ago.  My husband, I, and my two sons were on our way to my sister’s house for Christmas.  Half way there, my 9 year old starts seizing.  A grand mal.  Take him to the hospital, they find nothing wrong.  I found out the day before, he had consumed 10 diet sodas at his friend’s house.  It scared everyone so bad that now they listen to me when I tell them not to use Aspartame.

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Hello, as one of the new members Betty is referring to, I thought I would introduce myself.  I’m Jennifer.  I began suffering from dizzy spells in elementary school.  Doctors did test after test to no avail.

At 12, I began to suffer from crippling migraines as well.  I totally cut Aspartame out of my diet at 16.  You should understand that prior to this, the only Aspartame I had may have been a piece of sugar free candy or gum.  I had only consumed one diet beverage outside of possibly a sip of someone else’s.  I bring this up to point out that a toxicity level for is ridiculous.  Any level is too much.  I am 26 now.

I still suffer from migraines, but the frequency and intensity has decreased dramatically.  I haven’t had a bad one in more than a month.

At sixteen, I got them at least once a week and they were bad enough that I would black out.  I’ve been trying to convince everyone I care about for years that the stuff is dangerous.  There are campaigns everywhere telling us how horrible tobacco is and yet it looks like some kind of vitamin supplement when compared with Aspartame.  More people need to know.

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I also know people to have been personally effected by those poisons, me being one.

I got a positive for Auto Immune disorder last year on my blood test. I stopped drinking Diet Coke and chewing diet gum and things got better. I also noticed a difference in my memory and a lot of muscle pain.

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Hello my name is Cindy

I am from the UK. I have a 13 year old daughter, who is diabetic so drinks lots of sugar-free drinks. This year she has been ill and I was told she has chronic fatigue syndrome. But I have been hearing some bad things about Aspartame and wondering if it could be linked to my daughter’s illness. At the moment I have stopped giving anything with Aspartame in. but I am having lots of trouble finding sugar free drinks without it so she is now only drinking water and not happy. If you have any information on this I would be very grateful to hear from you. I would love to see Aspartame banned in the UK.

Update

Thank you for your email.

My daughter Amber is already feeling much better. She has more energy and is a lot happier. The change in her has been wonder.

I can’t believe something this damaging is still allowed to be used. When we found out Amber was diabetic we thought sugar free was wonderful. How wrong I was

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Some years ago I discovered that I have a highly toxic reaction to Aspartame.

I would often get headaches and dizziness after drinking a diet soda, and realized the connection. Not considering this, I tried a liquid diet drink to help me lose weight.

The reaction was almost immediate. My breathing became labored and the dizziness was overwhelming. I don’t remember anything after that except waking up on my kitchen floor with my 18 month old having been left on his own for the two hours I was unconscious. I was told that it was anaphylactic shock caused by the Aspartame, and for the remainder of my life I must carry an Epi-Pen at all times as a life-saving measure.

Just recently my niece made me a cup of tea the pack of Equal she was using passed over my cup. I woke up at three in the morning barely able to breathe.

The sensitivity to Aspartame is terrifying, as it is found in so many foods as a flavor enhancer. Now I read ALL of the ingredients, even if the list begins with “sugar.”

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AUSTIN, Texas (U-WIRE) – Two years ago at the NCAA Championships in Georgia, the entire University of Texas men’s swimming and diving team stood on the first-place podium. Among them were Justin and Troy Dumais, two brothers whose spectacular dives helped Texas win its ninth national title.

The two stood with their team on the podium, horns held proudly in the air.

“They were enjoying that moment as a team,” Texas men’s and women’s diving coach Matt Scoggin recalled. “Not as brothers or individuals, but as a team. That was a great day.”

On Aug. 16, the Dumais brothers will try and reach the top podium once again, this time in Athens and, this time around, as their own two-man team. Justin and Troy are taking their talents to the 2004 Olympics together in the men’s synchronized springboard final.

But the rise to the top hasn’t always been easy. Justin, who had been ill since early November, just recently became healthy enough to train for the Olympics.

“He lost his energy,” Kathy said. “Blood tests showed his thyroid was a little high, and they started treating that. It turned out he was poisoning himself with Aspartame.”

Aspartame, which can be found in everything from diet drinks to protein shakes, is a popular artificial sweetener.

Doctors found that Justin was very sensitive to the sweetener, and once he stopped using it, his health vastly improved.

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I have trouble with Aspartame myself it causes me to have intraocular migraines.  I get visual disturbances but no headache-and MSG also does this to me.

Needless to say, I stay away from Aspartame.  I had been on Weight Watchers and was drinking 2-3 quarts of Crystal Light per day-lemonade-and started having the intraocular migraines.  Now all I have to do is have about 1/2 of a cola or yogurt with Aspartame and there goes my eyes again.  I have learned my lesson, no more Aspartame for me.

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Thank you for your e-mail. I just want you to know I feel like a different person now.

I have detoxed my system with vitamins and French green clay (I read Dr. Janet Starr-Hull’s Detox book). I have found that I am a morning person.

It’s unbelievable. No more fog, no more depression or anxiety. I get out of bed feeling good in the morning, not like I have a hangover and sluggish.

Out of all the symptoms I listed below, the only ones remaining are: My hair is still thinning, but not as bad. It is improving with the vitamins. I was depleted in selenium. I’ve lost 10 pounds; I think a lot of it was bloat. My shoes are all too big for my feet and I can actually see my ankles for the first time in years.

I feel great.

I had Jell-O at a reception not too long ago and later that day I had heart palpitations, my feet were cramping, and I felt awful all night. I found the Jell-O was sugar free. I avoid the stuff like the plague and I have to ground my 15 yr. old son for chewing juicy fruit! Not smoking or doing drugs or anything bad like that, but for chewing gum that is not sugar free but contains Aspartame. Too sad!

Short term memory has dramatically improved. I am getting better at finding words, but would like to see more improvement in that area. I’m sure with time and continued supplements I will improve.

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I can also speak on a personal level about Aspartame. Once I weaned myself from it, which took six months, my lingering depression vanished. My short-term memory drastically improved. Maria

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LISTEN YA’LL.

Over the past week, I have been detoxing from serious toxic poisoning from the Aspartame in Diet Soda. I was drinking Caffeine Free Diet Pepsi 2-3 times a day for 3 weeks and I had the following symptoms:

Blurry vision, left side of face hurting, burning traveling mass moving from left side of upper back to left breast and chest area, pinching and feeling like something is crawling under the skin in my legs, ankles, feet and the back of my arms, increased cellulite on thighs, weight gain, lower back pain and spinal achiness.

All of these symptoms happened to me over a 3 week period and I think I had an extreme reaction because I never drunk diet soda before in my life. The scariest thing was when I felt something moving up my spinal cord and then blow up and burst like a bubble in the back of my neck then all I felt was heat traveling to the bottom of my BRAIN.

I went to the dentist, OB/GYN and then my PCP and they all found nothing! My PCP tried to tell me that it was “all in my head” so I took my life into my own hands and thought about everything I had eaten in the past few weeks. The only thing new and different was those damn Diet Pepsi’s. So I went on-line and began to do research on the dangers of Diet Soda.

Basically I found out that when the Aspartame (artificial sweetener) hits your body and the temperature is greater than 86.7 degrees, it changes its composition to FORMIC ACID.

Formic Acid is what FIRE ANT’S VENOM is. It further breaks it down into Formaldehyde. Isn’t that a chemical they use in removing paint or preserving dead bodies at funerals?

I can’t remember? But this is crazy. And all of this affects the nervous system in a toxic way, which is why I was feeling the pinches and burning etc. There are dozens of websites that give you the symptoms of Aspartame poisoning and the ones I described above are just a few. Some people have reported tumors in the neck, breast, and BRAIN.

I went to have a colonic on Monday and as I lay on the table on my back, there was so much acid rising to my throat that there was a smoky fog coming out of my mouth.

I was forced to lie on my side and cough it out. Fortunately, I am into a lot of herbal things and I now a Medicine man in Harlem from Ghana. I went to see him on Wednesday evening and began doing what he told me and talking the things he recommended.

I want everybody to know, especially women because we get brain washed by commercials and what other women do to lose weight. Diet Sodas make you fatter and crave more carbohydrates. I know I felt something going on with my ovary, so if you are women, and having issues with fertility, menstruation etc., look at your diet and see if it is due to some product you are consuming that contains this deadly poison.

I still feel little pulses going on, but I feel much better than I did last week. My medicine man friend saved my life again. The first time was when I caught Malaria when I came from Africa in 1999. (And you know, there is no cure for Malaria). So, love yourself and tell everyone to stop drinking poison diet soda!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh and this is what he told me to do: Eat: cucumbers/yellow and green squash, raw spinach

 

Mineral:

You have to see him for the liquid minerals.

1 cup of 2 bottles every morning.

1 teapoon of choraphyll 3x’s a day.

1 teaspoon of apple cycle vinger 2x’s a day.

1 cup of Daily Detox Tea (apple/Cinnamon) 2x’s a day

Put ground Flax Seeds in everything I eat.

And drink 2 gallons of distilled water a day.

 

Juice:

1 green/yellow apple

1 stalk of celery

1 beet root

1 bunch of parsley

(alternate) ginger/garlic 1 3 inch slice

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ASPARTAME = poison. Worried about the amount of sugar I was consuming I switched to Lite/Max sugar free type colas. Within an hour of drinking a can of Pepsi Max I would get a headache, took me a while to work out what was causing them. Blaming VDU screen, too much weed the night before, etc. Feel so much better for ditching anything with Aspartame in. Water is the way forward . .

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Maybe this is why everyone is getting cancer. My father has Prostate and Colon Cancer and he was an Equal addict forever!!!! My mother died 5 years ago of Cardiac issues and she was addicted to Sugar-Free Jell-O (which has artificial sweetener in it) before she passed, one day, she just stopped walking. That’s what it was. It all makes sense now.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND DON’T FEED YOUR KIDS THESE SWEETENERS EITHER BECAUSE IT MAY BE WHATS CAUSING ATTENTION DEFECIT DISORDER, ETC.

As other people post, I will post the URL’s so you can go to the websites for more detailed information if you still don’t believe that this stuff is poison.

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It is amazing how many of the symptoms mentioned on your website I can relate to, memory loss, floaters, chronic fatigue, dizziness, numbness, depression. Up until July 2004, I had been consuming Aspartame products for 20 years (I’m 36 now), pop, yogurt, gum, you name it. It was only when I started waking up at night with my legs and arms numb feeling completely paralysis, did I realize something needed to be done. I had been to the Doctor complaining about some gradual numbness in my limbs, she ran a gamut of tests with no visible results, but prescribed me an arthritis type medication for relief anyways. Only when the medication provided no relief and the Dr. had ran out of test, I turned to the web and started doing my own research and was astonished at the amount people complaining about similar symptoms and relating them all to Aspartame poisoning.

Within a few weeks of totally eliminating Aspartame from my diet the numbness in my limbs went away, but I still have frequent severe headaches, memory loss and occasional dizziness.

Why is it that Doctors don’t ask or mention the possibility of Aspartame consumption? And with all of this compounding information related to Aspartame poisoning, how can this product still be on the market?

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I may have missed it, but I have not seen anything on the web so far about NutraSweet inhibiting breast milk production. Only my sister and I have noticed that drinking diet drinks while breastfeeding decreases milk supply, almost immediately. Within the same day of drinking more than one diet drink, our milk supply will go down. If you know of sources on the web that talk about this, and if you have time please e-mail the link to me. If not, please get something going. I am passionate about breastfeeding and I meet mother after mother who “didn’t make enough milk” despite having done the usual things to increase milk production. I myself had problems once I started drinking diet drinks, but found that the elimination of NutraSweet or other artificial sweeteners almost immediately brought milk production back up to what it was before.

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I’ve sent this in before but I’m not sure that I sent it to this site or to you. My daughter, Xxxxxxxx, had Petit Mal or absence seizure from the time she was about 3. Another child born to her aunt had seizure from birth. Xxxxxxxx’s seizures, and her cousin’s seizures, were controlled with medication until Xxxxxxxx was about 12 or 13. By that time she had begun to have a Grand Mal seizure per month in conjunction with her menstrual cycle.

Gradually she started having more and more Grand Mal seizures, Petit Mal seizure, complex partial seizures, and seizures of every kind. This was just about the time products with NutraSweet were released into the market. Being a teen-aged girl, naturally she watched her weight, as did I, and we both drank only diet soft-drinks. By the time Xxxxxxxx was 17, she was having between 150 and 200 seizures in a 24-hour day. She had a partial right-frontal lobotomy at xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx hospital to remove the focal point of the seizures and, hopefully, control them. Her doctor, Dr. Michael S., said the portion of her brain that they removed didn’t even have obvious grooves any longer due to the number and strength of the seizure she’d been having for so long.

To our dismay, the surgery did not stop the seizures. It did slow them down initially. Then we watched as they began to escalate again. During all this time, she continued to use products with NutraSweet. We had no idea of any connection. Finally, when she was about 20, she entered the drug trials for Lamictal. For the first time, she was taking a drug that offered some seizure control without sedating her. (She’d been taking 185 mg of phenobarbital per day WITH 700 mg of Dilantin.) When I asked her doctor how this medication was different than the rest in its mechanism, he just told me I wouldn’t understand.

By this time the internet was now generally available, so I looked the drug up there. I found that among other things the drug prevented the uptake of ASPARTATE, which is the metabolized form of aspartic acid. I called Dr. Smith to ask him in what way aspartate was related to Aspartame Again he dismissed by saying that just because the words were alike, didn’t mean the drugs were. Well, I’m a mechanical engineer and had 4 years of Latin language. I knew that if the names were similar there was a reason. So I continued to research and began coming up with all of these horrible stories. Worse yet, I found that the executives at Searle, and subsequently at Monsanto, knew about the potential dangers, especially to those who already had epilepsy or a genetic inclination to it. They’ll have to stand before God one day and answer for this evil they perpetrated, for money, against their fellow human beings.

I immediately took all products that might possibly contain NutraSweet away from Xxxxxxxx. Her seizures stopped that week. She remained on Lamictal, but she was able to get off Dilantin and Phenobarbital. We did have to add Topamax to the Lamictal but she’s living a much better life than previously.

The surgery affected her short term memory, her cognitive ability, and her developmental functioning. She’s now 30 and she’s living in a residential facility about 90 miles west of Chicago. It took me a long time to let her go but she’s much happier there, more independent and living her own life. However, before her seizures began to escalate so drastically, she was a year ahead of her age-peers in math and reading.

She was an exceptionally bright and talented child, attending a special school for children gifted in the arts. Now her IQ is 74 and functionally she’s reached an age-level of about 17. We don’t know how much farther she will progress. And it’s a huge credit to her courage, strength of character, and personal determination that’s she’s come this far.

I won’t say that NutraSweet, Searle, and Monsanto ruined her life because she’s made her life over with purpose and grace and courage. I just can’t help but wonder what her life would have been like if she’d never tasted the stuff. She’d have epilepsy, yes, but we would have been able to control the seizures right from the beginning. She’d have been able to finish high school, gone on to college, have a career, a marriage, and children, drive a car. None of this will ever be now. I’m grateful to God that she’s accomplished what she has. I work hard not to dwell too much on what might have been. Ultimately, we’re all in the hands of God and I have to believe there’s a reason for what happened to her.

Her doctor has subsequently become a believer and now tells all his patients not to touch NutraSweet. None of us ever should. It’s poison for everyone. I hope you nail not just the companies, but the executives as well. They bear a personal responsibility for their decisions and it’s time they were made to accept that responsibility. Based on the people who’ve died and been crippled for life, they’re guilty of manslaughter at the least.

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My experience with Aspartame started about 3 years ago. As a cyclist and avid athlete I was looking for a way to keep my weight down during the winter months when I was not riding. I started drinking Diet Dr. Pepper because I saw it as a way to eliminate a lot of calories from my diet, as I liked to drink pop all day. That is when I started to feel exhausted all the time. At the end of the work day I would go home and fall asleep immediately after I got home. I would sleep about 3 hours, wake up and eat then go to bed. The next day I would wake up feeling absolutely exhausted. Like I hadn’t slept at all.

The whole school year went by and I was in a daze. I felt like a zombie and the whole day felt almost like an out of body experience. My training that summer was awful. My performance was poor, I had terrible problems with body aches on my bike, and I continued to be tired all the time. After a year and a half of living like this I read an article about some reported side effects of Aspartame. I quit drinking diet pop and within a week I was feeling a tremendous difference in the way I felt. I have no longer had any problems with fatigue and I happy to say my bike riding is coming back into top form.

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I was SERIOUSLY ill and doctors didn’t have a clue. They knew it seemed a lot like lupus, MS, fibromyalgia, or a degenerative disease, accompanied by extreme fatigue, memory loss, brain fog, and depression. I am not a person who was ever depressed! Farm woman, for heaven’s sakes, too busy to be depressed, but gradually got really, really bad.

Felt toxic, poisoned, hands tingled and went numb, could not climb up or down stairs except at a pace rivaling my 103 year old grandma (she probably could have beat me on a flat stretch). So after no idea from various docs, I remembered a post a couple of years ago about the dangers of diet soda. I was a diet Pepsi-aholic!!!!! Would have 4 to 6 of them a day!

And gaining weight with it, too. Anyway, after searching the net for articles about diet pop, found I might have just as well gone over to the funeral home and asked them to pour me a big glass of formaldehyde, and then throw in some wood alcohol, and then drank that!!!! (also NutraSweet, another name for Aspartame)

Within a week of quitting completely, I was much better, and now it’s a month later and life is so much better. I didn’t realize how sick I was until I quit, just knew I felt totally awful and couldn’t even remember what it ever felt like to be energetic or healthy.

For a visual metaphor, those of you who know what a tractor pull is like? I was like the tractor when they’ve piled another ton of concrete blocks onto the sledge – slower, slower, stopped. I now tell everyone I know to run far away from it – it’ll kill you.

And to those who think they can’t give it up, like I did (I lived for the stuff; it got me going in the morning, perked up my day, etc.) It is not hard at all once you realize what it has done to you.

Especially dangerous for diabetics.

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I have had some serious symptoms, sent to numerous specialists and found nothing, the only factor that improvement my symptoms was a pregnancy where I did not consume NutraSweet. After nursing my baby I returned to drinking diet soda and my symptoms came back just as before. They got so bad one night my MD thought I was having a stroke. Do you have any information on how to definitely tell if you are having a NutraSweet reaction? I have vowed to never touch the stuff but my husband is a diabetic and many sugar-free foods contain it so we are trying to avoid as many processed foods as possible for him.

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Wow, thanks for replying. Yes, I eliminated NutraSweet and I noticed a big improvement.

I’d say it was coincidence but the few times I have tried it thinking maybe it was coincidence I ended up with migraines and muscle spasms so now I am convinced. My husband has not really found anything to replace it since NutraSweet or sucralose are the main sweeteners in many commercial products for diabetics but he has changed his diet to reduce the amount of artificially sweetened items. This has greatly helped his memory. In fact lately he’s remembered things that I had forgotten. What a relief!

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Finally, I have found others who feel like I do! I had numerous stomach problems about 8 years ago, and could not figure out the source of it. I finally self-diagnosed that it was the artificial sweeteners because nearly everything I consumed that was not fresh fruits/vegetables/meat was sweetened artificially because I was calorie-conscious.

I went to the doctor, and consulted my family and friends – and no one believed me! To this day, I’m not sure they entirely believe me. But indeed, on my own, I figured out that when the ingredients contain things like phenylalanine, Phenylketonurics, Aspartame, NutraSweet, even Splenda, it makes me so sick. I get so bloated that I feel and almost look like I’m pregnant. I feel lethargic and gross. I think it’s akin to what lactose intolerant people experience, but worse.

Artificial sweeteners are bad news! I’m confident that sometime in the future, this will come out. Unfortunately for now, the companies that produce it are hand in hand with the FDA and it continues to be in so many products you would never even suspect – like sushi rolls at Trader Joe’s! I always have to read all the ingredients, and only shop at stores like Whole Foods Market.

Thanks for making this information available. It is reassuring to know there are others just like me!

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About 3 weeks ago, I related to a co-worker (actually we work different shifts, but cross paths often) my story of how seizures from Aspartame ruined my professional life. (I was a driver) He confessed to me that he drank rather prodigious amounts of Diet Croak, and, yes, he had frequent headaches and soreness in his arms and shoulders. Thankfully, I was convincing enough to talk him into stopping his intake, at least for 2 weeks, and let me know what happens. I finally had my first chance to talk to him today. He admitted the headaches on the first two days were hellish (the dreaded chemical withdrawals) but, thank God, he stuck it out. Now he has no headaches or joint pain, and he thanked me profusely for telling him about this poison. In return, I made him promise to pass the word wherever he could.

I have to admit, as I type this, I’m on such an incredible natural high for improving somebody’s quality of life. It definitely makes the dozens of people I tell my horror story to well worth it!

As that old commercial says, “you tell two friends, and they’ll tell two friends, and so on, and so on.”

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First, I wanted to thank you for your web site and all the interesting entries.

I have had a symptom I call “floatiness”  – it’s not quite vertigo but as I walk along all of a sudden I will feel as if I’m going up on a wave, like riding a wave at the beach. A kind of lifting up feeling. It is specific to this product which I no longer use.

I found your site when I wanted to look up Sucralose.  Now I’m afraid of it also.

I have a friend who has ended up in the hospital twice with an electrolyte imbalance, perhaps due to diet soda pop. He has collapsed and then recovers in about a day or two in the hospital. No one ever asked if Aspartame was the culprit.

I have also heard of someone who was terribly unfocused in thinking and talking who was able to recover in about three months.  Like a different personality!

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Over the last 4 years I have had a severe body itch with no rash, while dieting and drinking 4-6 cans of diet soda daily, which contains Aspartame. I have spent thousands of dollars on blood tests and doctors trying to find the cause of the itch.  I have stopped drinking all of those beverages and other products with Aspartame in them and my itch quickly vanished.

Please do what you can to make the medical community and public aware of the awful problems Aspartame causes.

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I would just like to add to the millions of other people who have suffered from the use of Aspartame that I too had symptoms.

My sister told me to begin a carb-diet, therefore, encouraging me to drink diet sodas. I started off drinking Diet Dr. Pepper on a Thursday. Then I bought some Diet Caffeine-Free Sierra Mist soda on Friday and enjoyed 3 cans of the soda. Saturday, I again had 3 cans of the Sierra Mist. By Sunday, I had 2 cans and around 7pm, I began to get a migraine headache (I get migraines and even have medication for my headaches).

I decided to go to bed instead of taking any medication – – just to sleep off the headache. By 1am, I was thirsty and went downstairs to get a Diet Caffeine-Free Sierra Mist. I had a few swallows downstairs before going back upstairs. As I was heading up the stairs, I became disoriented and my head hurt terribly.

My headache was back just that quick. I told my husband about my headache and lay back down to sleep it off. By 4am, I had to run to the bathroom as I had diarrhea. Then I began to gag as if to throw-up, but nothing would come up (I thought it was my acid-reflux flaring up). I gagged for about 5 minutes and my stomach was burning. After that, my heart was palpitating rapidly. My husband didn’t know what to do.

I felt terribly and all I could do was call work and tell them I wouldn’t be in and tried to nurse myself back to health. It was after 12-noon on Monday that I realize that it was the soda that had made me feel so horrible.

Likewise, they need to take this Aspartame as well as acesulfame potassium off the market as soon as possible. Just take all products made with this stuff off the market. It’s not something I’d give to a child or an elder for fearful of death. With the headaches, diarrhea, heart palpitations and gagging, this is nothing to fool around with.

I’m just glad I didn’t drink anymore and glad my husband still has a wife.  Otherwise he’d be suing the pants off the makers of this product. TAKE IT OFF THE MARKET!!!

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I sufferred sudden heart arrhythmia. The cause was 2 packs of NutraSweet in my coffee 2x per day for a month.

My doctor said my heart was healthy, however 6-8 x per day my heart would skip beats. When I stopped the NutraSweet my skipped beats went away. I get a skipped beat once every 2 months now instead of 6-8 daily

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Turns out NutraSweet or more correctly, Aspartame, or Phenylalanine, is the culprit. Aspartame KILLS neuron connections in your brain. Thus causing short term memory loss, headaches, on down the line.

I don’t ever drink or eat anything that has Aspartame in it; it causes me to have migraines and dizziness. Plus, I think it tastes terrible, anyway, I have heard that it stimulates appetite so if you are dieting that is the last thing you want to happen.

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I’ve been reading all these articles and I’ve started to limit my use of Aspartame no more in my coffee and only one diet drink a day.  The fluttering of my heart which use to occur frequently through the day when I used Aspartame daily,  me to a cardiologist for numerous tests earlier this month.  Luckily, my heart is okay but I was told, since I have panic attacks, I was experiencing one when I had chest pain and fluttering of my heart. That is not true.

I was sitting on my couch w/ my puppy watching a movie.  However, I had drunk a lot of coffee w/Aspartame that a.m. and was drinking tea sweetened w/Aspartame when I had chest pain and my heart began to flutter and hurt.  Since I have limited my use of Aspartame in the last three weeks my heart does not flutter and I have not had chest pain either.

You may certainly share this with anyone you wish.  I am so grateful for all the information you have shared with me.  I hope my short declaration was clear as I wrote it in such a hurry.  Something else I thought you might be interested in. I saw my Internal Medicine physician yesterday and shared this information with him (e.g. my limiting or stopping the use of Aspartame in my diet) and he was amazed that my heart symptoms had disappeared.

Then he told me he had a patient that if she drank even one diet drink or anything with Aspartame in it, she immediately passed out within minutes of consuming the product.   I’m a believer.  Thank you.  I am now spreading the word about the dangers of Aspartame.  Have a great day.

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“Last year, my health felt like it was going downhill in general. I had abdominal pains, acid reflux, and worse, my neck started making a “Grinding” sound when I turned it!!!

I have had the same exact symptoms for the last 4 years, I attributed my acid reflux from caffeine, but I would consume diet products with caffeine. When I stay away from these types of drinks I am fine.

My abdominal pains I have been experiencing lately. A burning at times accompanied with diarrhea.

And my neck grinds all the time. I actually can crack my neck without force, by just turning it. I feel that if I crack it, it will ease my head strain. I went to a chiropractor for it, thinking that had something to do with my headaches.

I will stop consuming Aspartame completely. Yikes!

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It has been three weeks since I stopped consuming Aspartame products. My memory is clearer, I do not crave food as much as I did, and I am having regular bowel movements.

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I have four children. I drank Diet Coke mildly during the first pregnancy, very heavily during the second pregnancy–no consumption of Aspartame during the last two pregnancies. I read the warning on the side of the cans and asked my ob/gyn if Aspartame was safe to consume during pregnancy. He said yes.

My oldest has a heart condition (MVP) as well as asthma. My second daughter has epilepsy.

I stopped using Aspartame when I read a report about seizures in lab monkeys when given Aspartame.

Since I stopped using Aspartame, my hair stopped falling out and I feel better than I have for years. My older sister also stopped drinking diet drinks. Her hair stopped falling out and she says she also feels better health wise.

I have contacted you in the past (some years ago) but I was just learning about the danger of Aspartame. It makes me angry to finally realize that my family has been poisoned with the approval of the FDA. I hope Aspartame is taken off the market but when money talks, a lot of time integrity is pushed aside.

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It’s hard to say how Aspartame will affect you. After drinking the “NEW Diet Coke” many years ago I began to feel strange. I had tremors at times and began to feel weak when I hadn’t eaten recently. I was diagnosed with Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and placed on a special diet. A year later I still had similar problems but they had worsened (if I didn’t eat something every 2 hours I was a mess). I went to an endocrinologist to confirm my diagnosis, he concurred. 8 years later I went on a real diet finally giving up Diet Coke and Aspartame. Within a week and a half ALL my symptoms disappeared. I haven’t had anything containing Aspartame since, nor have I had those symptoms return. I drink Coke Classic now. My advice, avoid Aspartame aka NutraSweet.

PS A symptom of low blood sugar can be mood swings which I also had occasionally back then.

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After a five year struggle with what was diagnosed as Bipolar II and various failed trials with mood stabilizers and anti-psychotics I was finally fed up. I had read many times about Aspartame causing mood problems but I suppose I was in denial since I was a 5-6 can a day Diet Coke addict. I couldn’t imagine something so seemingly benign as Aspartame could be causing my downward spiral with regard to mood instability over the past several years. It has only been one week since I quit ingesting Aspartame and my moods are completely stable!

I am taking it one day at a time to make sure I am not jumping to any conclusions but I really believe that this is significant. Has anybody else experienced this?

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United Kingdom

I used Aspartame in large quantities for 6 years mainly in the form of diet soft drinks, usually at least a 2 litre bottle a day of Diet Coke.

I recently had to stop because of dizziness and balance loss which lasted for two weeks, when I stopped drinking diet drinks and switched to drinking water on the suggestion of someone I met in a chat room my balance loss and dizziness cleared up within three days. I thought this was probably a coincidence so about two weeks later I started drinking diet drinks again, the next day all my previous symptoms returned. I have never touched Aspartame since.

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Hi. I just want to post this as I think I have found a solution to the dry itchy skin that I was having on my arms, and want to put the info out there so it might help others. I had never had eczema before, so it was really bothering me, as I know it’s affected a lot of you out there too.

I have recently looked into Aspartame, the artificial sweetener, and have found that there are many levels of reactions to it; one of which is eczema and/or increased dryness of the skin. On this note, I have cut out EVERYthing with Aspartame in it: diet sodas, lo-cal everything, and including my childrens’ Flintstone’s vitamins (why they put it in kids vitamins I’ll never know)! Well, my dry patches are going away, the itchiness is leaving, and the skin on my arms is getting SOFT and clear again.

The thing is, in layman’s terms, it seems that Aspartame is tackled by your liver, which works hard to handle this kind of odd molecule created by man, and then your overworked liver doesn’t handle other things as well. Your liver is directly related, of course, to your other organs and glands, and so your thyroid can be effected (hypo-thyroidism), which can cause you to have weight gain (even though you’re eating all diet foods!–Catch22)! There are tons of websites about the harms that Aspartame can do, and then one big website by the Aspartame producers who say that “nothing is proven and so leave us alone”. This topic is huge, and I don’t think that I have done it justice, but I wanted to let you all know to maybe do a little research and see if this is for you. I’m usually not very political, but I think that this is HUGE, from everything I’ve read, and you might want to try to cut out all products for 2-4 weeks and see if this is for you too!

So, lol and have a great day!

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In 1995, I was diagnosed with MS. My Neurologist ordered an MRI, which came back CLEAR, which surprised everyone.

Continuing to try and convince me I had MS, my Doctor said I was one of the 5% of people whose MS does not show up on MRIs.

After my “diagnosis”, I was poking around in a junk store one day and found an article in a 1960 issue of “Life” magazine. It was written by a Doctor, and was about Aspartame.

I was in school that year, and the furnace was not working right so we’d all sit in class and freeze. When school would let out, I’d go back to the apt. and study and drink HOT COCOA, lacing it with ASPARTAME!! I’d consume several cups over the course of the afternoon of study. SEVERAL.

When I read that article, I was just stunned. I IMMEDIATELY stopped all ASPARTAME consumption, and my symptoms ceased. At once.

My neurologist never even asked me what I was eating/drinking. He could see the crippling effects of MS, and that was all he looked at. Using ASPARTAME will cause symptoms that will mimic MS, and that was what was happening to me.

Later on, I found that the inventor of ASPARTAME was horrified to find out that his product was being used for human consumption. He intended it for use in anti-freeze.

I’ve since realized too, that healthy people don’t need Doctors or Drug companies. Why should they want us healthy?

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The stuff is poison. It causes me RLS (Restless Legs Syndrome). I drank that stuff from the age of 16 to 40 or maybe a little older and too, when I did drink it, I could only drink Pepsi or coke (diet) not all the off brands. I’d get a headache in my eyes that was horrid. Nothing would help the pain till it left.

I won’t touch it now.

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I also got bad headaches when I used to drink diet Pepsi and my heart would beat really hard. I heard a guy on the radio say that brain tumors have increased 6x times NutraSweet came on the market, but scientists were trying to blame it on cell phones. He said that a lot of these tumors were in children who didn’t use cell phones.

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I’m a 36 year old male that has been in very, very good health my entire life. About 2 years ago I started using Aspartame quite regularly, and ever increasing my usage of it; drinking upwards of 5+ cans of diet soda per day.

Last year, my health felt like it was going downhill in general. I had abdominal pains, acid reflux, and worse, my neck started making a “Grinding” sound when I turned it!!! Doctor after doctor examined me, did batteries of tests, and found nothing wrong. I had a CAT Scan of my abdominal region, and nothing was found. Blood work was all normal. I went to 3 different chiropractors about my neck for a period of time, and nothing helped!

Then my mom, convinced me to stop using Aspartame, that it might be causing my health issues, so I quit using it cold turkey about 2+ months ago, and I’m writing you today, to tell you that *ALL* of my chronic problems are gone. The neck grind is gone, acid reflux is gone, and I’ve not had the chronic abdominal pains for several weeks – that’s the first time I’ve not had the pain for more than a DAY.

I feel I was poisoned by it, and my body is finally recovered from it, at least symptom wise. I’m unsure of the long term effects this will have on my body, but it’s clear I was POISONED by it, and I’m *NOT* a happy camper right now. How would YOU feel if something that’s supposed to be safe, is poisoning your body? I feel as if someone tried to murder me; that’s how angry this makes me.

GET OFF ASPARTAME NOW if you have *ANY* health problems and use it. I’m convinced, it worked for me, now I’m mostly recovered I think, and let’s hope nothing long term comes of this.

PS: I ran across this website because I wanted to see if there was anyone else that found out they were being poisoned, and I’m shocked at the amount of people that are posting here!

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I am a newcomer.  My name is Mike G and I am an Aspartame-aholic. I am amazed that I am still alive.  I have been all over the web lately and am grateful for the help that I have received. My eyes are now open.

I have been on Aspartame since the beginning.  I started drinking Diet Coke and Pepsi in the late 70’s and continued up until July 4th 2004.  I was a teenager when I started to drink diet soda because the regular soda made my face break out in pimples. I never drank it for the diet effects. I have always been slim but acquired a taste for it over the years.  I am currently 41 years of age.  I figure I have been poisoned for over 21 years.

My unexplained medical problems began in the mid 80’s.  I was hospitalized for urinary retention, neurological problems, Heart Pains and as things progressed into the mid 90’s I was seen for psychological problems. Neurologists, Urologists and general practitioners could never explain the problems I was encountering.

They said it was stress related. I thought it was brain damage.  I had multiple MRIs, EEGs, EkGs, CT Scans, kidney probes, spinal taps and many other various tests with no explanation other than “it is stress related.”   Psychiatrists told me I suffered from Chronic Generalized Anxiety/Panic Disorder and depression.  I sure as hell did, because I was now drinking Diet Coke and Pepsi by the case.

What is worse is by the late 90’s I acquired a taste for warm diet cola and started drinking my coffee with flavored creamer and Equal. I kept diet soda in my car, garage and under my desk at work year round and took it everywhere I went.  I estimate my average intake of caffeine free diet soda was 128 ounces a day (I drank 32 ounce plastic bottles) plus 4 to 10 cups of decaf coffee a day. I gave up caffeine in the mid 90 because I thought it was part of the problem and it did exaggerate my anxiety, panic and phobias. I drank more coffee in the cooler months and more diet soda in the warmer months.

I have lived in Virginia Beach since 2000 and lived in San Diego for the most part of my adult life. I do not feel like I have had much of an adult life because I have been in a deep depression riddled with panic and anxiety for a large part of it. I cannot even drive my auto on the highway because of phobias.  I just wanted to feel normal, ever since I can remember.  I have also had many medical problems that could not be explained.  I lost almost all faith in doctors.

I did however manage to strengthen my relationship with God.  I prayed last Monday morning (July 5th) for God to lead me to the cause of my unexplained problems. I assume He decided to answer “Yes.”   I was on the internet looking at Panic Disorder sites and saw a link for Aspartame.

I had no idea what it was, but I clicked on it and was amazed by the FDA list of symptoms.  Never before had I come across a complete list of my symptoms.  Any diagnose made by a doctor only covered part of my symptoms.  I was amazed to say the least.

I started the 60 day free program straight away. It has only been 8 days now and I am convinced that Aspartame was pickling my brain.  Every single symptom I have has disappeared or is greatly reduced.  I can see light at the end of the tunnel and hope I can drive again on the highway soon; it’s just a mental thing now, not a chemical thing.

No muscle cramps, no restless legs, no insomnia, no heart pains, no panic attacks, no urinary tract problems, no confusion, increased memory, reduced anxiety, reduced tingling and numbness in my head, reduced depression and that is just to name a few. It is like never before, I feel great!

I have many mixed emotion about the state of the government and the health of the nation. Why is everyone so blind? I know it comes down to power and money, but how could you live with yourself. This is like dropping a NUKE on your own people.

I am still learning and have my eyes and ears open.  I do not like to take injustices lying down, but it all seems so hopeless.  Guess I will stick around and see what happens.

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The report on Aspartame confirms the whole story of chronic problems occurring with a great amount of users of this food additive.

In our clinic we registered over one hundred cases of serious problems, including convulsive fits, migraines, insomnia, loss of weight, weight gain, and loss of vision.

The findings confirm entirely the clinical observations of H.J.Roberts, MD, author of the book Aspartame, is it safe? Best regards, xxxxxxxxxx,MD

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I believe that the DVT (blood clot) I have was caused by the Aspartame use! I developed a clot in October of 2003 and was taking Aspartame till April 23, 2004 and as of now I still have some edema on my left leg. I also believe that the Aspartame kept me from healing properly. Normally should heal from a blood clot in six months for me it’s been 9 months now, but it’s getting better.

Also as of last week I virtually off Diamox medication to control my head pressure for Pseudotumor Cerebri or Fake Tumor, and I feel great finally!

I use to take up to 1000 mg’s (about 4 tablets) a day of Diamox! I have been tapering off it! I at about 60 mg’s (about a 1/4 of a tablet) a day!

I’m going to stop taking it sometime this week. God willing I be OK!! The only thing that is bothering me is the edema I have on my leg. And soon that will be gone, god willing.

All my Pseudotumor Cerebri symptoms are virtually gone just minor soreness here and there that does not compare to the worst pain I ever felt with headaches, vision problems, dizziness, heartburn, IBS, depression, ringing in the ears, heart palpitations, anxiety attacks, and so on, all gone!!!

Thank you for your help.

I keep you posted on my PTC (Pseudotumor Cerebri) I think I never had it was only Aspartame disease!!!! PTC has a lot of the symptoms of Aspartame disease, and a lot of doctors are not informed of what Aspartame can do to people, they just missed it with me.

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Hi, just want to let you know that I drank diet soda(Pepsi) for years, and had headaches for years, assuming they were allergies and migraines with no real cause for concern, I would just pop some Motrins and be fine. Until I started having tingling in my arms and severe pain grew from that in my left arm to the point that I could not steer my car with it, I could only hold it in my lap and every position hurt. I also had severe memory problems and lightheadedness.

I just wanted to cry. I had tests also, I had an MRI, with negative results for MS, which they thought was a possibility with my memory problems and the Vertigo (dizziness) which came and went. I decided to quit drinking Diet Pepsi because I had heard that it can cause such problems and I started feeling much better in less than a month. My arms took several months before they felt normal again and now I can’t stand the taste of diet sodas and if I drink even a small amount, I get a headache. So, to all my former doctors who would look at me as though there was nothing really wrong and it was in my head, THANKS for nothing! And there was one who thought I might be RIGHT in my assumption that it was the Aspartame making me ill, THANK YOU for really listening and not brushing off the idea that something not researched enough or long enough can and does cause illness in people, as it should not have been put on the market until they studied it for a much longer period of time!!! I don’t really understand the FDA, and I wish they would be more careful.

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I was a pilot in the USAF and was drinking a liter of diet Pepsi per day for several months and developed daily headaches. I went to my flight surgeon and he told me to get off Aspartame as it is toxic to large numbers of the general population. I have been off it since 1990 but if I have even a small amount of NutraSweet, I develop a terrible headache. So does my wife who was on it too. Monsanto must be made to pay for poisoning millions of people.

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I just wanted to say it is a year since I came off Aspartame and my black spots and floaters have gone completely, I also had blind attacks and am back to normal now, no headaches & my arthritis is hardly noticeable now but not done any decorating yet. Thanks to all the members who contacted me and gave me support from last July 2003.

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I was trying to lose weight and started drinking the flavored water from Wal-Mart.  I started getting dizzy spells and felt my strength being zapped from me.  I am a very active person and could not figure out what was wrong. I went to the doctor 5 times in one summer trying to figure out what was wrong with me.  It was to the point it was affecting my coordination.  My left leg would not work right.  I lost a whole summer because I just felt horrible.

I gained 10lbs. Someone told me about the Aspartame side effects so I checked them out on the net.  I immediately stopped drinking the flavored water and within a month or so all of the side effects was gone.

The only thing I notice is I have problems with my equilibrium that I never had before this.  My ears just don’t feel quite right.

I believe there was some damage done by the Aspartame.  It bad stuff I will never knowing use it again.

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About a month ago my mother sent me an email warning about the dangers of Aspartame. I believed it to be a usual internet hoax and called my mother to discuss it. After we talked for a while, she asked me what I had to lose by giving up products with Aspartame for a while. I did it thinking I would prove that it was a hoax. Then I started researching it on the internet and was overwhelmed by all the sites extolling the poisonous nature of Aspartame. I have given up the product.

I am no longer tired, I no longer get headaches or chest pains and I have stopped snacking constantly. My fiancé has also noted that I am less irritable. This is a truly harmful product and it is frightening that it is so widespread. We, as Americans, need to exercise our right to free speech and work to get this product banned.

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I will be coming in for my annual checkup in July. I wanted to get the word out on my condition so everyone knows to get people off “NutraSweet or Aspartame.”

Since I have last seen you, I developed fibromyalgia and was in chronic pain. It was horrible.

I thought I might be over training at the gym but I was only working out 4 days a week. I started to scale back my workouts until my brother called me one day and told me about the side effects of Aspartame. I got really scared. I thought my aches and pains were due to me getting older, because I was literally shuffling to the bathroom in the morning, like an 80 year old man.

Since I have purged all Aspartame from my diet, all my pain miraculously disappeared!!!! All the stiffness in my neck, upper and lower back and joints have totally subsided.

I am sending you this link, because I think every health professional should be warning their patients about this horrible substance. I will be filing a complaint with the FDA on the effects.

I have purged all of this out of my kitchen and refuse to take any artificial sweetener. Since I have stopped this, I have lost 10 pounds and my cravings for carbs (every hour, like a mad woman) are gone. I finally am at the point where I can make wise food choices (where before I was like a ravished wolf) without having this chemical drive me to the cupboard every hour.

Here are a couple of links. Please urge all your patients to get educated. (When Aspartame is heated to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, it turns to formaldehyde in the body).

http://www.sweetpoison.com/Aspartame-organizations.html

http://www.sweetpoison.com/Aspartame-detox.html

Just type in sweet poison into any search engine and read. I bet you will find that there are certain patients who can benefit from this. Any headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome, grand maul seizures, fibromyalgia, even vision problems and hearing problems. Go check out the list.

Anyway, I feel I have a new lease on life!!! I feel back to normal and 20 years old again. I am drinking a ton of water and eating balanced meals with simple carbs. I am happy.

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Please be advised, Aspartame is pure poison.

For some reason(s), it appears that governmental corruption has continued to allow this toxic substance on the market.

The symptoms of this poisoning are so varied, and so profound, and yet, it’s so difficult to know they are from the Aspartame.  My personal experience was that I read an obscure article about Aspartame, stopped drinking the more than a quart a day I sometimes was consuming, and immediately got rid of some really debilitating numbness in my legs.  I’m very sure it was doing a lot of other bad things to me, that were not as easy to identify.

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My little 9 year old son takes 4 asthma meds daily.  I was noticing horrible behavior issues with him.  He is sweet and docile and kind. Fights with his siblings. But relatively fabulous. Well. We were trying to figure out why the kid would fly off the handle sometimes.  Just get horribly angry.  Kick things in his way.  Very unusual.  I told my husband perhaps what we thought was “just the way he is” was drug-induced.  He’s been on lots of meds for years.  Perhaps what we thought was normal for him was really the drugs talking.  WELL, I looked at his Singulair prescription that he hadn’t been taking for long.  It was a fairly new prescription for him.  That got us wondering how long his outbursts had been going on.  Were we just used to them?  Had they always been this bad?  This frequent?  Has he always had them or did they just start?  When you live with something, you don’t always see when things start.  Or remember! The Singulair had ASPARTAME.  Ooh, I was so mad!  So I switched his Rx to adult pills and I cut them in half.  NEW BOY no more outbursts.

Thanks be to God.  I was starting to think we had done something wrong.  That he’d end of some wife-beating out-of-control nut.  I have my baby boy back. Julieb

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A friend told me that Aspartame was very bad. I didn’t quite understand since I thought that diet sodas were calorie free and loaded with caffeine as a stimulant for energy. So I searched the web and came across your site. Needless to say, after quitting my daily 3-4 litres of Diet Coke for 2 days, I have more energy, no longer need 2-3 hour naps, no leg numbness, and wake up feeling refreshed and have a clearer mind. I just want to thank you for taking the time to educate people about the harmful side effects of Aspartame. You have my support in your cause.

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I had many side effects from using Equal (Aspartame).  I suffered with migraine headaches daily (previous diet Pepsi drinker).

I also began to experience lower abdominal pain and I was eventually diagnosed with interstitial cystitis.  I did research on Aspartame and learned that IC is often complicated by use of Aspartame.

Sure enough, as soon as I stopped using Equal, all my IC symptoms completely disappeared.

Unfortunately, in the last couple of years I have been using Splenda sweetener.  I suffered with abdominal bloating, tenderness, weight gain, lethargy, and many other ailments.  I had a hysterectomy performed in Nov. 2003 due to the abdominal bloating.  I had endometriosis and adenomyosis along with ovarian cysts.  I was assured by my doctor that the hysterectomy would be the end of my ailments.  It was not.  I continued to gain weight with no explanation.

I have spent thousands of dollars on doctors, MRIs, CT scans, x-rays, brain scans, ultrasounds, etc.  Ironically, three days ago I stopped using Splenda and today is the first day in years I am pain free.

My huge pregnant looking stomach has went down tremendously, I feel alive and energetic.  I feel like I am living in someone else’s body today!  I am convinced these sugar substitutes have been the cause of all my problems.  I will never touch anything but real sugar again.  I hope this helps you in your studies.

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I have been reading your website and it is comforting to know I am only one of many, many people who “diagnosed” themselves with Aspartame sensitivity and was correct in this assumption! Many people really seem skeptical when I tell them about the negative effects Aspartame has had on my body and mental condition. I have suffered with almost daily low-grade headaches for years.

These headaches would at times become so excruciating I would vomit and be unable to function at all. I also had felt fatigued and at times I would have memory problems, mostly in trying to grasp a word I wanted to use. I decided to stop drinking or eating anything containing artificial sweeteners and any alcoholic beverages. I have not had one headache in the last three months except for the two times I ate ice cream containing an artificial sweetener. (That Phenylalanine stuff, something like that!) Both times I had low grade headaches the entire day following the ingesting of the ice cream.

I have witnessed a drastic improvement in how I feel, even my hair is not dry anymore which is really weird but I wanted to put that in because it was a very noticeable change as soon as I kicked my diet soda habit! I wish the general public could be more informed on the toxic effect of this stuff.

I really think we are damaging our children with these supposedly healthy sugar replacements, and are really being misled by the commercials, generally showing a thin woman enjoying herself as she eats a low calorie yogurt laced with toxic Aspartame! Then the announcer tells us she’s doing something to make herself healthier! It is such a scam. I only hope the media will someday start putting this info out there. We really know enough about which politicians smoked what illegal substance when they were in ninth grade! Let’s bombard the public with some useful facts for a change! This would hugely improve the condition of a vast number of people suffering from Aspartame related symptoms and misdiagnosis.

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Just wanted to give an update. I have been off Aspartame for 25 days now and my symptoms have greatly subsided. I still have a day here and there, had a little relapse a week ago, but am back on track. I still have some tingling on the left side of my face, arm and leg, but nothing compared to how I was before. I actually had no tingling in my cheek for a short time 2 days ago!! The top of my head still feels tingly/heavy like a tight cap is on my head, but not as bad as it was. The only thing that hasn’t gone is the ringing in my ears!

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After stopping diet soda and other diet products, my MS like symptoms are almost nonexistent. Not to mention the mood swings and depression and anxiety, heart palpitations and chronic headaches I had for years have all subsided. I had every medical test imaginable (MRI’s, CTs, EKGs, EGD, ABSCDEF) by neurologists, ENT, etc.  No one could find anything wrong with me. However, 90% of my symptoms were MS-like. Now that I have stopped the Aspartame, it’s almost gone.

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Health History.

No major illnesses or need for medical treatment in the first 26 years of my life (except for usual childhood illnesses, such as chicken-pox).

I was a regular consumer of diet-sodas, such as Diet Coke, for about 15 years, averaging around 2 litres/day during this period. On some days this might easily have been 3-4 litres.

Health problems began in Sept 2002, with occasional symptoms at first, but had become more chronic and debilitating by Xmas of that year. Early symptoms included persistent vague light-headedness/dizziness, which sometimes feels like motion sickness ( I had suffered a brief episode of this back in 1999, but it resolved itself within a few days), and also some night-time heart palpitations (hence why I’ve been stuck on cardiology’s patient list ever since!). Further additional symptoms have been tachycardia, excessive fatigue, occasional hot flashes and night-sweats, intermittent “mental fog” and loss of cognitive abilities, classic migraines and also strange visual disturbances.

These disturbances include weird “after-images” of everything I see, the shimmering of lined patterns and also the small dark spots and bright flashes reported by others. I also appear to have far more eye-floaters than usual and my eyes themselves often look tired and swollen. There have been periods during the last 18 months when I have felt bad and periods when I have felt very bad! My recent abstention (2+1/2 weeks now) from Aspartame has brought the only signs of remission during this whole time. The tired eyes, fatigue and mental fog have particularly improved, as have the dizziness and visual effects to some extent.

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I read recently in a Yoga Journal that migraine sufferers should not have Aspartame, that it could be a migraine trigger. I knew the stuff was bad for you, but never thought a piece of gum now and again could hurt me. And I never linked any of my migraines to Aspartame until the very next day, when I had a piece of sugarless gum and within hours had a huge migraine.

I’ll never touch it again. And the very fact that it is legal,                 well that just floors me.

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I am finding that the knowledge out there that Aspartame is in chewable vitamins and children’s vitamins is rare. Although I did not know that it was actually poison, I was made aware of Aspartame health hazards back in 1991 or 1992 after I had been consuming NutraSweet on a regular basis, and was having increasing excruciating monthly periods. They escalated, and finally I was finding myself bedridden 3 days at a time at least once a month. I took myself off NutraSweet, and slowly but surely, my monthly periods got much better, and I was feeling better overall. I avoided the stuff like it was poison, as I have since found that it actually is. Years later in 2001,

I became pregnant with my second child and began bingeing on chewable vitamin C because of the health benefits I was aware of as I was preparing to have a scheduled C-Section delivery.

3 months after delivery, I began experiencing very similar symptoms like that of the ones I had had years ago with my period, and during my ovulations. Passing time one day in the kitchen, I for no reason happened to glance through the ingredients to my chewable vitamin C. You can imagine my anger when I saw the word ASPARTAME in my VITAMINS! I began to scour the ingredients to ALL vitamins! I was absolutely infuriated to find that nearly ALL children’s vitamins found in supermarkets, and grocery stores have ASPARTAME in them! Namely ALL varieties of the FLINSTONE’s chewables ALL contain ASPARTAME!

As I have explored information on ASPARTAME, I have not yet come across info discussing the fact that this is an ingredient widely used in chewable vitamins! Please get the word out!

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As I’m cleaning out my account here, I came across this email I had saved. I don’t think I ever replied but I wanted to let you know how big of a change it made for me to stop using the sweetener so much!!!

The night sweats completely stopped and my headaches were reduced by about 75%!  I’ve convinced my entire family to stop using it 🙂

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Thanks for all the info, that will keep me busy reading for a while.

Here’s my story

I quit using Aspartame & all other fake sweeteners in ’97 when I learned from a wise lady at a health food store how horrible it is. Sometimes I get lazy about reading labels and accidently ingest some and immediately get reactions.  Extremely blurred & squiggly vision.  Headaches that lasts 2-3 days, irritability.

I went to the dentist last week and got the Aspartame headache, blurry vision, etc. I asked to read the label on the flavored topical they use for pre-numbing before they inject Novocain, and SURE ENOUGH it had Aspartame in it. They only put a tiny bit in my mouth, but it caused this reaction. Now I am wondering if the sweeteners they use in toothpaste, even though it isn’t ingested, could cause an effect from being absorbed through the tissues. The tiniest bit seems to affect me.

I don’t use mouthwash, but it is in that too, which again could be absorbed through the tissues. I wonder what else it is in that I don’t know about.

I keep trying to tell my friends and family not to use these chemicals. Now I have an arsenal of material to show them. Thank you.

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I have been through menopause for about 5 years and am now 60 years old. In 2002 I started bleeding and bled for months.  This was diagnosed as polyps in the uterus. I had an operation to remove a large and smaller polyp.  Within 6 months the same thing happened again but the bleeding was heavier.   I had asked the doctor what caused them and she didn’t know.

After the last operation she suggested that should I get the bleeding back we should seriously consider removing the uterus.

This January 2004, I started heavy bleeding and after bleeding almost every day for 4 weeks I was very disgusted and scared.  In early February, I went on-line to see what could be causing the bleeding.  Within 3 minutes I found the website about Aspartame.  Aspartame caused multiple polyps in lab animals.  That day I stopped drinking diet tonic and threw out everything in my kitchen that contained Aspartame.  The next day the bleeding stopped and hasn’t returned.  It is now February 26th and no bleeding.  I also had tingling in my fingertips and that seems to have gone away also.

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I am a forty one year old male. I am a police officer and an avid runner.

I was addicted to a very popular and well known diet soft drink which during my last year of usage included a twist of lemon. I consumed three to four 20 oz bottles of this a day. I began having head pains on the left side of my skull. I could actually place my finger on the area of pain, right above my left ear. I also began having blurred vision, a loss for words and at times the feeling that I was about to pass out.

And tingling in my hands and sometimes feet. I was very worried, and believed that I had developed a brain tumor. I underwent an MRI (Brain Scan) and blood testing. All came back with negative results.

I stopped drinking diet drinks and anything containing the “A” word i.e. sugarless gum. It is now three month later and all of my symptoms have vanished. I am a believer and I feel GREAT!

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I think you are doing a wonderful service to the public. Ten years ago, I was suffering from such horrible pain; my whole body was in pain, and I would tremble, and couldn’t sleep, would cry in my sleep, and I frightened the living hell out of my husband – I used to consume about a 2-litre bottle of Diet Coke per day. I progressively was in such pain, and then I heard about Aspartame, by accident, finding a site, and read things by Betty Martini – I even emailed her, we wrote some back and forth – I printed every page of info I could find – stopped drinking Diet Coke, and in a while, the pain stopped, and I got better, my color came back, I’m healthier, and I know now, that I was suffering from Aspartame poisoning. I was too afraid to go to the Doctor and I was too weak to drive there if I’d wanted to.

I went into Depression, and got so angry at everything, I was miserable, and messed up a lot of friendships, but got some back, made a lot of people upset at me.  It took longer to get out of that depression and anger, than it did to get over the pain. It took me 10 years. I can’t believe the FDA would approve us drinking poison.  They just don’t damn care, as long as they make money.

I’d rather sit and drink a warm beer than any soda products of any kind. At least there is barley in beer!!!   But I mostly drink Green tea with Ginseng and Honey. I had a health checkup a couple years ago, and at 55, all vitals are normal, I am healthy – and I no longer have pain like I had then – it was pure hell – and more people need to see this information.  Don’t give up on getting it out there. go to the Media if you have to – I think if I’d kept on drinking that vile poison, I would have .

I have been sending your site to many of my friends and family, and others I love. I don’t want them to keep drinking that junk, and get sick, or worse. I was in real bad shape 10 years ago, and I was hooked on that, it’s an addiction, and it should be banned as a drug, like any other drug.

Carry on, and get the word out. I still read labels and I find that if man made it, then it’s not fit for human consumption. We can’t trust the FDA, we have to trust ourselves –

Thank you for your very informative site – I’ve been sending to anyone I care. I have a 3-ring binder, full of information on Aspartame, and I’ve shared it with so many people – keep up that good fight – I am glad there are people like you out there, that CARE – God Bless All of You!!

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Physical therapy for 3 months for “frozen shoulder” very painful to move arms due to pain in both shoulder joints. Someone sent me an article on ASPARTAME.  I removed it from my diet.  My shoulder problem cleared up in less than a week.

Each time I accidentally eat something with ASPARTAME my shoulder joints act up.  Later I trace what I ate the day before and find some product with Aspartame as the culprit.  A few days of careful attention to avoiding anything with Aspartame and the joint pain is gone.  I think there is a link and the articles on Aspartame poisoning are true.

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I don’t have time to write a long note now, but after consuming diet drinks for many years I suddenly began experienced vision problems (blurring, double vision) which disappeared after I stopped consuming Aspartame. This occurred about four years ago. I have since then recommended to several friends and acquaintances that they also stop using Aspartame. Everyone has had good results.

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Last July I started having problems standing up and lying down to bed, because of vertigo problems.  I actually started missing work due to these problems.  After going to my doctor and ENT they diagnosed the problem as vertigo and decided that it could have developed due to some polyps in my nasal passages and deviated septum.  I had the surgery and missed even more work and spent thousands of dollars to have this done.  After 3 months my situation never got better.

One day at the health food store I work at, this customer was complaining of the same problems I had.  He had mentioned he had Aspartame poisoning.  That night I came home and found your website and decided I was going to cut out all Aspartame products and just see what happened.

It has been 2 months since I have had a Diet drink or a problem with my vertigo.  I can’t thank you enough for all of your information you have given me.

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About 8 years ago my husband and I started the Atkins diet. We started drinking diet sodas, specifically diet Pepsi.  We stopped the dieting but continued with the Diet sodas. About 5 years ago my husband started having really bad winters; his body ached, he felt  like he had the flu most of the winter; and about 2 years ago it all became unbearable for him, the fatigue was debilitating and the pain in his legs was unbelievable, not to mention a whole new set of symptoms.  He could hardly get out of bed, and going to work used all his energy (when he could work.

Last year he became disabled temporarily. The doctors could not find anything physical wrong with him. He was tested for MS, Mercury Poisoning and all the neurological diseases they could think of.  He seemed to be 100 years old and aging even faster.

A co-worker forwarded an email about Aspartame, we immediately stopped all consumption and now 3 months later he is ready to back to work.  Although, he still has some left over symptoms, he is 80% better and we think the Aspartame must have done some damage to his body.

Thank you infinitely for circulating this information, without it I don’t think my husband would have lasted much longer.

GOD BLESS YOU for all your work regarding this POISON!!

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I posted this on the Aspartame Support Group on Yahoo. I didn’t know if you kept up with it or not. I am a 40 year old woman with 3 children ages 17, 4 1/2 and 2 1/2. Here is my story.

I have been a heavy diet soda drinker ever since it came out on the market. I was drinking 6-8 cans a day not including stops here and there for a super-sized diet drink at the local fast food restaurant when I was out and about. I also have been consuming foods containing Aspartame to try and lose weight forever. About 2 years ago after the birth of my 3rd child I began having heart palpitations, dizziness, chest pains and numbness and tingling going down the left side of my body. I have been to the ER multiple times; I have had EKGs, heart stress tests, MRIs, CTs, ultrasounds, blood tests, etc. I have seen a Neurologist, ENT, Gastrointestinal doctor, Chiropractor, Physical Therapists, Massage Therapists, dentist. No one could every find anything wrong with me.

Oh, wait I did find out I have Reflux, Anxiety Attacks (ya, over worrying about what is wrong with me!) and I am overweight!!!

A month ago I decided to start over with a new Family Practice doctor, he told me that I had already been through the “million dollar work up” and that I should feel good to know that there was nothing seriously wrong with me. He said I was having Anxiety Attacks and prescribed Zoloft. I was elated! I finally could blame my symptoms on something! I was willing to accept that this was my problem, because my mother had suffered from depression and anxiety her entire life and it is hereditary. After time, I began to deal with daily life much better, however the tingling and numbness continued in fact it started to get worse, I still would get dizzy out of nowhere. I would get this pins and needle tingling that started at the top of my head and would cover my entire face and down both sides of my body all the way to my feet. I had been told by friends that it sounded like I had MS. I looked up MS symptoms on the internet and was convinced that I had it. I called my doctor and told him that I wasn’t convinced that Anxiety was my problem, he told me to give it time. That same day I went back on the internet and searched for Anxiety Attacks to see if anyone else diagnosed with Anxiety Attacks experienced the same symptoms as I had. I came across the Aspartame articles and read down the 92 symptoms and could not believe how many of them I had and then I found that Aspartame Poisoning mimics many diseases including MS!!!!! I was appalled as I read on and the word “self-embalming” was used.

I immediately stopped all Aspartame products. It has been almost 3 weeks and my symptoms have not completely gone away, however they are less severe. I am also now finding out that the pains in my neck and shoulder have started to be almost nonexistent. I always thought I was getting arthritis. I have been taking minerals and antioxidants to help my body rid of this awful poison I have been shoving down my throat for more years than I care to say. I am also horrified to find out that I have been doing the same thing to my children. Antibiotics, Tylenol, Benadryl, Vitamins.  They all contain Aspartame!! What are we supposed to give our children!!!!

My teenage son has always chewed gum, ate mints, etc.  Now I think about every time he complained about stomach aches and headaches and I would just tell him to “wear a hat”, “get more sleep”, “eat better”. He was probably suffering from the same thing!! I drank tons of caffeine free diet soda while I was pregnant with my last 2 children, they were both born severely anemic and the doctors could not come up with an answer why.  I wonder if it was the Aspartame.

I am angry that I have spent all this time worrying and not being the best mom and wife because I have had such terrible mood swings, I’ve been so tired that it was hard for me to get up and play, I was yelling all of the time and frustrated with life in general when there was no reason to be frustrated. I am most angry about all the money I have spent on doctors trying to find out what was wrong with me.

I will tell the world how awful this poison is!!!

How can they keep this on the market? I don’t understand why it continues when it is obvious so many people are having these symptoms!!!

Update

Thank you for the information, it is greatly appreciated. I have been Aspartame free for almost 6 weeks and my symptoms have subsided greatly. I do have some bad days still. I am on day 2 of being off of Zoloft and am finding that my symptoms are subsiding even more. I was told by someone from the Support Group that methylcellulose is in Zoloft. I don’t know what that is, but it may be why since I am not taking it anymore I am feeling even better! Do you have any information on methylcellulose??

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I am a healthy 35 year old, healthy, fit, male. I was on the Adkins, low carb, low sugar diet for a couple months where I drank 4-5 diet pops, ate numerous sugar-free (Aspartame laced) foods and chewed sugar free gum constantly. I started noticing a brain fog where I actually thought I was experiencing the first signs of Alzheimer’s. I’m in sales where I need to be at the top of my mental game all day long and I was finding myself losing my train of thought, stuttering and sometimes slurring my words. Then one day, I was sitting down watching TV drinking diet pop and eating low carb French toast with sugar free syrup, I noticed the tips of my fingers starting to go numb with a headache that I could put my finger on. A few minutes later, I jumped out of my seat and started running for my life. I felt out of my body with a huge fear of dying.

I ran around my house 5 times in my shorts, in 32 degree weather, until I felt this fear subside. I felt this surreal and scary fear a couple times over the next hour when I decided to play it safe and go to the emergency room. By the way, I am not the kind of person to cry wolf to get attention and to me, I never would have gone if I thought for one second this was no big deal. Anyway, I was driving to the hospital (15 minutes away) when IT hit me. I thought I was dying in the car.

My legs and arms went completely numb, my heart felt like it was fluttering out of control. I was starting to lose consciousness or dying, one of the two. I called 911 in my car, saying in hysterical, unintelligible speech that I was having a heart attack or a stroke.

They told me to pull over to wait for help, but I said I was too scared to wait. I drove 120 miles an hour to get to the hospital. I got there and to make a long story short, my heart rate was at 130 and I had trouble remembering my birth date. They didn’t find anything wrong and said I probably had a panic attack. I had never had one before and wasn’t really stressed or depressed about anything. I knew there was more to it. I researched panic attacks and found the Aspartame link which made perfect sense, especially after reading other people’s similar situations. I can attest that you don’t get better overnight from stopping Aspartame. I hear it can take 60-90 days to get it out of your system. It has been a slow progression to wellness. It’s been almost two months since this episode and the last time I’ve touched Aspartame and even though a lot of the symptoms have subsided, I still get numbness in my hands and feet on occasion (including right now) with an occasional heart palpitation.

The memory loss and the fog, however, have been lifted. I am confident in the next month or so, I will be symptom and Aspartame free.

What’s amazing is if you go on the Aspartame website, they talk about all the great benefits of their product. They say it was approved to be safe and not to believe all the internet myths saying that people are having bad reactions to it. Well, I was a skeptic too, until it happened to me and now I tell everyone I know that the victims are “the truth” and them saying its safe is “the myth”.

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I get these symptoms off and on and recently noted it’s when I’ve been consuming Aspartame. I avoid it but get the symptoms again and find I’ve been consuming it without my knowledge. It used to be on the label but now I have to check the ingredients and learn the various names for it. This killer is destroying my life. My symptoms are: a very specific migraine I recognize as ‘the Aspartame migraine’, depression, nervousness, blurry vision, weakness in my legs and arms, lots of stupid mistakes and bad short term memory. I’m usually very with it and my IQ was 140 last checked. It feels like it would be 80 if I took a test now.

I can’t think. I’ve read up on the political beneficiaries of this additive and I’m fed up with the special interests plopping their wallet padded asses into the official seats that were put in place to protect us.

Is there a class action suit I can join?

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Just an update from an e-mail we exchanged in February and also to MS Focus.  I had been diagnosed as pre-MS by my doctor.  That day I went off my diet Pepsi habit of 5-8 cans a day.

It is now April 19th and I am symptom free.  Also my migraine headaches are gone.  The only one I had since that day was the day after I went off – boy was I sick from caffeine withdrawal!  But since that day I’ve progressively gotten better.  I read to give it 60 days – by mid-March my numbness and tingling were gone, my shooting “electricity” sensations in my legs were gone, my tiredness and achiness in my legs was gone, my hearing (plugged ear) was gone, and I quit dropping things as I had begun to experience.  I’ve replaced diet Pepsi with water.

Regardless of what anyone says about the evidence of Aspartame poisoning, I believe you.  I’ve done my best to try to get other people to quit having it also, but I guess they have to go through it like I did to really realize what it does to you.  I’m praying my symptoms don’t come back, and I don’t think they will.  Only time will tell.

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Hello I just read your webpage and I thought I was the only person with the allergy to this NASTY stuff. Cause every time people hear about my allergy they are so shocked and amazed. I’m now 23 years old but when I was 10 and living with my mom she would use everything sugar free and I was at the dr. office 2-3 per week because I was always sick my face was always broken out in nasty blister looking things that would break open and would last 3-4 weeks if not longer. My mom thought I was always faking sick but when I moved in with my dad and step mom They NEVER used stuff sugar free. and I never was sick with them so the Dr. told me to eat the BRAT (bread rice applesauce and toast) and start introducing back foods and when I start getting sick note what the new food or drink I had consumed I was fine with everything until I ate a desert my mom made with Equal and I got so sick! My dad was diagnosed with diabetes in 1999 and he is also allergic to Aspartame. We found a product that he can consume but I still cannot have it. SPLENDA sucralose my dad has no problem with it but I still get sick and break out. I can have NOTHING with ANY sweeteners other than SUGAR in it! Thought I would leave my input!

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I had been drinking diet sprite for years and years with no real problem other than panic attacks that I thought were from a neurological standpoint but then this past May 2003 I started getting a burning rash around my eyes, it would always be there for 5 or 6 months I always had it in one spot or another flaring up around my eye lids or under my eyes, that delicate area, ooh the shower everyday was a nightmare with the moist heat on it, anyway I have never had any skin problems in my life, thought it was a new allergy, since Georgia is allergy central, I thought I was developing weird sensitivities since moving here, well I switched moisturizers, base makeups, eye shadow, eye makeup remover, mascara, all of it and nothing changed, still burning rash, dermatitis, I was very concerned. The doctor had given me elidel cream for it but it only somewhat eased the burning but it never went away.

Recently (3 months ago) in my cosmetology class we had a massage speaker one night and we talked about everything, she really an “of the earth” seeming woman and she mentioned how poisonous Aspartame is to the body blah, blah. I didn’t think anything of it at first, thought she was just hippie type organic food eater, so I went home looked it up on the internet and I was tremendously appalled that this, if this was true, how come it was not common knowledge.

Well, I was researching what products had Aspartame in it and found that gum did, which is odd because I think it was about late spring early summer when I found that pop out card gum, eclipse or trident stuff, It was so easy to pop a piece out about 10 times a day, I was going through it like crazy, so I decided to do a trial run of no Aspartame in my diet, thinking that maybe the gum pushed over my limit of Aspartame intake- well I am happy to announce that 2 months after stopping ingestion of Aspartame I no longer have the dermatitis around my eyes,

it has been a month since no symptoms and there are still no signs of it, which is amazing to me, it was definitely the reason for my ailment, there is no doubt in my mind whatsoever, I am a believer, I am so happy I tell people I know not to use Aspartame, stop drinking Diet Coke blah, blah. I realize you have to be very careful when mentioning this to friends etc., you come off seeming preachy and they automatically stop listening. I have to figure out a way to get it across to them without seeming like a fruitcake. They almost don’t want to believe it, which I understand, it’s in everything that especially a woman would consume, diet stuff, gum, diet drinks, they figure if they don’t acknowledge it they won’t have to stop. It’s hard to find alternatives, really hard.

Well there is my story- it wasn’t as serious as a mimicked nervous system disorder or anything major, just an annoying eye rash but I had to live with it every day and because I have educated myself on Aspartame I feel like I am one up one the rest of the world and I am only better because of it! Thank you for your time.

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I also thank the Lord for the existence of that generous man, Dave Rietz, with Dorway. He helped give me information that would not have reached me in time to save my vision, if it hadn´t been for him and two other friends.

I live in Mexico. I had been a daily user of Diet-Coke and Canderel for about five-six years, when one January, 2000, a friend from a big Medical Center in Mexico City called me and said, “Katina, stop drinking Diet-Coke. It´s poison.” A fellow worker of hers also called me about the same time.

On February 14, 2000, I got on internet and started navigating. I couldn´t find anything wrong with Aspartame, until I started looking for “Fenilalanina” (the name taken directly off the last Diet-Coke container in the house). It was like opening a Pandora´s Box of worms.

The Lord has been generous to me by leading me to various changes in my life so that my health continues to improve. My list of ailments due to Aspartame could fill a book. I am lucky to be alive, sighted and with much to live for.

I should mention that, since Valentine´s Day, 2000 [February 2000], I have not taken any Aspartame. I had been going to a General Hospital here to be checked out for different situations of health that I couldn´t put my finger on why I was feeling sooooooooooooooooo bad.

Among the Doctors, I dealt with a marvelous Ophthalmologist, with 40 years of clinical experience, who checked me out thoroughly. He sent me to Tests of Visual Fields many different times. Each time he checked me out on his apparatus to see inside my eyes. Each time he would shake his head and send me off to another test.

This went on from August, 1999, to November, 1999. In November, my friend, the Hospital Social Worker and I cornered Dr. Durán to ask him what was up. His answer was interesting.

He said, “I simply don´t understand. With 40 years of experience I´ve never seen anything like this. Her (mentioning a part of the optic nerve) is so deteriorated that she shouldn´t be able to see, but the Vision Fields Test says she sees. I don´t understand. She should be blind.”

In April, 2000, I went back to get a prescription for new glasses. He checked me again. I asked him how my eyes were. He said, “You don´t have anything wrong. You´re O.K.”

That is one of my adventures with this junk.

Please send me a copy of Dr. Blaylock´s article so that I can continue to improve. I have a lot of work I want to get done and definitely want to be completely well to do it.

I´m sooooooooooooo excited about the suits in California. I pray for all the people involved every day so that the TRUTH will out.

God bless you.

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I have suffered from Migraines for years. As soon as I gave up NutraSweet my migraines disappeared. All those Cat Scans and MRI’s for nothing.

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Since I last wrote my brother has been off NutraSweet since then. My brother’s lupus type symptoms completely went away. My brother has been a physician for over 10 years.  His doctor (a specialist) who has been treating him has seen the significant difference and wants to write a research paper on this. My brother’s physician has now started prescribing getting off NutraSweet for his other patients.

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I’m a 28 year old mom of four children suffering from the Aspartame.  About one and half years ago I woke up with tingling in my feet within a week it was up both my legs and I could not feel my private areas.  I had problems walking I couldn’t drive and didn’t know when I had to go to the bathroom.  The doctors did lots of tests but had no answers then they said that I could possibly have M.S. But they weren’t sure.  After at least six MRI’s and another one this April 1, still no answer. But I have finally figured it out on my own. Aspartame was my problem; I’m a diabetic who has been drinking diet soda for eleven years.

It’s been about two weeks and I feel a little tired but my skin is brighter and I’m not always thirsty any more.  I just want to thank everyone for getting this information out!

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I am a 62 year old Caucasian male who retired as a deputy sheriff in 1997 and who became an artist.  Everything in my life was going very well health wise until about three years ago when my personal physician diagnosed me with Diabetes.  From day one he advised me to use diet foods and drinks such as “Diet Cokes and others” as I would have to stay away from the consumption of regular sugar.  I didn’t much like the taste of diet drinks or diet foods but he scared me enough about my diabetes condition that I switched to only diet foods.  I began my diabetes life with oral medications of Glucophage and Avandia.  A couple of years later I had continued to gain weight and I was falling apart.  I had occasional headaches that I couldn’t explain as I never had them before.  All of my joints ached constantly especially my knees and hands.  I thought I had arthritis and the diabetes was taking hold of my health in a very negative way.

Early on I started with a condition under both arms and in the groin that I considered to be “Jock itch”.  I started using Cortisone 10 creams and if I used that at least every other day the condition could be controlled and if not, the sores were very raw and bloody and boy did it burn.  I continued to use the cortisone up until recently.  Also about that time I developed a thick scaling in the scalp and around the ears that I thought might just be eczema or worse and I used Head and Shoulders shampoo but it didn’t control it.  My lower legs and feet were swelling and I could no longer wear my favorite cow boy boots and most of the time I had to wear soft slippers.

Traveling became almost impossible.  Besides all of these problems I had frequent urination problems and rarely got more than two hours of sleep at a time.  I was becoming more and more irritable round my wife.  My Doctor during this period of time was totally exasperated with me as I couldn’t control my blood sugar levels and I continued to gain weight and by this time I was up to 320 pounds.

About a year ago my Doctor put my on insulin in an effort to control the blood sugar levels.  He started me out on low doses at first but with 3 months I was up to using 65 units of 70/30 Humulin in the AM and 60 units in the PM.  Sometimes I would test in the morning and I would be 105 and sometimes I would be 205.  I was not eating very much at all but I could never convince him of that.  By this time I was developing so many physical problems that I couldn’t keep track of them all.  In the morning for the first few minutes my vision was blurry as if I had a film coating over my eyes but then it would gradually disappear.  I started having ringing or hissing in my ears that wouldn’t go away.  Every morning I would run hot water over my hands so that I could close them.  My knuckles were swollen and again I blamed it on arthritis.  I blamed everything on my age and diabetes.  If I got down on my hands and knees to do something I was unable to get back up without crawling over to the wall or some furniture.

One day as I was driving my 84 year old mother to her dialysis appointment I began questioning her about any illnesses I might have had while growing up.  “I never took you boys to the Doctor while you were growing up other than for broken bones.”  My brothers and I were very active living in the country.  Our diet in those days was meat, potato’s, fresh vegetables, fruit and homemade bread and fresh milk.

My Mother then said, “you are worse off than me” to which I replied “He doesn’t know what all is wrong with me as all my blood tests are O.K. and everything. I’m at my wits end.  I was getting real depressed and even contemplated ending it all.  My whole life I had been very healthy and real strong and now I was as weak as could be.  I then started reading books and surfing the internet.  After a few weeks I found “Dorway”.  Long story short, I cleaned out my pantry and kitchen of all the sugar free Jell-O, pudding, No sugar added Ice-cream, sugar free cookies and Diet Drinks that contained Aspartame.

Within 3 days I noticed some improvement.  Within 2 weeks I felt like a thirty year old again.  I could drop down and do about 5 pushups and wanted to go walking around the farm.  My knees completely cleared up and the head aches went away.  With the help of using Aloe Vera Gel in my scalp and in my shower soap my skin condition cleared up 90 percent.  I have not had one bit of under arm and groin rash since I quit using Aspartame products.  Did I mention that I also had been writing a book on my computer but I was unable to concentrate on spelling even the most simple of words until I got off that darn poison?  I’m back to writing again.  I’m now starting up in my metal shop which I stopped doing nine months ago.

Now here’s the good part.  I went in to see my Doctor about six weeks ago about a cyst on my inner thigh that may or may not be related to Aspartame use.  Anyway he had already given up on me regarding my Diabetes condition and scheduled me to see a Diabetic Specialist for the 17th of this month.  I had gain 18 pounds on the last visit with him and my blood sugar levels were still out of control.

He asked me in general conversation, “well how you been doing”.  I said “Great, never been better”

By the way Doctor do you still use sugar free food and drinks?  Sure, I drink diet Pepsi, to which I replied, Well Doc you might consider giving them up.  You see Doc, I’ve had Aspartame toxins in me since you first advised me to use them three years ago.  Besides feeling great now, my blood sugar levels have come down to about 95 in the morning and about 110 in the PM and besides did you notice what my weight is today compared to three weeks ago.  He checked his Nurses notes and said you are down considerably. About 20 pounds.  I replied, yeh Doctor and I don’t even crave anything sweet any more.  Hmm, very interesting, let me know how you’re improving.  He didn’t have a clue about Aspartame.  I then took the new prescription and went to my trusted Pharmacist who didn’t have a clue about the effects of Aspartame either.

Then it hit me, the medical profession doesn’t have a clue about food additives not even Aspartame.  By the way I also told my Doctor that probably a third of his patients probably have Aspartame poisoning and he never knew it.  To that he didn’t have a response.

I’m now reading everything I can get my hands on regarding Aspartame.  I’ve gotten three Diabetic friends off any thing sugar free or diet.

If you don’t remember the sixties very well there was a saying back then.  “Power to the People”.

If I had my way there wouldn’t be a congressman or Senator serving one more term unless he got on the band wagon and helped all of us victims of this terrible injustice.  We need to get literature out just before election time so any one would know how to vote responsibly.  This is the only way we can get enough people educated.  “I’M WONDERING, WHAT MORE CAN I DO”.  Should I mail all my sugar free drinks back to where they came from?  No body and I mean nobody is so big and powerful that they can’t be crippled legally.  Forget your scientists and their truthful results as that hasn’t worked and never will.  Hit them where it hurts.  You have to ask yourself one more question.  If the movement to educated people like me is having any success then how come this ol’ cowboy had to go through three years of living hell before I accidently “stumbled” across all the good word that you are putting out?

I’m not going to apologize for the length of this e-mail because it all had to be said.  I’m just an average guy who fought for his country and did everything asked of me only to be poisoned by my own country the good ol’ U.S. of A.

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I suffer from depression and PTSD. I started drinking diet soda to help me lose some weight. After about 3 months, I started to be plagued with constant anxiety, insomnia and irrational thoughts. I had read somewhere that artificial sweeteners can sometime negatively affect folks with mood disorders so I stopped drinking diet soda and guess what—I am feeling better, sleeping through the night and the irrational thoughts have subsided.

Seems to me the artificial sweeteners were having a negative effect on my mental health. I know I am going to avoid them in the future and drink water instead.

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I am a physician and treat a lot of people with fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Myofascial Pain Syndrome (Yes, they are real diseases in spite of what a lot of previous MDs have told some of my patients in their past search for some answers to their ‘often weird’ symptoms. This is a toxin that should have never been allowed on the consumer market. I see people daily with long term problems, both physical and emotional, that have a history of excess use of the Aspartame in their past. Hopefully the consumer public will become more aware of the many dietary sources of this Poison and stop using these products. The problem with using products like these is that the toxic effect is such a slow onset and with continued use, the toxic byproducts accumulate in the tissues (brain, blood vessels, etc.) and the effect may not be seen for many months or years and then slowly, the symptoms increase, irreversibly, until the patient is misdiagnosed with some disease state, whereas, they are actually developing permanent drug toxicity reactions! Please continue to spread some enlightenment on this subject. Thanks.

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For years I suffered with IBS. I was a diet Pepsi junkie. I stopped drinking it and any other forms of Aspartame. Within DAYS my IBS was gone! By mistake, I drank a diet Pepsi about a week after I had it out of my system. The very next morning, the IBS was back. NEVER EVER AGAIN will I consume Aspartame. There is NO doubt in my mind that it was the cause of IBS! Has there been any research on this?

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Why I believe they were caused by Aspartame: Because they stopped when I stopped drinking diet beverages.

Did the symptoms go away? Yes, after about a month or two. For a period of some months in 1992, I had regular attacks, occurring about every 14 days, of vertigo where I couldn’t stand up, I couldn’t walk all I could do was hold onto the floor, vomit, and hold on for dear life for the 10-15 hours the attacks would last. When I stopped drinking diet drinks, the attacks continued for a month or two, with decreasing severity and intensity, and the time between the attacks got longer, until they stopped altogether. I haven’t had an experience like this since late 1992.

Did I see a doctor? Yes. I saw an ENT who performed extensive tests, including an MRI, to rule out brain tumor or a tumor in the ear exerting pressure on the vestibular system. He also ruled out drug use, wax buildup in the ear, and other ear-related problems.

Did the doctor think it was linked to Aspartame? No.

Did I report the symptoms? No. This is the first time I’m reporting it anywhere.

What specific products: Diet Coca-Cola, Crystal Light powdered drink mix

How much/how often: At least 6 12oz cans of Diet Coke a day; several 8-12 oz glasses of Crystal Light. It wasn’t bad for me, and calorie free, so what was the harm of drinking so much?

How long before I experienced symptoms? I don’t recall – it was 10 plus years ago, now – but probably some months. My first attack occurred over the July 4 weekend and continued into the fall. I probably started drinking the stuff as a means to lose weight that I had gained a lot over the holidays.

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I have used Aspartame for years and then developed Migraine headaches. I simply stopped using it and the head aches disappeared. Sometimes I will accidentally consume Aspartame and will suffer an extreme Migraine, and sure enough when I check the ingredients there it is. I do not understand with so many health problems this has caused why the heck the government has not done something. It is outrageous!!

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I lost my job Sept 15; staying at home, I started drinking more coffee-my sweetener contained Aspartame. My intake went from 4 pkgs. to 8 pkgs. per day.

Two weeks later I could not walk without holding on to something or if I could walk – sharp pains hit my legs causing me to scream.

October/November to chiropractor and then to family doctor. No help.

The word “fibromyalgia” came into the mix because I had the tell-tell symptoms with pressure points.  A year before the tingling/burning was diadnosed as Carpal Tunnel (HA!)

Just on a hunch, I quit my sweetener the first of December – On Dec. 26th, I  walked without pain but have a ways to go to improve because balance is questionable, tingling in arms is subsiding (was diagnosed neuropathy)

I strongly suggest others try to eliminate sweeteners with this ingredient and see if some of their ailments disappear. It won’t happen overnight but when you realize the pain is gone – wouldn’t the trial be worth it?

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I have been doing a lot of research on the use of artificial sweeteners especially Aspartame. I find your information astounding. I had been a frequent user of diet soft drinks, sugar free gum, etc.

I was watching a news report on Aspartame 12/31/03. What I saw and heard was very disturbing.

I am now 34 and have been consuming these products since I was 16. I decided to give up all Aspartame containing products as my New Year Resolution. I must say that I am thinking more clearly.

I would sometimes get headaches and felt like there was ”dullness”, if you will, over me at times. I do not feel this anymore and have not had any headaches or a feeling of “dullness” since removing these products from my diet. I have not read all of your research but will continue to investigate. Please e mail me if you have any questions and keep up the good work. Thanks.

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My husband used to be a big diet soda drinker. A couple of years ago he started complaining about forgetfulness and fuzzy thinking. It was scary. I remembered an article I had read about artificial sweeteners and their effect on brain function. I had him stop drinking that stuff and switch to water and unsweetened tea. The problem went away after a week or so.

I’m a believer.

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I am writing for my husband. We have been married 15 years. When we met he started drinking diet sodas. And exclusively so. I don’t drink sodas. Since then he has gained 70 lbs., even though we eat the same basically. I do a lot of cooking. He also complains of muscle and tendon aches, and always passes it as “old age”. Ridiculous, I have always felt 25.

He has a lot of other subtle problems. Also he always wakes up in the middle of the night to drink water. He’s been off sodas now for almost 2 weeks, and has stopped getting up at night to drink water. Also he’s not achy any more. We will see this year how many more symptoms go away (By the way he saw 2 Neurologists who thought he was trying to get disability or just faking it!!).

I am so thankful to find this site as well as the responses from people who voice the same problems as my husband. Also, the only other product that is bothersome is when we eat out at oriental restaurants, and the MSG manifested itself in immediate scary symptoms: chest tightness, head tightness, headache, and trouble sleeping. I thought he would have to go to the emergency ward! Chemicals and pesticides and unnatural substances can pose a real silent danger to many people. Being a dental hygienist, I have seen such a rise in health issues, and young people getting cancer. Just like cigarettes, people should be informed and let them make their own choices.

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I was just doing some internet surfing on the wonder sweetener that I hate so much, and I found your website so I thought I’d send a message and you can add me to your list of victims when you get a chance.

Many years ago, I went on the NutriSystem diet. Much of the food there had Aspartame for a sweetener instead of sugar, no real surprise. After I finished that diet, I was still consuming some Aspartame from diet drinks on occasion (even though I hated the taste). Then one day, I started breaking out in hives. I went to the doctor, they ran some tests, and could find nothing wrong with me. I went a few times, no help.

I went to a few different doctors, and finally one mentioned NutraSweet and handed me a list with more side effects than I can find anywhere on the internet that were linked to Aspartame. I had quite a few of the side effects listed, if I had a list I could probably check them off one by one. Hives, dizziness, headache, insomnia, fatigue, those are the ones I remember well but I know I had many more. I felt like I was walking around in a daze all the time.

The doctor suggested I avoid anything with Aspartame in it, so I did. It took a while, but the hives went away. I started sleeping better. I didn’t feel tired in the middle of the day anymore. Headaches were gone.

This was in 1990. I haven’t touched the stuff since, except unknowingly or by mistake. I still know when I’ve had some too; I break out in hives whenever I take in any Aspartame. I have to laugh at the reports I read too, that its ok and its natural amino acids with phenylalanine. Sure it is. Seems like Dr. Roberts has it right, maybe that’s what it starts as, and then you put it in the body and you have methanol and who knows what else.

Evil evil evil. That’s what Aspartame is. Maybe someday the FDA will agree. I’m glad others are spreading the word. I’ve been telling my friends since 1990.

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I experience extreme migraines anytime I have consumed NutraSweet. Elimination of NutraSweet in my diet has tremendously decreased the number of migraines I have.

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I am a mother of an eight year old daughter. When she was 4 years old she became very belligerent, crying fits, uncontrollable, completely out of control. The behavior was completely the opposite of the sweet little girl she usually was. At the time she had an ear infection and was on a liquid antibiotic. I called her doctor, thinking it was a reaction to the antibiotic. Her antibiotic was changed and she was fine again. Three months later at a family picnic she was given a piece of sugar free gum and we had to leave the picnic as her behavior was almost instantly changed to bad, just like Jekyll and Hyde! I called the doctor the next morning and found out the 1st ingredient in the antibiotic 3 months before was Aspartame. Cali now describes the feelings as though she can’t control herself that she can’t think straight.

How many children in this country take children’s chewable vitamins from a discount store loaded with Aspartame every day? It is also in chewable Tylenol, most liquid antibiotics, chewable Motrin, chewable Benadryl, chewable Advil and even Pedilyte. My daughter is a label reader now.

I own a health food store and help hundreds of people every year in our community of 100,000 that are sick and find out it is from Aspartame.

I recently helped a woman who was on so many drugs for depression and anxiety that she couldn’t work and was disabled. After one week. ONE WEEK off of NutraSweet she was able to go back to work.

I also worked with a woman who was crippled by migraines. Spent thousands and thousands of dollars on MRI’s, tests, drugs to no avail. She went off of diet cola and her migraines were gone. She was furious that not one doctor she went to ever asked her if she drank any diet sodas or used artificial sweetener packets.

Another man thought he was developing Alzheimer’s at age 34. His doctor fortunately asked him if he did drink diet soda. Yes he did. 5-6 cans a day. Two weeks off of Aspartame completely his memory came back 100%

Why is it still being sold when it is so dangerous!? People need to know. They have a right to know the truth! I believe what it is doing to our children is a crime. Some MD’s still are not warning pregnant mothers not to consume it. How frightening is that?

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I have just discovered the horrible effects of Aspartame. I have been a Coca-Cola drinker for years (not knowing it contained Aspartame).

I also chewed Trident White sugarless gum for many years not realizing any harm was being done.

In the last few years I have had severe headaches, usually on the right side of my head.  Sometimes I would be driving and I would have spells of dizziness that would just appear anytime.  Sometimes I felt like my mind got blanked out for a while.  I couldn’t explain the feeling but it felt like seizures or maybe aneurysms. It was so frightening; I went to a neurologist to get a C-Scan several years back.  They saw something on my brain but couldn’t explain it. I probably could attain the x-rays that have these spots on my brain. Recently then came severe joint pain, confusion, memory loss, numbness in the finger tips, panic attacks, chest pains, erratic heartbeats, severe stomach pains, burning urine, UTIs for no reason.  You name it I was a walking health problem.  I have been in the doctor’s office numerous times for numerous symptoms.  The doctors probably thought I was a hypochondriac?!  I thought maybe it was due to age.

I got on the internet looking for answers, mainly to seek the dangers of Aspartame and low and behold.  There it was like an answer from above your site and all the people who were complaining about the same things.  I knew it!  It was Aspartame all along that was giving me these problems.  So I went into detox and then came the severe stomach pains, diarrhea, menstrual cramps, and severe headaches. The joint pain has disappeared along with many other ailments I mentioned, which were Aspartame attributed.  I wait to see how many more symptoms will disappear.  I still have bouts with stomach problems and headaches that just don’t go away.  I’ll have to check them out soon with the doctors.

I’ve always had asthma, but there were times when it was really severe and I wonder if hidden Aspartames in the past had anything to do with triggering these episodes.

Needless to say, I am very angry that there is such a poison on the market, and it’s legally approved by the FDA!  Scary!  Something has to be done!  I emailed some of the info on your site to friends to make them aware also!

I’m glad I’ve found answers to so many questions.  I would like to join the fight against Monsanto and there EVIL WAYS!

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I stumbled upon your web site after reading about milk and it’s additives at notmilk.com. I had been using Equal for everything. I was overweight about 7 years ago and decided to follow the Atkins put me on Glucophage to help me to try to lose weight. Anyway, once I came across Aspartamekills.com, they recommended your site. Sure enough, I cut out all Aspartame, which I must say is very difficult, and all my symptoms are gone. I am not dizzy anymore. The feeling of “walking in a dream” is gone. My body aches and pains are gone. My chronic hip pain is there no longer. That spot on my head is even getting better. It’s been 3 months since I stopped. By the way, FYI – There is ONE diet soda that does not use phenylalanine and that is diet rite. Aspartame is in everything! Every single gum I have looked at has it in there; the only one I found that doesn’t is bubble yum, which is loaded with sugar. Also, I have now lost 20 of the 60 pounds I had gained over the past 2 years!!! People, please listen!!! Stevia, Stevia, Stevia is the answer! Stay away from the poison that is Equal! Theresa

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For the last three years, I have had severe pains in my legs and feet. I started walking daily and it seemed to just get worse.   I thought it was bad shoes I have been ingesting sugar free products for 20 years, and in the last three years, everything I put in my mouth was sugar fee ( I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes) I started menopause and was becoming very depressed.  I was placed on several depression medications as well as hormone replacement medications.   Some days were so bad; I could barely walk from my car to the grocery store because of the pains in my legs and feet.  I was constantly taking pain medication, i.e. Tylenol, and Aleve. I was beginning to think I had fibromyalgia.

A friend of mine was experiencing pains in her legs.  She ate everything sugar free as well.  She was only 28 years old.  I am 57.   She went to every doctor where we live then finally went over to Seattle to the University Hospital because no one could find anything wrong with her. It was over there that they suggested she get off the sugar free stuff. She did and was well again.  SO I thought, I would try not eating anything sugar free for a few days.  It was like a miracle.  Within four days, the pains were gone and I was starting to feel good again.  I am now off all medications, and my energy has returned.  Not realizing what Aspartame was in, one weekend I was doing lots of housework, it was warm and I drank crystal light all day Saturday.  By Sunday I was on the couch with my feet up and in pain again.  JUST ONE DAY AND IT HIT ME AGAIN.  When I read the label what a shock.  NOW I READ ALL LABELS BEFORE I PUT ANYTHING IN MY MOUTH.

I try to let everyone know about Aspartame and what it did to me.  I would probably be a cripple today if I had not heard about the effects of Aspartame.  My friend told me about your WEB site so I started reading.  What a shock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for the help. Jennifer

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My husband and I consumed diet sodas for two years, trying to cut sugar from our diets. In the past few months, we experienced unexplainable symptoms.  I remember seeing an e-mail on Aspartame. I did some research on this and others affected or having been affected with the numerous symptoms Aspartame causes. I couldn’t believe it! We experienced joint pain, stiffness, fatigue, inability to concentrate and forgetfulness. We cut the diet soda and anything that contained Aspartame from our diets and we feel great. We immediately saw improvement in our health. I now believe we were victims. 1 1/2 months later, we feel absolutely great. Thank you for circulating these stories.

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I’m 31 and I suffered for a few years because of Aspartame.  I could have died and left my children without a mother if you wouldn’t have put the information out there.  Within a month of cutting Aspartame out of my diet I was free of my many symptoms including:

Basilar Artery Migraine attacks

• TIA’s
• Vertigo
• Numbness
• Staggering Gait
• Vision problems
• Droopy Eyelid
• Irregular/uneven pupil dilation
• Problems speaking (jumbled words during attacks)
• Loss of bladder control
• Nausea
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Stiffness/joint pain
• Muscle spasms
• Fatigue
• Inability to concentrate
• “Not real” feeling

It maddens me that there are people out there claiming it’s safe.  I haven’t filed a complaint with the FDA yet and I can’t afford (financially and time) to file a lawsuit, but what can I do to help spread the word?  I put some information about Aspartame on a web page.  There are hundreds of people with similar symptoms, including seizures that are being diagnosed, or diagnosing themselves, with B.A.M.  If they only knew that cutting Aspartame out of their diet might cure them.

I have to find some way of helping America!  Thank you.

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Thought I’d send this to you. I’ve been to the doctor on and off for the last four years and recently went to see an endocrinologist regarding my symptoms. I wanted to get to the bottom of it as I’ve noticed debilitating conditions increase over the last four years.

Did a 24 hour (urine) exam that I’m waiting to hear back on, but last night came across this astounding revelation that touched on all my symptoms.

(I have reports from my primary doctors for the last four years with symptoms of anxiety, insomnia, joint pain, hypersensitive adrenal response, fatigue, hives, and failed cures with prescription medication. I have copies of my records too.)

Today I threw out all traces of Equal. Funny how they talk about the addiction, I had a box of packets at work in my desk, and at home.

Wow, just got off the phone with mom about this. There may be too much coincidence with the fact that I’ve been having 3-4 packets of Equal in my coffee every morning for the past 4 years. . The same time that my symptoms of anxiety, join pain, insomnia, light-headedness began.

I’ll have to wait and see; as they say it takes a month or two to get your system back to normal after long term intake. But already noticed, yesterday I had 4 Equal packets in my coffee and got real lightheaded in the afternoon (which I thought was from low iron and protein), so today I didn’t have any Equal and what do you know-NO light-headedness?!

Granted I still may have some underlying challenges, but this could have been a major contributor to my problems. If so, I’d like to sue their company.  When I think of the lost productivity, car accidents that followed insomnia, relationship impact, health bills.

In fact even one of the owners of Equal; his son developed a debilitating disease that he thinks was from excessive use of Aspartame. It’s hushed because there’s so much money gained from the product.

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Well, May 13 it will have been 60 days free of Aspartame!!! And I’ll tell you, I have noticed an improvement so far! Severe insomnia IMPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For the most part, I’m sleeping pretty regularly now. The only thing I’ve found is that I still seem to have blood sugar sensitivities, not as extreme as before but still seems to be underlying. Like if I change my diet it throws off my sleep, or if I stop taking chromium same thing, or exercise too much. But even so, the effects of that aren’t nearly as severe as they used to be that is for sure.

Joint pain GONE. Racing heart GONE. Adrenaline rushes improved (which doctors had tested me a number of times for excessive cortisol). Food allergies resulting in hives GONE. I still experience a milder reaction maybe once in a while but NOTHING like what it was!!!!! And as each day goes by, I just feel like a healthier, happier person. And I’ve stopped taking all anxiety medication and natural supplements that I was using to help me sleep. It’s wonderful! My body just doesn’t want them now.

I’m still waiting to see though, hoping that after 60 days, that         hyperarousal response will be cleared up completely.

My mood has improved too. No more depression and anxiety highs and lows like I was having before, and panic attacks and irritability. It’s remarkable. To think of all the time, the last 4 years that I just felt like hell (like I was 80), and went to see numerous doctors, and to realize I’ve figured out a connection at least brings tears of joy. And believe me it’s also made a difference in my relationships and work productivity.

I went on the Internet and read a lot of the warnings and case histories. What was astounding to me was how many people had such similar problems and how the doctors couldn’t diagnose it but just put them on all these crazy drugs for the symptoms. That is scary, and makes me want to tell the world about that stuff. And, I have told all my family and friends to stay far away from it. Who would of thought that a scoop of regular sugar or a regular soda would be BETTER for you.

My goal was to feel better before my upcoming wedding this summer, and as far as I can tell, that wish is coming true. I said to myself, when I get married I want to start fresh and be able to live a happy life like a normal person without all these symptoms. Particularly the insomnia, my family was very concerned about that. And. another bonus, symptoms like being bloated and PMS have improved (in fact I hardly notice PMS now!!!). So I feel like I’m not only getting stronger but even feel more fit and trim for my big day too.

Crazy, I even thought I was on the verge of Diabetes (since I had all the related symptoms) but ironically blood sugar tested fine. I’ve read how Aspartame disease mimics so many others and I think that’s also why it is so hard to pinpoint.

I will read your additional resources. I hope you’ll share my story. I’ve spent hours, days, months, years trying to get to the bottom of all my symptoms. And, now I finally feel like I’m headed in the right direction.

Thank you. Keep me posted!

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I wish I could say I am glad to be a member of this list but who can be glad about having their life ruined by deliberate cruelty in the name of the Almighty Dollar.  But I am tremendously thankful that you all are here and that this list is here and that there is an army of faithful people devoting so much of themselves to helping others and attempting to stop this madness.  I simply feel that I have to have someplace to unload something of what I feel and connect to people who understand.  My history is long and complex but I will not dwell on it suffice to say that I grew up in a very violent home with two severely disturbed alcoholic parents.  From that I have received the diagnosis of chronic post-traumatic stress disorder. Ahh how the Aspartame helped me with my depression.  How it took me lower and lower into the depths of a mindless black fog.  And then while doing my stint in college back in the early ’70’s I was exposed to a massive dose of chlordane in the house where I was living.

After that my health has been weird.  I wasn’t the only person living there that experienced lasting effects.  One person developed a brain tumor.  The rest of us lucky ones just got chronic fatigue and chemical sensitivities.

Then I was gassed with 2-4D, you know, Agent Orange, while living in newly wedded bliss at an apartment complex.  Finally life in the big city was so intolerable for me, even with herbs and vitamins and organic foods, that we moved to the country.  But that meant giving up a lot.  Organic foods are hard to come by and finances are difficult at best.  As we grew to mid-life and watched my husband’s sisters and brothers become diabetic we switched to using NutraSweet and other various forms of Aspartame.  This was about 1 to 1and 1/2 years ago.  I started using the stuff for various reasons, not good ones to be sure and viola. Memory loss-oh I can remember the horrors of childhood vividly but I can’t seem to figure out which key is for the car or the house.

Severe muscle and joint pain till I could barely walk.  Burning pains, ringing ears to the point of hardly being able to hear, then the weird pounding noises and burning skin and then at the last migraines- this from a person who ordinarily had maybe 2 headaches a year.  Also I was having some sort of seizure activity.

I didn’t know what it was till I described it to my husband and he as a lifelong epileptic recognized it at once.  Miraculously I stumbled across the Dorway website and my life has changed for the better.  I am now, as far as I know, Aspartame free for one month.  I can walk without pain and am no longer hopelessly depressed; my old coping skills I learned through years of therapy are working again.  No headaches at all unless I get in contact with outgassing such as at Wal-Mart.  But I still don’t feel consistently well. Today was a bad day.  I have had a HORRIBLE painful rash for about a week. It is improving with creams and B vitamins.  I should be feeling better.

I checked your archives and found the post about Aspartame being hidden in yogurt and started shaking and almost crying I was so upset.  I just started using Dannon’s “All Natural” plain yogurt.  I was careful to read the label. Supposedly, there is nothing in it but milk, and of course bovine growth hormone, but it is the best I could find.

What upset me the most is that I gave some to my beloved dogs. I want to stay on this list to keep abreast of what I can do for my family, my pets, my friends and neighbors.

I have been telling everyone I know about the dangers in Aspartame.  Most of the time I get this blank look and then the subject is changed.  Well, at least I told them.

Thank you all for indulging me in this long outpouring.  I pray night and day that this horrible thing that has been perpetrated on the world by Monsanto and the FDA will come to an end. M.B. in Ohio

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Very poor comprehension, forgetfulness, dizziness, joint and muscle pain, headaches, fatigue, and numbness in my fingers were symptoms I experienced while consuming Aspartame.  For at least seven years, I tried to avoid sugar whenever I could, buying products using Aspartame instead. gum, ice cream, sweet thing II, and Diet Coke/Pepsi.

While I had many headaches, the joint and muscle pain was much worse.  I could hardly get out of the bed in the morning, having to slowly roll out and walk slowly.  I felt old enough to retire.

Trying to learn a new job was unusually challenging.  My reading comprehension was severely impaired in a job where that was critical.  I had trouble concentrating and was very forgetful.

Reluctantly, I came to suspect Aspartame.  Beginning January 2003, I eliminated Aspartame from my diet.  Within a week, my muscle pains were easing.  Nearing four months later, I wake without pain.  My ability to comprehend and remember what I read has returned.

I hate having to give up my diet drinks, but I feel like I’ve risen from the dead.  I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t experienced it myself. Diane D.

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Approximately 3 years ago while trying to cut back on sugar I began drinking a lot of Crystal Light Lemonade. At the time I was an RN on a cardiovascular unit. I have had very rare occasional PVC’s throughout the years, but after approximately 3 weeks of drinking the lemonade I began having runs of bigeminy and trigeminy (PVC’s every 2nd or 3rd heartbeat). This left me exhausted and short of breath. I placed myself on a cardiac monitor at work to print out tracings of what was happening and made an appointment with my doctor who immediately sent me to a cardiologist.

While awaiting my cardiologist tests results back I noticed one night that after I put a piece of sugar-free gum (with Aspartame) in my mouth, the runs began. I cut out the Aspartame, but it took several weeks for the toxicity level to decrease and my heart rhythm to return to almost normal (I still tend to throw PVC’s more frequently than before, but no! runs). M came back normal. I mentioned the Aspartame to the MD and he had no idea if this might be the cause. By the way, I had given up all caffeine 3 years before and had an otherwise very healthy lifestyle. I am very careful to avoid all Aspartame and research any new sweeteners that arise.

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I was very pleased to find that your site had information about sucralose, as I have been wary of trying any sugar free products after my experience with Aspartame.

Last summer, I was trying to lose weight, and consumed a lot of “diet” products, including soda, yogurt, and various desserts in addition to other low-fat products.  Several weeks later, I started to pass out every so often during the day, and I had an almost constant migraine headache.  I eliminated Aspartame from my regimen and within a couple of days, my headaches became less severe.  When I consulted my nutritionist, she told me that I should avoid Aspartame in the future because I was probably allergic to it.  I have since avoided it like the plague.

Thank you for your valuable information, and I hope my experience can help others.

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I have been off Aspartame now since 21st February 2003, being close to 5 months now. I think I’m coming back to the normal world which has been the worst nightmare for the past 8 – 9 years at least.

I think I tell you my complete story, as now I realize so many things that have been going on and I couldn’t connect. I hope this information can also help others to get back to a normal functioning brain and life.

The symptoms that have for sure weakened and almost disappeared are:

• heavy confusion
• memory loss and disorder
• chronic fatigue syndrome
• bloated stomach
• diarrhea with cramps in intestines
• strong feelings of panic and fear
• temporary insomnia
• depression
• hip and joint pain
• hair loss

(and all this just by taking 4-8 pieces of chewy V6 a day) – no coke light, no other diet products, nothing alike).

It took though over 3 months before I noticed the real change in my head, not being so heavy anymore and being able to think again and also remember things. I was so far gone that I sometimes could not remember my own address and phone number.

I don’t think it is necessary that I express what I feel towards Monsanto & Co. and all people involved in this, as many others have said it on your website quite clearly.

I am very grateful for having found all information on your site and once again to say – You saved my life and that of many of us. Thank you so much.

My life changed when I was diagnosed for hyper-prolactinemia in early 80ties and as this whole area was quite unexplored (and I had no medical knowledge as to how the human brain functions with its pituitary gland and hypothalamus), I was put on PRAVIDEL (Bromocriptine) and the dose was increased up to 10mg per day. This stuff put me so much off reality – I was just happy to survive a normal working day, and needed 9-10 hours’ sleep to be able to survive at all.

The doctors never found a reason for this hyperprolactinaemia and they could also not explain why, despite high medication intake, the PRL levels would not stay low.

Thinking back now, at that time already I used “Aspartame” chewing gum, maybe not so much – and I did for a period of time use artificial sweetener in my coffee (for maybe 1 year) which could well have been the cause for this disturbance in hormones.

But during the treatment with Bromocriptine, I could not distinguish between the symptoms of the medication and the ones from Aspartame. I was not aware of anything around me.

When I was completely desperate with this medication – and the doctors said I had to take it to the end of my life – there was no alternative (I refused removal of an at the time 6-7 mm large micro adenoma), I decided in 1998 to stop all medication from one day to another, without consulting any med. advice. I could not life any longer with this strong stuff (also used for Parkinson’s disease) being always dizzy and tired, etc. etc.

After over 6 months of heavy withdrawal symptoms you can possible think of, and when that was over, I still remained with a very dizzy head, headaches, bloated stomach, heavy confusion, memory loss, panic attacks, etc., etc., etc. – which I thought would disappear now. The only problem that added to it – I was not drugged up anymore and calmed down. So all these symptoms were extremely strong and I could hardy bear it.

After 1 year, the micro-adenoma had reduced to 1-2 mm (which it still is) but blood tests still indicated high PRL levels messing up of course the estrogen production and all related to it. And up to Feb this year, I have been working my way through this nightmare with all above problems.

The past 2 months have for me been the best ones during the last 10 years minimum. I still have high PRL, but hope that maybe the body can partly recover during the next months – I do not know to what extent the damage is irreversible – headaches GONE, the pain I had since over 10-13 years in my hip is GONE, pain in the points of the fingers GONE, pain in my neck GONE and physical body pain when waking up in the night – ALL GONE.

My eyebrows have not been growing anymore for the past 15 years, and – since 3 months, they start growing back – it is simply amazing. So does my hair – I don’t lose so much anymore, and lots of it grows again I feel energy coming back. And that is great.

During the entire period of PRL problems, I read so many medical books on the functioning of the brain and have acquired quite a knowledge on that.

But I had no reason to mistrust our food industry and all my research in finding out why the hypothalamus is completely in disorder failed due to that. It could have saved me so many years of nightmare.

I have also since Feb this year read the “Excitotoxins – the taste that kills” and others on the subject and have also abandoned any sort of MSG from my food consumption which I find does me a lot of good. I noticed that when having any kind of MSG in the food, I feel very bad for the next few days, very dizzy and tired (not as bad as with Aspartame through)

In order to stay healthy, I have never ever smoked one single cigarette nor drunk one glass of alcohol – and then this discovery. It takes some time to deal with the fact that I poisoned my body over all these years.

I will keep you informed on developments also on the prolactine levels as I know many people (not only women) have this problem – and I get the very frightening feeling that this is also partly done because of the Aspartame. But I can neither prove nor completely judge it right now.I know only that I have never been so stressed that this could have caused it.

Another victim was my sister – dealing with diarrhea and arthritis in her eyes, causing serious infections that can lead up to blindness and we were so strongly trying to find out what causes it. Same for joint pains and bloated stomach.

Since she stopped her 1 glass of sugar free lemonade in March this year, her intestines are back to normal and the eye infection has not reappeared so far.

It is more than admirable what you do for all of us – and there will be many more that will need this info.

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I was drinking the flavored water from Sam’s not knowing about the problems with Aspartame.  I started having severe dizzy spells to the point it would affect one side of my body. It was like I did not have control of my leg movement.  Any movement of my head I would experience dizziness. My head felt foggy.  I went to the doctor 5 times in about two months trying to figure out what was wrong.  He thought it was fluid built up around my middle ear and put me on water pills for about two months.  This did not help.  When I would get the dizzy spells which were numerous times during the day it would drain all my strength.  I lost most of my summer not feeling good.  I had notice every time I would drink the flavored water I would instantly get a weird feeling in my head.  I was telling someone about it and they told me that Aspartame was not good.  So I quit drinking it and all my systems have disappeared.  I will never use this stuff again.  I really believe it should be banned.  My sister had been also drinking propel water and has been having problems.  They are leaning towards MS.  I believe the Aspartame may be some of her problems also.

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I heard somewhere that South Africa adds Aspartame to sugar. If that is true it is very difficult to avoid it. I am an Aspartame poisoning sufferer and my headaches are on the right-rear part of my brain.

Feels like swelling in my brain. I also have vision problems. The problem is that Aspartame can now be put into anything without putting it on the label.

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Stacy (Feb 6, 2003):  I know, for a fact that diet drinks and anything else, almost all chewing gum and candy (even the sugary kind, you have to read the labels) that contains Aspartame is so, so bad for you.  I have been suffering from severe panic and anxiety, dizziness all from Aspartame.  I recently began having severe night time panic attacks and traced them to a pack of sugarless chewing gum that I was chewing daily.

I traced the diet drinks to my anxiety earlier in 2002, but didn’t even consider all the other products.  It’s been a week since I’ve chewed the gum and a rash that I’ve had for three months has cleared up and my anxiety is steadily improving.  Also watch out for MSG.  I get almost the exact same symptoms.  If you think about it, it’s also a free form amino acid.  Just thought this info might help someone.  Also, if you’re taking any meds for your symptoms and they are not getting any better, suspect an allergy to one of the many toxic subs out there.  I figured this out when my Xanax didn’t help my panic attacks at all.  Thanks!

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I get a highly uncomfortable Dysphoria from consuming about half a soda drink with Aspartame. It feels about ten times worse than having consumed way too much caffeine. I also get stomach pain. I avoid it like poison; to my body it is poison. Did you know psychiatric facilities do not serve it to their patients?

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As for Aspartame, I was damn near non ambulatory with a diagnosis of beginning stage Multiple Sclerosis last year. Needing leg braces to do what little walking I could do. At the advice of a colleague I stopped ALL intake (and that isn’t easy cause it’s in almost everything non-caloric) of Aspartame (phenylalanine) and now, 4 months later I am 100% ambulatory without assistive devices and bulking muscle like crazy.

I don’t mean to knock the product but for some people with unknown PKU sensitivity (ME) it can be a long term death sentence on setting MS. I wrote a thread on this and also have some pictures up of my progress if you do a search of my name.

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I was in the same boat, and I’m a physician for crik’s sake.

I was diagnosed with MS after no one else could explain why I had visible holes in the myelin sheath of my spinal nerves. It debilitated me from a novice weight lifter to a shaking weakling. I even had my medical license limited to observation only, no direct patient invasive procedures allowed.

I quit diet anything and today (1 year later almost to the day) I am 100% back to normal and lifting heavy again.

My colleagues still poo-poo away any thoughts that I had Aspartame poisoning. In fact anyone during medical training who mentioned the words was labeled a “conspiracy weirdo” by the faculty and shunned.

While my practice is orthopedics, if I were to encounter anyone with my symptoms I would have to think really long and hard if I were going to “officially” diagnose them with Aspartame poisoning; but I have “unofficially mentioned” it to some people through this past year.

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I am a 67 y/o RN with a Master of Science degree in management working in occupational and environmental health since 19xx.  Through diet elimination strategy, I learned that my idiopathic pressure Urticaria resulted from years of ingesting diet Pepsi and ingesting other “sugar-free” products containing Aspartame. The swelling was so intense at times that cortisone was the only relief.  Now I carry an Epi-pen wherever I go.

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I was having dizzy spells, where I felt as though I had lost my sense of equilibrium.  One was so bad I had to leave work that day (I am a school bus driver).  It felt as though my brain stem had separated from my spinal cord, or at least that is the only way I can think to describe it, everything went sideways for a second, then I felt as though I couldn’t regain my balance.

I have a friend who has MS, she told me she had had the same sort of dizzy spells before she was diagnosed. After a while I realized that every time I drank diet soda especially large quantities i.e. fast food serving, I would get dizzy.

Now I try to avoid it but it’s everywhere.  It does not have to say “sugar free” it may just say “light” or “no cal” so read the ingredients on everything!

I also have a friend who drank crystal light instead of water when she was pregnant. Now her little girl has seizures but the doctors can’t find a cause.

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Since the day I found out what Aspartame is, I have tried as hard as possible to cut it out of my diet, but in this day in age it is so difficult, they put Aspartame in anything with sweeteners, in that way coke would be better than diet, but please, don’t go back to drinking the diet coke. When I cut it out, it was horrible, but within a week I was fine, I hardly ever drink coke at all now, but PLEASE DON’T go to the Diet Coke, rainbow is right, the Aspartame is in no way good for you.

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Aspartame is the devil. I used to have temporary fuzzy blindness spells.  Turns out I chewed too much Winterfresh gum. Stopped chewing it and never had those spells again. Well, until last week, that is. I bought a pack of spearmint gum and chewed half the pack in like three days.

What happens?  Temporary fuzzy blindness spells. No shit. Thanks for posting those links.  More people need to know about this stuff. It’s agonizing to me to know how so many people could improve their lives by just being conscious of what they ingest daily. So many ignorant people refuse to admit a link between what they eat and how they feel. I mean, that’s just stupid to say there is no correlation but I know many people who do just that.

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My husband worked in the NutraSweet plant for almost a year. He always came home covered in it. He said the same plant also makes anti-freeze or something like that with it. He also said every person that works in the plant are way overweight, because they eat so much of it a day while working there. And it actually causes you to gain weight because your system slows down so much from it. And he also said the company that makes it knows that. So much for diet doing anything for you.

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Hey on a completely unrelated topic, anyone think that I may be allergic to Aspartame, because of the fact that anytime I drink something diet I get an unbelievably horrid headache and dizziness? Anyone?

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Have you noticed your memory getting a little fuzzy lately? Can’t remember names? Forgetting what you’re supposed to be doing? Losing your car?

I posted most of the following under the “Alzheimer’s” caption a few days ago, but very few people have looked at that subject since. This information is important to anybody who wants to live cheaply because Aspartame toxicity manifests itself in many forms, and some people spend tens of thousands of dollars on medical bills trying to figure out what’s wrong with them when all they need to do is start reading labels and avoid Aspartame.

Many cases diagnosed as “Alzheimer’s” have been cured when the diet was cleared of all sources of Aspartame (NutraSweet). This is a severe neurotoxin that exacerbates any neurological dysfunction. Many patients who have been diagnosed to have multiple sclerosis have “miraculously” recovered within a few weeks after they removed all Aspartame from their diet.

I learned the hard way about the dangers of this so-called “food additive” that the FDA was bribed to approve. Drinking just two Diet Cokes per day, I reached a point where I could not even remember my address to tell a friend over the phone. I lost a career position because I could not remember the names of my board members. This went on for about eight years. When I finally decided to see if “those nuts” who said it might be Aspartame were right, within three days after getting all NutraSweet out of my diet, the fog began to clear. Within about three months, my brain was working fine. After about a year, it seemed that my memory was better than before the bout with Aspartame. I have since taught memory courses. I also taught Human Development to 7th quarter chiropractic students and gave them extra credit for knowing about the dangers of Aspartame. Many of the graduating doctors later told me how much that knowledge helped them in their practice to aid their patients in clearing up a huge list of mysterious complaints. With what I know now, I would rather drink antifreeze than drink a Diet Coke. The stuff is in everything, even non-dietetic chewing gum, especially Wrigley’s. For more information, go to dorway.com. Once you get past the bells and whistles, you can find some good, solid evidence to back up what I’m saying. One day, the lawsuits against NutraSweet, Monsanto, and the various major pushers of this poison, such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, etc., will make the tobacco settlement look like petty cash. The stuff not only wrecks your memory, but also causes cancer, panic attacks, etc., and very subtly eats away at your ability to make rational, logical decisions. Thus you have what I call “the Susan Smitt syndrome.” It also causes you to gain weight by increasing your appetite for sweets. And it doesn’t even taste good!

If you want to live economically and a full, healthy lifespan you need to read labels with a magnifying glass and avoid anything containing Aspartame, Neotame, NutraSweet, or anything else that looks suspicious.

It’s in Equal, but it is not in Sweet’n Low, which is saccharin and a little sugar. Even that’s not good for you, but at least it won’t kill you.

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I also had a terrible problem with Aspartame. I used the stuff for many years and all during that time I suffered from terrible depression. Every day I would at some point have an awful sinking feeling, I can’t even describe how bad it really was. I don’t believe in getting pills from a doctor so I just lived with it. To make a long story short I discovered quite by accident it was the NutraSweet I used daily in tea and the couple of diet pops a week I would get. Since I quit using it I have seen many times when I would buy a diet drink at a gas station the next day that horrible feeling would return. Please people if you know anyone who is depressed ask them if they use this product there’s got to be a lot of others out there.

Another place to watch for this is in flavored water.

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Ditto on all the Aspartame ragging! I used to drink the stuff because I could not handle sugar, until I started getting absolutely horrible headaches. Finally made the connection one day and stopped the diet pop – and improved tremendously. At one point I started drinking the diet soda again – and the headaches returned. So I know it was the Aspartame. If I feel the need for soda, sparkling water with fruit juice really hits the spot.

Caution on Splenda: yes, I know it’s toted as the next non-calorie, okay to consume sweetener. But it is a byproduct of chlorine, and the long term effects have never been studied, either in humans, or in laboratory animals. Short term it has been linked to cancer, neurological problems – basically your typical cacophony of artificial sweetener linked health problems.

Sorry to throw cold water – I thought Splenda would be the answer for me too – until I started reading about it. Guess I will have to make do with more natural things – fruit juices, and an occasional shot of sugar when the need arises!

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I hope this is taken to heart! My cousin and my niece who have the diagnosis of MS both have been taken off Aspartame with dramatic improvement in their condition! My cousin is now out of the nursing home and back at home with her husband requiring only minimal help with her daily activities. My niece is out of her wheelchair and able to cook and care for her young children again. All because they stopped ingesting Aspartame.

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Aspartame – it’s bad for me. Sets off absence seizures, jerks and simple and complex partial seizures like clockwork. But I do oh so crave a Diet Coke. Twice I’ve cheated. Twice I’ve suffered.

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One of the changes I made was to no longer consume artificial sweeteners (Aspartame, saccharin, etc.). I had read an article a while back regarding joint pain and Aspartame, but it took me a while to decide to give it up. I began using stevia (only a couple of days to adjust to the different taste – KAL brand is the very best!), but within a week the aches and pains in my back and joints had virtually disappeared. I now use only Stevia for sweetening and cooking. Hope this helps someone.

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It is now 45 days since I stopped using all forms of Aspartame/NutraSweet and all of my PVC’s have all but gone away. I get a seldom occurring minor hit of maybe 3-5 in a 1 hour period, but I also go 2-3 days with no PVC.

TRY ELIMINATING ALL ARTFICIAL SWEETENERS

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Many people don’t think they’re eating/drinking Aspartame but it’s in so many products if you don’t read the fine print on the labels you may not know.

I’m an Aspartame “survivor” – finally free of it after 18 years of hell (fatigue, dermatitis, depression, anxiety, joint pain, mood swings, “brain fog”, backaches, irritability, PMS, memory impairment and more.

ALL STOPPED WHEN I STOPPED USING ASPARTAME.

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This may be a bit controversial, but the use of Aspartame, also known as Equal, has caused me incalculable harm.  I have joint pain that has caused me to become legally disabled.  This is not only from my diabetic neurological problems, but also from drinking diet soda and using Equal to sweeten things.  Dr Aspler, I know that you are a medical doctor so I am including some info for you and the rest of Orchid to check out.  I have been Aspartame free for over 2 years and the change is remarkable not only to the mitigation of the joint pain, but also to many other symptoms.  I would be happy to discuss this problem off list with any one.

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I drank diet soda when that Aspartame first came out. I would go on my daily bicycle ride which was a 13 mile trip around the Ocean Drive to my house. I would take a rest and drink one soda. This caused me to get very dizzy and lightheaded and I could not figure out the cause. Then I read that the Aspartame changes to formaldehyde in your system if you drink it when you are working out and overheated. And we all know what formaldehyde is used for (frogs in jars and Angel Dust). As soon as I eliminated the Aspartame the dizzy spells disappeared.

Haven’t touched the stuff since the first year they brought it out.

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I wish it were just a matter of tasting the stuff (which I can).  I’m one of those people for whom Aspartame causes severe migraines.

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I was sick for a very long time. I was experiencing daily headaches, extreme fatigue, and depression. Doctor’s couldn’t find the cause of my symptoms. I finally ended up visiting a nutritionist. She determined that all my problems related to use of Aspartame. About two weeks after I eliminated Aspartame from my diet, symptoms went away. At first, I was really skeptical that Aspartame was the problem but when the symptoms disappeared, I became a believer. Sometime later, I read a book concerning the dangers of Aspartame and it is very scary. I truly believe that Aspartame is dangerous. I will NEVER use it again. I suggest you stay away from it too.

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I have also had a very bad experience with Aspartame. I was running to the doctor regularly for several years and had all kinds of tests done. They thought I was a hypochondriac and ended up giving me Prozac for depression. That only magnified the problem because my system then had to eliminate two drugs instead of only one. After hearing that Aspartame caused brain tumors, I stopped drinking diet sodas and my symptoms gradually disappeared. I truly believe that Aspartame is very bad for people.

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I did eventually cut out diet soda and other Aspartame containing products from my diet and I did feel much better. I tried Splenda (diet rite) a couple of times and got real sick and headaches from it. Now I just don’t drink or eat diet anything. I cannot tell you in words how much better I feel.

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I’m trying to figure out what to write about in my technical writing class, and I think Aspartame and MS-like symptoms would be perfect for me.  I have another story to add to this website, but first I would like to ask you for recommendations for other websites, any scientific evidence supporting this, doctors that support this theory, etc.  I think it would be great to write a technical report to the FDA or other authorities on this subject.

Here’s my story:

I’m a 28 year-old male and about a year ago I started having MS-like symptoms.  It started with a numbing sensation in my lips that moved to my tongue, nose, and the point between my eyebrows.  A couple days later this sensation showed up on my fingertips.  I started having vertigo and I was feeling more emotional than usual.  A couple times I lost my balance and fell over which was very unusual.  I didn’t have any pain though.

The first place I went for help was a chiropractor because I thought it was possibly caused by a pinched nerve.  After I realized this wasn’t working I tried acupuncture and Chinese medicine.  Finally, I went to my doctor only to find out these were MS-like symptoms.  He was pretty sure I had MS, but to prove it he ordered a MRI.  The neurologist I was seeing referred me to a neurosurgeon and this scared me quite a bit.  It turned out that I had a lesion in the tectal region of my brain.  SCARY!  He called it a tectal glioma and said it was a very rare brain tumor.  He then ordered another MRI for three months later to check its status.  Fortunately the lesion was gone which proves I didn’t have a tumor.  He referred me back to the neurologist who took my films to a neurologist convention to see what they thought.  It turns out they thought it was definitely MS.

Shortly after all this, I received an e-mail that described how Aspartame may be linked to MS-like symptoms.  I used to chew lots of trident gum before I received the e-mail, and after I stopped using Aspartame, my symptoms went away and have been gone ever since.  I have no idea if it was the Aspartame or if I really do have MS, but there does seem to be a correlation, and I haven’t had any symptoms since I quit using Aspartame.

I must mention that one of my co-workers is going through the same thing I went through, and she drinks lots of diet Pepsi.  In fact, she’s going to have a very painful nerve conduction test because nothing else has proven MS.

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I’m now 2½ weeks Aspartame free. I also cut out MSG (which, might I add, was a lot more difficult considering all of the products out there with MSG in them – no more Doritos or Stove Top Stuffing or Hidden Valley Ranch dressing or Campbell’s Tomato Soup for me). Considering how small the sacrifice was, I’m feeling remarkably better. I have more energy than I’ve had in ages, the fibromyalgia fog is starting to lift and I haven’t been as dizzy or lightheaded (which are all major improvements in my book).

It amazes me that something as seemingly inconsequential as drinking diet soda and consuming products laden with MSG might be responsible for the degree of my illness. Why don’t more rheumatologists suggest that their patients with FMS (fibromyalgia) cut out these obviously wicked substances? It would’ve saved me a lot of trouble and years of feeling subhuman if I hadn’t had to do all the research myself.

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I can add a few symptoms to your list. I can’t tolerate Aspartame in large quantities. I get severe kidney pain, headaches and my periods get out of whack.  The doctors thought I was nuts, but when I went off diet soda the problems went away. (The kidney pain and headaches immediately!)

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Aspartame definitely triggers migraines in me. It is not a good substance to consume. I quit drinking/eating diet/light products. You would be amazed at the number of products this stuff is in. It greatly reduced the number of migraines I was having. Good luck.

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My sister and I were talking a couple of weeks ago and she told me that she had stopped taking Aspartame in any food or drink because of all of the warnings and info from web sites she has read about. She encouraged me to go to any search engine and type in Aspartame and start reading. After I did, I decided on my own to stop drinking diet pop, etc. Within two days, my night time foot pain, pins and needles etc., had decreased DRAMATICALLY!! It is week 2 and still hardly any night time pain and the day time numbness seems to be slightly better. Just curious if anyone has ever related these two and wanted to spread the word in case it helps others from this horrible night time problem. Let me know! Margo

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I have irritable bowel syndrome. I do not drink any diet drinks of any kind. I do not use Equal, Sweet’ n Low, or any other substitute. If I do, I will bloat and cramp really bad for the next couple of days. I drink coffee every morning with sugar. I use to drink diet Mountain Dew every day and coffee with sugar sub. every morning. I quit those products over 2 years ago, and I have a lot less problems with my IBS

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I wanted to warn my fellow diabetics about Aspartame (NutraSweet, equal, spoonful, etc.) I loved pop and I drank almost a 12 pack a day. I became so ill while drinking diet drinks, but I didn’t have any idea what was causing my problems. I could no longer walk very far. When I walked to my car in the drive way I would have to stop a rest 2 to 3 times to make it.

I had extreme fatigue, extreme memory loss (I would forget easy words for things like “shirt”), I would suddenly lose my balance and stagger for no reason, I had blinding migraine headaches, and worst of all I had finally developed horrible pain in my body even my face. It was like having your hand in a vise and someone just continued to clamp down tighter. I had reached the place where I just moaned in constant pain. I never dreamed I would ever have my normal life back again. A friend sent me an article about Aspartame and its toxic effects. I stopped all forms of diet pop, food, whatever. After a few weeks, I thought I was getting better, but I was afraid it was wishful thinking. Five months later, I was walking Wal-Mart’s shopping again; I remember most words now although sometimes I have to think a few minutes first. After years of constant headaches, I rarely ever have any these days. But, best of all, the pain is gone!! I am about 98%pain free. All I changed in the 5 months was I didn’t touch a drop of anything with Aspartame in it. It goes under a lot of different brand names. Also, Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is a neurotoxin that works just like Aspartame in destroying nerve endings. So read your ingredients carefully.

Aspartame can be listed as, “high fructose syrup” “certain numbers” “artificial flavoring” etc. Ever notice the number of electric carts that have popped up in stores for shoppers. Aspartame mimics MS, triggers diabetes, and so much more. There is nowhere near enough space here.

Your quality of life may depend on your knowledge about Aspartame.

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I believe that NutraSweet is dangerous to anyone not just diabetics. I used to get tingling in my hands and feel like I was on drugs when I was consuming diet soda and snacks. It was like moving in slow motion sometimes as I would move my arms. I don’t take any medications so that explanation is out. It took about a week or two to get out of my system when I stopped using it because that’s when my symptoms went away. I then went to a couple of websites about it and it explained that it does have a cumulative affect and does cause such problems. One was described as feeling unreal. Natural fructose is safer. Even Splenda.

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I just wanted to say that I can tell if I have had any Aspartame because I immediately get a really bad headache. Someone told me that it was actually wood alcohol? Anyway, I use Splenda in moderation and have had no trouble with it but search every label to make sure it doesn’t have Aspartame.

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Has anyone ever heard of Aspartame Toxicity? I have recently read a lot about it on the web.

Here’s the deal, I drank diet sodas for 16 years. I would say from 2-4 liters a day. My wife made me a detox tea from herbs and stuff. Sweet Jesus have mercy, I thought He would take me then and there! Since stopping the diet sodas I have regained my memory, stamina and clarity of thought. Some can handle that stuff, I can’t. In case anyone is wondering the diet sodas did not cause the onset of my type ll. Here in Hawaii we eat a very high carb diet. It’s not a meal if we don’t have a lb. of rice!

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It was about 10 years ago. I was a Diet Coke addict. I drank about 2 liters a day. Oh, I loved the taste so much and began noticing that I seemed thirstier when I wasn’t drinking my Diet Cokes. I’d estimate I drank this amount for about one year. Then one day I decided I was going to quit drinking Diet Coke. Mainly because I had read an article about Aspartame toxicity. It was in a newsletter I received in the mail from Dr. Julian Whitaker.

So I quit cold turkey. Within 24 hours my body began to detox. I had a headache so severe I thought my head was going to explode. I was thinking this was probably from the caffeine. Then the detox really hit me. I spent days in the bathroom with liquid green stuff coming out of my bowels. I developed a high fever of 105 degrees. The perspiration coming out of my body smelled just like turpentine. It was horrible. I saw spiders on the ceiling and wall. I went to my doctor and he said I had the stomach flu.

Folks I’m here to tell you it was not the stomach flu. I was going through a very strong and horrible detox as the Aspartame was coming out of my body. Pure chemical smells from the bowels to the perspiration to my breath. This put me in bed for 5 weeks. There is no doubt in my mind it was Aspartame poisoning/detox. To this day if I accidently get even a super small dose of NutraSweet, my eyes begin to swell shut along with my throat. As far as I’m concerned it is deadly stuff. The things we read on the net are true.

People call me radical as well. I’m really very conservative. If you’ll do your own research with this wonderful tool we call the Internet you will learn about things like, “Monsanto (the makers of Aspartame) pay the FDA huge amounts of money to say their product is “safe.” Ultimately it comes down to the fact that each individual must make their own choice whether to consume this product or not. I choose NOT! And I can’t honestly say I feel the FDA has the best interest about my health in mind.

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Splenda may not be for everyone. I have had IB (Irritable Bowel) problems in the past, so that may explain my reaction. I ate one “candy” bar made with Splenda and was in the bathroom the rest of the night with severe stomach and intestinal cramps. Also, my daughter who doesn’t have IB problems, had one fruit flavored drink made with Splenda and had the bathroom problem too.

I also stay away from Aspartame. I tend to be sensitive to non-natural substances. I can tell when I have accidentally sipped the wrong soda because my tongue and lips will immediately go numb. Kind of like medicine head and later I will become an air-head (can’t concentrate). It definitely had a bad effect on my brain so I stay far, far away.

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I am “allergic” to Aspartame. I become dizzy, lose the ability to concentrate, feel VERY tired, and get headaches. All within a few hours of consuming, say, a 16 oz. can of Diet Pepsi or something comparable.

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From 1990-2003, I drank Diet Coke. From 1990-2003 I gained 50 pounds. I stand 5’7 with a small frame and was beside myself with frustration from weight gain. I did Weight Watchers, Nutri-System, Atkins, Jenny Craig, Phen Fen, and Atkins again. With no results. Many people over the years have told me that Aspartame i.e. NutraSweet causes obesity. Of course that makes no sense at all, right? Well, long story short. I started seeing a neuro-muscular massage therapist in October of 2002 for constant muscle pain and numbness. I am a professional drummer and have been doing it for years, so I assumed that it was overuse of my muscles that was causing me so much pain. Anyway, my therapist told me that my muscles were completely saturated in acid and that most of them weren’t even working. She then asked me if I consumed cokes and things like that. I answered yes and she said that as long as I’m drinking them, my muscles will continue to ache and not work. So, for that reason alone, I had my last Diet Coke on New Year’s Day, 2003. Determined to keep the muscles pain from coming back, I stuck to it. In order to get my caffeine, I drink black coffee with NO sweetener of any kind, and unsweetened iced tea with lemon. Here is the catch. With no dietary changes other than quitting Diet Coke, January 1st, 2003 I weighed in at 149 pounds, and convinced that I would never be slim again. Today, April 18th, 2003, I weigh 120 pounds. No exercise, no dieting. NO DIET COKE. I am now a size 6, down from a 10 and I have no muscle pain anymore.

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I do not advocate consuming anything with Aspartame in it. A year ago I gave up diet drinks at the advice of a well-educated cousin, who warned about the harmful effects of Aspartame. I was having horrible abdominal pain and had multitudes of tests run to determine the cause (I’m sure it was gallbladder related, but that could never be proven.) When I followed her advice and got rid of every single product I ingested with Aspartame in it, my abdominal pain magically went away (although it took a few weeks.)

I also learned from her that as Aspartame is digested it turns into formaldehyde and other harmful chemicals. Since I don’t need preserving just yet, I stay away from the stuff.

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And the biggest thing I have to avoid: NutraSweet or any other artificial sweetener.  I gave up diet sodas and felt so much better. Now if I even have a stick of gum with NutraSweet I get a bad migraine.

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I have found a trigger for me is NutraSweet I take 2 sips of a diet pop and I’ll have a migraine. New York peppermint patties trigger one for me too.

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Anything with Aspartame is a HUGE trigger for me.  I have stayed completely clear of artificial sweeteners for years. I recently discovered a natural sweetener that is considered “diet”.  It is called Stevia.  It does not trigger migraines for me.  Let me know if anyone else has used this and how this works for them.

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Last night, I decided to do some browsing on the Internet concerning NutraSweet.  I have had severe problems in the past for many years with this stuff, but finally tested myself by leaving it alone for 3 weeks and found after just 2 weeks that I definitely could see a change in how I felt .

My mother is experiencing health problems and my sister, who has also found that she can’t tolerate it, and I started to do some research last night to find out why she is having this particular problem.

Haven’t been able to convince her of this yet.  I asked her the last time I visited with her, to leave it off for 3 solid weeks and see if she noticed a change. She’s reluctant to do it. I can understand it.  It took a friend from October to August, three years ago, to convince me to try leaving it off for 3 weeks I’m so glad that I did.  I had thought that I was dying.  I could hardly function.

For over 10 yrs., I experienced chronic diarrhea, severe stomach cramping, isolation because of the diarrhea, dizziness, depression, low energy. I even had one doctor to diagnose me with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

I was experiencing weakness all over, especially my legs.  I’ve had two MRI’s since 1988, thinking that I might be developing MS, also.

I couldn’t eat out without coming straight home. If my daughters wanted to shop, I could only go to one store, and then, come home.   f we went shopping and they wanted to eat out, we shopped at one store and then ate, and then came straight home.

At home, when I cooked a meal, I didn’t have the energy to wash the dishes until the next morning. Since going completely off that stuff, I have slowly regained my ability to walk the length of the mall, can stay away from the house for longer periods of time.

I don’t have to hold on to shopping carts to maintain my balance.  I still have some cramping and diarrhea, but it isn’t nearly as bad as it used to be.  I don’t break out in cold sweats anymore or feel faint, worrying if I’ll make it to the restroom.

Please forgive me for being so personal in this letter.

No one knows how I’ve suffered due to this. If my letter helps one person to leave NutraSweet alone, or help change Diet Coke, or get it off the market, it’s well worth my time to write this.

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I used to drink a diet soda with lunch.  Then I switched to decaf diet soda for lunch to eliminate the caffeine. Did this for a few months and slept better at night. Then I switched from decaf diet soda to sparkling mineral water to eliminate the Aspartame and I noticed how much better I functioned in the afternoon. It was amazing how foggy-headed the Aspartame was making me. Sometimes I would give in a have a diet soda but only if I knew I didn’t have any tasks to do that were mentally strenuous, because I was more focused and could think more quickly when I avoided Aspartame.

Now I try to avoid Aspartame in everything. It is even in yogurt!

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Aha! Another convert back to sugar? I actually used to think the people who warned about Aspartame were neurotic and the type who were afraid of ‘anything new’. I loved diet soda, using the stuff on my cereal, on fruit, etc.  Well, it took a couple of years, but I noticed I was having daily headaches. I “cold turkeyed” it and the headaches stopped immediately.  Can only imagine what it was doing to my internal organs (the major rant of my acupuncturist).

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I would like to register a complaint about NutraSweet. I have experienced headaches, short term memory loss, dizziness, and seizure-like symptoms while consuming this product.

Because of the above symptoms, I spent several years seeing neurologists who ran a litany of tests.  Amazingly, all tests showed absolutely no abnormalities.  According to the doctors they could not identify any reason for the seizures or other symptoms.  Nevertheless, I should take the seizure medicines Tegretol and.

All along, I knew there was a cause for the symptoms even if the neurologists couldn’t find it.  I am not one to give up without an answer and I knew the seizure symptoms did not appear out of the blue.

However, I remembered during a 3 month trip to Malaysia, during which I had no access to NutraSweet, that I had no seizures, no headaches, and no memory loss.  Just a coincidence, absolutely not.

Therefore, I decided to try a little experiment.  That experiment was to end the consumption of all Aspartame, and of my seizure medicine.  That day was December 27, 1997, my birthday.  Since this day, I have not had any seizures, any headaches, my memory has returned, and I feel 100 times better.  Coincidence, not at all.

I had been having headaches daily.  I had been having constant memory problems which threatened the completion of my MBA. I had been having seizures regularly even while on neurontin and tegretol.  Coincidence that all the symptoms ended when I removed Aspartame from my life.  Absolutely, positively not.

Seems to me that I may well be able to prove a causal relationship between my consumption of NutraSweet and my health problems.  Therefore, I am in the process of searching for an attorney.

For now, I realize that this is just anecdotal evidence, and that Monsanto doesn’t give a damn about my health.  Though in an very minute way they care about me because I will never consume that which is poison to me, NutraSweet.

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I would like to tell you about my personal experiences with Aspartame and what I feel that it has done to me.

In the last two years I have become a *heavy* Diet Pepsi drinker (approximately 2 two liters a day, plus NutraSweet in my coffee, and many so called “diet” products once my weight gain began.  And I the more NutraSweet I consumed the more weight I put on.) Hearing things about how NutraSweet was bad for you, but never really knowing the facts. I don’t know exactly how long after starting to drink that much of the soda my symptoms started to appear, but I would say that it was about six to eight months. For a little over a year now I have had to deal with *tremendous* weight gain. I always had a little bit of extra meat on my body, but I was always active enough to keep it level. I never changed weight much, but in the last year I have put on approximately 70 pounds, all in my thighs and hips.

(This may or may not be all from Aspartame, obviously, but I don’t know.)

In addition to the weight gain, I have had AWFUL mood problems. I have been diagnosed as manic depressive, and have started to have anxiety attacks. I don’t know how much of my other physical ailments were caused by Aspartame, but before I list them let me say that previous to my drinking the soda all the time, I didn’t have any of the symptoms. I was an average, mostly healthy 19 year old girl. I have always had very, very minor arthritis (since I was a child) and very light asthma (never “attacks”, but it made normal colds worse). The rest of these things, I never had ever had wrong with me until I started drinking the soda all the time.

• Anxiety attacks/panic attacks
• Bloating
• Breathing difficulties/chronic cough
• Burning urination
• VERY CHRONIC FATIGUE
• Depression (Very Badly)
• EXTREMELY EXCESIVE THIRST AND HUNGER
• Face flushing
• Thinning/losing hair
• Extreme loss of sexual feelings (has caused huge problems with my fiancée and me)
• Inability to concentrate
• Insomnia (Severe)
• Irritability
• Itching
• Joint pains
• VERY marked personality changes
• Memory loss/poor memory/not as good as it used to be
• EXTREMELY MESSED UP menstrual cycles
• Numbness/tingling of extremities
• EXTREME WEIGHT GAIN

I am now 21 years old, and I honestly feel like I’m an 85 year old. (No offense to anyone older, but I think you get what I mean.) I just don’t feel young and full of life the way I used to. I thought these things were all wrong with me because of my “manic depression” that the doctor said I had. I thought that all of it was in my head.  I have spent time actively thinking that I am an awful human being, fat and lazy and worthless.

Tracing these emotions backwards, I realize that they all started after my HEAVY consumption of Diet Pepsi started. I used to be vibrant, full of confidence and able to spend a day being physically active with the best of them. Now I can’t do any of those things.

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I am just writing to update my personal Aspartame story. 😉

Sometime a little over 60 days ago I wrote to you with my horror story about Aspartame. I am the 21 year old who felt as though I were 95. I had a list of symptoms as long as my arm, and was convinced that my entire life was on a downward spiral into destruction.

But now!! 60 days later and I swear to God I feel like a new person. My personality has just changed so much!! I feel like I did years ago, before I started putting that poison into my body. The panic/anxiety and depression and nastiness have just faded away. My sleeping patterns have returned to normal. I eat and drink like a normal person now, without the excessive consumption.

I can move like I used to, without the pains and aches.  Just so many things about me have returned to how they should be. I’m 21 again and just so happy I could scream!!

I just wanted to write to you and thank you for all the information you have out there about Aspartame. I have told friends and family, I have taken the flyer to the supermarkets and other local places and I think that people who I have talked to about it have started to listen! It’s wonderful.

I am a tribute to the values of keeping that junk out of your body. It’s an awful good thing my boyfriend loved me enough to stay with me through all the horrible mood swings and things I put him through.  He’s getting quite the benefits also, from the me he used to know before I started to become a bitter old person.

Thank you, for spreading the word about this. I appreciate it more than I can say.

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I had been OFF Aspartame 3 months and was feeling pretty well; THEN I had a snowball. The tingling started in my legs and feet, I lost my balance, had a headache that persisted for 6 hours, couldn’t sleep and had the bathroom urges. Aspartame DID IT!!!!!!!!!!

All that money and detoxes have been wasted because there was Aspartame in the syrup! No MORE snowballs!!!!!!!!! If I don’t prepare it, if it doesn’t come from a health food store, AVOID IT!!!!!!!!!

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I have been OFF Aspartame for three months! I couldn’t FEEL my hands and toes and would trip and fall!!  Now I can feel them!!!!

Chewing the sugarless gum or anything with Aspartame is really bad since it works through the amalgams and GETS into your BRAIN!!!! Then, the “doctors” will identify lesions and diagnose MS, when actually they are Aspartame lesions.

It is a deadly neurotoxin, and we need to get it OFF the market! EVERYONE has a side effect. Lord, help us!

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Well, I have been detoxing from Aspartame since Feb 1998, and TODAY, the #1 MS Dr. in N.O. told me that I presented as NORMAL with NO MS symptomology!!!!!

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I began to have head tremors about a year or so ago, and they were getting worse.  Whenever I was tired or sitting still watching TV or (very embarrassing) in the middle of a meeting, my head would shake.  To the degree that caused me great concern.  I went to the doctors but all test including an MRI told me nothing was wrong.  I knew better.  So I got on the internet and put in “head tremors” that’s when I found the Aspartame reaction page.  You have no idea what it was like to “Possibly” know what was wrong.  After 2 months of giving up Aspartame, my head still shook and I was about to give up, thinking I must be wrong, but into the third month of not drinking my usual 3 Diet Cokes a day, not only have the tremors let up, I can actual think much, much clearer and don’t forget what I’m saying in the middle of a sentence.  I feel like the “fog” I have been in has lifted.  But that’s only the beginning.

Ten years ago I almost died.  Are you ready for this from seizures that had no cause, no cure?  Back then I drank diet soda constantly also and gave it up during one of my “hospital” stays.  They never did find out what was wrong with me.  I was on medication like you would not believe when I was sent to a doctor at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, CT who decided to remove me from the unbelievable amounts of medications the previous doctors had me on to start from scratch.  I was even scheduled to have surgery to have a part of my brain removed to stop the seizures.  But as she began to lessen my medication, I was able to stand up and walk across the room without having a seizure, I was able to remember who had just visited me, I could go on, but you get the picture.  The final diagnoses because there was no other answer was and I quote “convulsive syncope brought on by non-epileptic medicines”.

I went from an invalid who could not move to an unbelievably busy person. When the tremors started, so did the fear.  I will never know if it was the Aspartame that almost killed me, all signs point to that fact, but I do know for a fact, that the Aspartame caused my tremors and brain fog.

Thank you for spreading the word, I look forward to feeling better and better every day.  And please encourage people to not give up, the poison takes time to get out of your system.

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I am a type II diabetic and had been taking NutraSweet for years.  I had noticed that stress and anxiety in my body, especially in the morning on waking up and stretchy legs at night.  I felt uncomfortable with this unexplained stress but the doctors could not identify it.  I had also noticed over the last several years, difficulty in memory and attributed it to old age.  I am 48 and thought that this is what starts happening when you get old.  Oh yes, I had also noticed severe joint pain especially in shoulder, hips, and knees.  I recently had some intense periodontal work done and was put on tetracycline medication for infection.  Within one week I had an acute vertigo attack.  I thought I was having a stroke and was whisked to the ER at the hospital.  I was told by doctors that there was no explanation for this and given medication.  The vertigo subsided as I told the doctors of my now morning stress and anxiety, and that my body was telling me something.

About a week later the morning anxiety got so bad that I had to go to the ER again and beg for help.  A triage nurse talked to be and both she and the doctor tried to convince me that since I was recently looking for a new job, the anxiety was in my head.  They put me on Buspar.  I kept on saying something is not right and even though the Buspar took the edges off the anxiety or panic attacks I felt like life was soon coming to an end.  Very scary and depressing.

Searching the net with my symptoms I started to see a pattern and then one morning last weekend a got a severe anxiety surge just after I had eaten some cereal with NutraSweet sprinkled on it.  Could it be that I am allergic to Aspartame?  I stopped using it and within several days felt like a new person.  I can sleep at night and life is looking great.

I thought I would pass this on to you.  You can repost it or use this information as you see fit.  Please in return let me know of possible organizations or others, especially diabetics that I can pass this on too.  I wish I had known sooner, since I would imagine that serious damage has been done to my body and I am sure overall affected my life span.  I am angry at how such a damaging product is still being used.

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Just thought I would give you an update.  I don’t know if this is important in your records but I thought I would pass it on.  When I had my acute vertigo attack and thought I was having a heart attack, I noticed a slurring or drooping of one side of my mouth; I think it was the left, but not sure.  I told the doctors that I had this sensation and he looked puzzled since it is not common with a vertigo attack.  It was temporary just during the initial attack.  I have never had, and hope that I never again have another vertigo attack so I really cannot compare the severity of my attack with anything else.  It seemed to me that I was having a heart attack.

Also, the vertigo attack and anxiety attacks were worst in the morning when just getting up.  Just thought I would pass this on since you seem to be the center of data collection.

Right now I feel great.  My energy level has skyrocketed and my daughter who is 21 complains when she visits now because we are always walking or going somewhere.  She used to like coming over to visit because we would just sit and veg.  I have already lost 15 lbs in the last couple of weeks.  It will be time for some new clothes pretty soon.  This reversal in my body in no way can be a coincidence.  Enjoy your list messages.

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I am wondering how Cindy’s CAT scan turned out. I know she didn’t mention anything about NutraSweet, but for those who did, I also have had an experience with it and it was most unpleasant. It was about 8-10 years ago. I had been drinking diet soda for a good while when I started having these spells. The closest thing I can think that they would be like is a stroke. I would start to get a headache, then become dizzy or light headed and pretty quickly too. Then my speech wouldn’t cooperate with me. I could think of someone’s name and see their face, but not say their name and I felt slurry too. I also would have pain in my left arm. I know this sounds crazy, but I experienced it. I stopped drinking diet things and it stopped. I don’t have that happen anymore. I have to give God the credit for me being able to find out what it was. It had to be His hand and I sure do thank Him for it!!

When I read these other posts about the NutraSweet, I thought I would share. Hope it is of some help to someone.

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I found your site just in time and it has stopped me cold.  I no longer use anything with Aspartame.  In 1992, I was diagnosed with Severe Hypoglycemia.  I was told to not ingest any sugar whatsoever, and I was put on a strict diabetic exchange diet.  Months went by and in October I began finding a bunch of sugar free alternatives to those things I loved so much – ice cream, candy, hot cocoa etc.  Well, after several months I began to develop acne.  Keep in mind that I had never had a pimple in my life and I was 22 at the time.  Well, I tried everything – Accutance, Retin-A, Eryderm etc.  – It helped a little.  Then in 1995, I began ingested a lot more NutraSweet – on my cereal, in my tea, several diet cokes a day.

Well, I began to develop anxiety and sleep disorders – I did not sleep for a week.  I became obsessive and plagued with worry.  I thought it was caffeine – so I stopped it.  It became a little better.  Well, I still had pimples and in 1996 I got cystic acne and was still wired. After going from doctor to doctor and having my hormone levels checked and told that there was nothing wrong – I became frustrated.  My face looked like hell – swollen and oily and it hurt – my self-esteem was in the crapper.  I needed to do something – so, I thought about the time when this started coming around.  I traced it back to when I was diagnosed with hypoglycemia.  That is when I started with NutraSweet – so in December I stopped.  WOW, my face cleared up in about a month – totally.  I have slept through the night for the last two months – no anxiety – nothing.  I am happy to say that after having quit music from “performance anxiety” that I am able to do that again.  Another thing I noticed was I no longer have back aches and my PMS is not as bad.  Pretty amazing huh?  And they say this stuff isn’t bad for you.  Well, I am living proof, as are all of the other people on here, that it is bad – VERY BAD – even life threatening.   Thank you

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This is a very accurate account of my life on Aspartame.  Seems to me that anyone who is using Aspartame and having problems could find correlations with their symptoms, as I did with mine.  I connected dates with employment and events that I was certain of dates and that is how I have developed this list of symptoms.

Symptoms of Aspartame Poisoning, Actual Case History

Seizures and Convulsions – First grand mal nocturnal seizure was 01/96, then: 03/25/97, 03/29/97, 04/29/95, 10/25/9 (two during the night), 01/05/98.

Dizziness & Tremors – Severe dizziness and unbalance at my mother and father’s 40th Aedding Anniversay mass–brother caught me from falling (that was 1990).  Intermittent unbalance and dizziness from 1993 to 1997.  The symptoms disappeard afer April 1997 after completley quitting the ingestion of NutraSweet.

Severe Headaches – Yes – For 15 years I thought I had sinus headaches.  Generalized in the post-surgical area on the left side of my head.  Occasionally, the headaches would involve either my whole head, my frontal region or just the left side. Headaches severity subsided after April 1997. Became intense after that, but completely went away after January 25, 1998 to the present.

Memory Loss  – Yes – very noticeable in 1994-1997, especially when I worked for an attorney’s office Disappeared after April 1997.

Slurred speech – Yes – very noticeable in 1994 – 1997, especially when I worked for an attorney’s office.  Disappeared after April 1997.

Confusion –  Yes – occasionally since 1993 — totally disappeared after April 1997

Numbness or Tingling of Extremities – Yes–occasional – totally disappeared after January 25, 1998.

Chronic Fatigue – Yes–very noticeable from 1993 to 1997.  Still lingered after that but not as severe.  Most severe when working in the Attorney’s office.  Subsided after April 1997, but totally disappeared after January 1998.

Depression  –  Occasionally down, but not extreme–seems to be gone also since January 25, 1998

Insomnia – Severe since 1993. Severe up until January 1998.  Very infrequent now.

Irritability – Yes–I blamed it on the career change from 1993.  But I still was irritable doing what I loved doing  for a living–being an artist.  I didn’t understand.  Some still lingers, but a noticeable positive change since January 25, 1998 after quitting the creamer.

Panic Attacks – Yes – severe at night upon awakening and right before I would have a grand mal seizure. It was so much improved since April 1997, but still present until January 25, 1998–once I quit the creamer, this symptom has occurred one time without the threat of a seizure.

Marked Personality Changes – Yes–most noticeably withdrawn (so one family member noticed) and didn’t feel like I fit in since 1993 – the career change into being a full-time artist in 1997 helped improved that, but I still knew something wasn’t completely right.

My shyness was to a greater degree.  I feel like I am the person I once was before 1993, but I am still very shy and intimidated at times, but all of that seems to be better since January 25, 1998.

Phobias – YES–extreme—afraid of going to sleep because I thought I would die during a seizure. After January 25, 1998, that symptom completely disappeared.

Rapid Heart Beat & Tachycardia – YES–very extreme at different times since 1993.  This symptom didn’t disappear after April 1997.  It got so severe at times, I was over 120 BPM, and my blood pressure was very high.  This symptom completely disappeared after January 25, 1998.

Asthmatic Reactions  – Yes–in the form of sneezing and apparent sinus congestion.  Would wake up sneezing, and discolored drainage from my nose was present most of the day.  Sneezing very infrequent since January 25, 1998.  No change in this symptom after April 1997. Still severe up until January 25, 1998.  Now moderate drainage remains.

Chest Pains – yes– off and on since 1993 – Completely disappeared after January 25, 1998.

Hypertension High – First noticed March 1997 – 144/96.  Only one time was it critically high, and that was in October 1997 – 168/102.  It has been low since January 25, 1998 – 120/84.

Nausea or Vomiting – Yes-only nausea – Usually accompanied the low blood sugar reactions I seemed to have during different time throughout the year of 1997.  My first clue should have been years ago when I tried Diet Pepsi–I got nauseated right away and didn’t know why.  Diet Pepsi is the only product that gave me immediate nausea.

Diarrhea – Yes–very noticeable after a meal, but not frequent. First noticed in early 1997.

Blood Sugar Control Problems – Yes–severe, even though I am not a diabetic. Approx. 4 times during 1997, I had severe low blood sugar reactions where I would start shaking and have to stop and get some sugar in me.

Craving for Food – Yes–always wanted something, but never knew what I craved. Mostly since 1993.  Since January 25, 1998, I have not had cravings.  Now changing over to non-processed foods.

Weight Gain – Yes – 30lbs in the last 3 years.  I never ate that much and rarely snack, but my body just gained the weight which was and still is impossible to lose until I detox my body from the formaldehyde I feel.

Hair Loss (Baldness) or Thinning of Hair – Thinning of my hair has been very noticeable since 1995.

Joint Pains – Yes – As far back as 1993, I remember having joint pain every day and feeling like I was “old” at the age of 42.

Other symptoms – severe infections, itching, burning urination, excessive thirst, etc.

Since January 25, 1998, that all disappeared unless I eat something that contains MSG or hidden NutraSweet.  My immediate reaction to those things is first sneezing, not feeling well and joint pain the next day.

April 1997 was a significant time for me, because after 3 grand mal nocturnal seizures in less than 45 days, I completely quit ingesting NutraSweet in all foods and beverage.  Throughout 1997 and as late as January 5, 1998, I had nocturnal grand mal seizures after not ingesting NutraSweet for all those months.  That led me to believe that there was a real physical problem present OR it led me to believe that I was still ingesting NutraSweet unknowingly.

The only thing I was still ingesting that DID NOT state anywhere on the container was the Nestlé’s French Vanilla Creamer. After completely quitting that on January 25, 1998 (I had enjoyed it since 1993), most all of my symptoms immediately disappeared and I have not been having any seizure activity.  Though it is too early to tell, I have a hunch that the creamer does have NutraSweet in it, even though the company denies that it does.

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Unfortunately, my own husband, Ken, was one of them.  Late last summer he was having a bad headache located mostly on one side of his head.   He went into the Univ. of Utah Medical Center for an MRI.   They discovered a mass, more like a brain lesion.  The Dr. who first examined him up in Payson  (a town located between us here in Price, and closer to Provo) is a specialist in those sorts of problems, and recommended the MRI.

Anyway, Ken cut out drinking the Diet Coke or anything at all which contained Aspartame or other artificial sweeteners.  His headaches soon stopped, and when he went back for another MRI in early Feb. everything was clear, no more brain lesion, or beginning of a tumor or whatever it was.   When I contacted the Dr. again by E-mail about a month ago, he said that several of his other patients, who had also stopped drinking any diet sodas, had all of their similar problems cleared up, too.

There are several other articles which I posted last fall, perhaps when you were away from the List.  Among them was one describing how Japan had banned all Aspartame for the last 10 years or longer.

STEVIA is being used instead, and Japan is now cultivating the sweet-leaved bushes there.

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Had to send in my personal experience before stumbling off to bed. I did have neurological symptoms that I feel were the result of consuming sugar free desserts and drinks sweetened with Aspartame.

I had muscle tremors that made it feel like we were having an earthquake when I was trying to go to sleep at night.  Since I completely stopped consuming any of these products the last 5 years I have had no shaking sensations.

My son gets zero of these products.  I noticed that when I ate desserts sweetened with Aspartame the tremors returned.  I think the stuff is VERY questionable.

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I would like to add my own story to that of the growing list of people who have suffered adverse reactions to Aspartame.  My story is actually an old one.  Back when the cola companies first started putting NutraSweet in their drinks I decided that it was a good time to begin the use of artificial sweeteners.  Up until then I had avoided diet sodas because I didn’t like the taste of saccharin.

Well, I came home with my first can of Diet Coke.  I drank it with dinner – around 7 p.m.  At around 10 p.m. as I lay down beside my husband to go to sleep I began to feel strange.  It felt as if electricity was building up in my limbs and the next thing we knew I was having seizures in both arms and both legs.  My limbs jerked around uncontrollably.  My head swung from left to right as I lay on the bed.  My husband was very upset; so was I.  The seizures continued intermittently for two hours, lessening with intensity as the time went by.

I told my husband that I thought it had to be the soda doing it to me because I’d never had any kind of seizure in my life.

Needless to say I did not have any more of the Diet Coke. I allowed a month to pass.  During that time my husband waited to see if the seizures would reoccur.  They did not.  I was convinced that it was the Aspartame; he was not convinced.  As an experiment, after one month had passed, I purchased a diet-Pepsi. I drank it in the presence of my husband one Saturday afternoon.  The adverse reaction proceeded just as it had the month prior with the diet-Coke.

After waiting a few months I tried diet 7-UP. I really did want to lose weight without giving up sodas.  Again, the same reaction as the first two instances.

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NO!!! I sure don’t! I did when it first came out (I was in about 10^th grade), and it made me very sick. I was using it in everything-“Diet coke” “Extra” gum “Equal”, etc.   Finally my doctor figured out that I was most definitely allergic to it. It gave me intense headaches, blurred vision, problems (which was very embarrassing as a member of a dance company!) and many other problems which I can’t remember now due to the “fog” in my head! Anyway, I abruptly stopped using it and felt much better immediately. I avoid it now for those reasons, but I don’t entirely trust it as “safe” either. That’s my personal opinion. I’m not a person that trusts chemicals much, drugs, or altered food. So that’s my 2cents!

I don’t use anything with NutraSweet.  Soon after it came out, I tried it and twice got quite sick from it.  Once it was a headache, body aches and the other time, it made me throw up!  So I think I’m allergic to it.  We just don’t *know* long-term what the effects of that are.  I discourage my hubby/kids from having lots of the stuff too.  Real sugar has been around a long time, so we know more about that!

I really don’t like soda/pop at all – don’t like the bubbles.  I’m still on my apple cider trend and thinking that the FMS (fibromyalgia) might be causing that.  As long as the store keeps carrying it – every half gallon I wonder if that’ll be the last, but they still have it, so I’m thankful for that!!

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Hi. I read your post and thought I’d tell you my story the short version. I drank 5-6 16oz of diet soda a day. I’m small 100lbs (not anymore but I was). I’ve been doing this for at least 3yrs. Anyway, about 8 months ago I got ill dizzy, weakened immune system, trouble swallowing, tired etc. doctors couldn’t find anything so I took it into my own hands I was having tachycardia so I gave up caffeine still drank diet sprite nothing well time went by and Tuesday I gave up NutraSweet well can I tell you my dizziness that’s been plaguing me day and night is almost gone.  Of course my immune system is still shot but I heard it can take 60 days to detox. I’m taking detox herbs to speed it along.  This can’t be coincidence. Just wanted to tell you my story (as you can tell by my spelling my fog has not totally lifted yet)

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I don’t know about NutraSweet being bad for everyone, but I know that it makes me deathly ill.  Headaches, sick to my stomach, really raunchy taste.  But I am one of those that just can’t stomach it.  My mom has been using saccharine and Aspartame for years and she is just fine.

When I was 16 my step mom told me that I had to drink it, and told me it was a matter of taste and sat me down and made me drink a 6 pack of diet Pepsi. I ended up in the hospital with gastric distress. That was the last time I willingly drank it.  One sip and I want to heave.

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I am a 37-year-old teacher, who has always been in good health. I eat healthy foods, but I have one bad habit.  I began drinking Dt. Coke three years ago, and I am up to two 20 oz. Diet Cokes per day.  I don’t drink coffee or tea, so my Dt. Coke habit began as a want for caffeine.  I switched to caffeine-free Dt. Coke after one year of the regular diet kind.

Unfortunately, about six months ago, I began having terrible headaches.  I would go to sleep with one, and wake up with one.  I didn’t seem to have any organic reason why I was having them.  Everyone seemed to think they were stress related, BUT I really felt happy – my career and colleagues are great, my husband and kids are fantastic, our money situation is better than ever — why would I be stressed?  On a hunch, I gave up pop.  Within 10 days, my headaches went away.  After being headache-free for a few weeks, and I guess, finding it hard to believe that pop could cause problems, I went back to drinking caffeine-free Diet Coke.

Then three weeks ago, I began to have light flashes occur in my eyes.  I thought it was our fluorescent lights we have in our classroom, which seem to shine brighter on dark, dreary days, and the reflection off of the dozens of mostly white papers I grade on a daily basis.  My eyes need a rest, I thought.  Then it happened two more times, once when I was at home.  When the flashes occur, I can’t see in the center of my eyes, only around the edges, and the flashes are as bright as photographic bulbs.  I have a check-up next month, so I thought I’d bring it up then, since otherwise I was O.K.  It was strange, too, and I didn’t want anyone to think I was hallucinating, etc., etc.

This week, I have had constant heart palpitations.  These frighten me, enough that I mentioned it to family members and even a colleague of mine.  I have no pain — just frequent heart “fluttering.”  I have read enough to know these symptoms are related to certain health problems (and my brother is a doctor, which helps!)  I have no thyroid problems and my blood sugar level is fine.  I have a doctor’s appointment in a few days, but, being a teacher, I’m naturally curious.  So I thought about my lifestyle (I don’t smoke, drink, or do drugs), my eating habits, etc., and looked for excesses.  Dt. Coke, of course!  I followed a hunch and did a search on “Aspartame.”  I’m going cold turkey on the Dt. Coke.  I’ll let you know when or if the palpitations stop, or if another cause is found.  I would have never thought that diet soda could be toxic.  I guess I’ll find out first hand if my fears are correct.  Why hasn’t this been brought out before?  I’m beginning to feel like a victim.

Update

I stopped using all products containing Aspartame on February 11, 1998, after suspecting caffeine-free Diet Coke was making me sick.  I drank some as a “test” on Friday, February 20, and got really sick.  I also tried tea (not herbal) on Feb. 25 to see if it triggered anything.  It didn’t affect me.  Still thinking it a coincidence, I tried caffeine-free Diet Coke again on March 9th, but only four sips.  Yikes!  Was that a bad decision!  I’m just glad I have strong willpower, because I feel now that I was addicted to Diet Coke.  This and the fact that it has made me so sick, has frightened me enough to give it up for good, plus other Aspartame-containing products.

I’ve never drank alcohol or tried any addicting drugs, but I feel that Diet Coke is as addictive and dangerous.  I’m telling everyone I know to be careful of what they eat and drink.  My colleagues cannot believe this has happened to active me.  I still have some heart palpitations now which occur randomly (not specifically after exercise or eating, they just occur in an irregular pattern) even though I am now on 200 mg. Lopressor per day.

My memory is improving slightly, although I think I may be compensating for my problem somewhat (more lists, sticky notes to myself, etc.).  The sensitivity to light and light flashes has stopped so far.  My doctors want to do another thyroid scan next week.  I’ll update you.  Thanks for the information!  I’m glad there are people out there who care!

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If you do some searching on NutraSweet you will find many articles detailing the side effects of Aspartame including increased risk of brain tumors, and numerous other health problems resulting from methanol and formaldehyde released during digestion of NutraSweet or Aspartame.

Last year, I developed Bell’s palsy (I did recover) and then I got Shingles. Both of these have to do with nerves and run along the path of nerves. You only get shingles when extremely run down such as the elderly or cancer patients.  I was 36 years old.  This scared the s?&* out of me.

I started doing some research and discovered all the “BAD” things NutraSweet can do.  It can mimic MS which both Bells and shingles are symptoms of.  I did have an MRI which ruled MS out.  I stopped it cold turkey.

I was drinking gallons of diet iced tea a week.  Enough, never again!  I also felt like a cloud had been lifted off of my brain within a few days of stopping it.

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I am SO angry.  I and my 10 year old son have been off of this since August and almost all my symptoms are gone!  He no longer has asthma and now no longer needs to wear glasses!!!!

I don’t have to wear glasses either!!!! But those are minor.  I have been using NutraSweet for at least 7 or 8 years!!!  I had gained weight!  I now only weigh 118-120 (I am 5ft 2in), I have been up to around 200 lbs., and using this to LOSE!!!!  I had Endometriosis and Menstrual problems. Had a Hysterectomy at 24, developed Hyperglycemia and so increased the Aspartame intake.  Soon after that I started having bladder and bowel problems.  Had a colonoscopy, to examine my insides and bladder surgery to diagnose.  I was told I had Chronic Spastic Colon Problems, and that I no longer had a bladder lining. A condition called Interstitial Cystitis.  The symptoms are blood in the urine, pain and no infection. I have been treated for all of the above for 7 years.  They only worsened. Then about 4 years ago I started have major muscle problems.  I was constantly in a fog, and falling down and running into things. My legs would give out while I was walking.  My knees could not hold me up.  At this time I only weighed about 145 lbs.  Finally, I was pre- diagnosed with MS. I was sent to a Neurologist for extensive tests, including a spinal tap and MRI and Brain electrode testing. MS was not the problem.  My muscle Spasms in my back got so bad that I was bed ridden and having to be carried to the bathroom. The pain was almost unbearable. I was then diagnosed with fibromyalgia by 3 separate Drs.  My memory loss became a joke to the whole family.  And I use to sit down and feel like I was in a well looking out into the world, a sort of surreal feeling.  I was losing hair and having allergy problems, and constantly in pain in my abdomen and back.

I finally decided to get healthy and started “working out”.  I ended up in the hospital for heart palpitations and chest pain. I would have tremors that no one could control. I was told they were panic attacks, but over what, I would ask? I would be asleep and wake up in tremors!  Someone mentioned this info to me, and so I cut down on the Aspartame, just because I was willing to try anything.  I joined a weight loss class called weigh down.  She said that your body basically metabolizes everything natural and to just try to eat “Real “food and not the diet foods with artificial fat and sweeteners. This would allow your body to work naturally.  I started this in June.  I finally quit all NutraSweet in August. By December I am almost totally well.  I am no longer in pain and not in need of ANY medication except for hormones for the hysterectomy.  I am 32 now. This has made me so angry!  I am warning everyone, and intend to contact my insurance company. Since they have helped me foot the bills.  No one can however give me back the quality of life I lost during the last few years. Nor can they make up for all the pain and the tests I had to endure.  I feel betrayed, and yet I am so glad that there is information out now before it is too late.  I am thankful my son is off of this stuff, and I pray he will be ok in the future.

Thank you for all you are doing.  Let me know what I can do to help.

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I was intrigued by the posting for the conference Aspartame: Nutrapoison??, unfortunately I was unable to make it.  However, I have had personal experiences with Aspartame that I would like to share.  About 10 years ago my grandmother became ill and the illness progressed until it became so violent that it forced her to the emergency room.  It began with flu like symptoms and progressed to the point of affecting her vital signs with bouts of extreme stomach illness.  At the time of her hospitalization they were unaware of the cause of her illness because the symptoms disappeared shortly after her hospitalization.  The correlation was drawn to Aspartame when family members brought in “diet Ginger Ale” and the illness returned.  At this time they determined that she was “allergic” to it.  I had assumed at this point that it was not harmful to everybody, just her because of some rejection by her body.

I myself was unaware of its negative side effects until recently when I had to seek several forms of treatment for debilitating migraines.  It wasn’t until a mere coincidence that my eye doctor warned me that the cause may be Aspartame.  I immediately stopped consuming diet soda and have been migraine- free for 8 months!!  I have grave concerns however, because I have seen several primary care doctors and not one of them warned me of the possible Aspartame/migraine correlation.  Is there any way that this information can be educated to the public, especially the physicians?

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My little girl was seven when she started to experience problems.

She is a tubby little thing – it runs in our family and always has. When I was expecting her I stuck to low call drinks and food. As she grew so did her weight and one day I had a call from the school nurse about it. She referred us to a hospital dietician and the diet sheet told us to switch to low call drinks and low call foods.

I followed all of this with gusto and got some artificial sweetener as well. Within a short space of time she started to be not so well.

Sometimes she was not with it and sometimes she would look real bad. She started to have funny turns and would lose the muscle power to one side of her face and loose her speech. Eventually she had a full blown fit that was very bad indeed.

When all your information arrived it prompted much discussion. My eldest child told me that my daughter loved the artificial sweetener and if may back was turned she would help herself to a couple of spoonfuls at breakfast time. She always had her fits in the late morning! EEG’s and Brain Scans produced no sign of any problems but she was and still is diagnosed as Epileptic.

They gave her medication but it did not seem to have much effect. My daughter was pale with dark circles under her eyes and a blue tinges to her lips. She did not seem to be with it and she became breathless very easily yet they could not find anything wrong!!

Life was awful but then xxxxx xxxxx asked a question on the Net about this subject and you replied. When I read all the information you sent I was horrified. I threw out any and everything that had Aspartame in it.

Three weeks late I was looking at a healthy alert child with vivacious bright eyes, rosy cheeks and red lips. She has never had a fit since and needless to say she now avoids anything with Aspartame in it. My daughter felt the improvement so much that she is convinced that this awful substance caused her problems.

She has only ever been on a low dose of seizure controlling drug and we are finding it very hard to get the medical authorities to recognize that there is a really high probability that this was the cause. Our family is convinced of it because we saw no improvement for some time after she started on medication but a wonderful improvement when we started the no Aspartame regime.

I’m sorry to have taken so long to let you know the outcome of your efforts. I have just gone on the net and the first thing I did was look you up. I just wanted to let you know that you have restored peace of mind for my daughter and me and that I support your campaign to the full. Once again thank you so very much.

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Thanks for your note and all of the information – You will never understand just how grateful I am for the trouble you took on that one night to send that information. I suffered post-traumatic stress syndrome for two years after my daughter had her first fit and I am so convinced that we have the cause that I can now sleep at night. My eldest child has just had an EEG and guess what? It is showing irregularities – I feel so guilty because I used to drink this stuff when I was pregnant because I was always being nagged about my weight.

I refuse to buy anything with it in and I now write letters of complaint to all those manufacturers who insist on putting this rubbish into non low-cal products i.e. normal orange drinks etc. We only have mineral water and fruit juice in our house and I take every opportunity I can to recount our story to whoever will listen. As a result our local schools no longer give the children anything with Aspartame. So many people on this Island now are aware of the dangers of this substance.

I will keep fighting the good fight and will continue to do battle with our local hospital – can you believe it? THEY ACTUALLY GAVE ME A DIET SHEET FOR MY DAUGHTER WHICH STATED THAT I SHOULD GIVE HER LOW CAL PRJODUCTS!!

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On Jan 1, 1998, I quit eating anything that had Aspartame in it.  It used to be an important part of my diet since I have always been horizontally gifted.  My first recollection of Aspartame was when Tab was removed from the market and replaced it with Diet Coke.  (Who even remembers how long ago that was?)  Since I have quit Aspartame I have noticed that my headaches have gone, my memory has improved and I think my current food management plan is successful because Aspartame is no longer part of my diet.

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I was drinking a lot of Ribena light (a reduced sugar, blackcurrant drink) and using a lot of low sugar chewing gum in January this year. I started getting severe heart rhythm abnormalities (known as “ectopic” beats) which have stopped since I removed all Aspartame products from my diet.

I feel I have a duty to let more people know about this poison. Do you have an info pack you can send? Is Monsanto likely to take legal action (or have they done so) against people campaigning against Aspartame? I’d be interested to take this one to court.

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I don’t know whether Aspartame weight gain was psychological or actual.  I do know that I developed increasing headaches and vision problems due to Aspartame which I stopped consuming over a year ago.

In its place, I simply changed my diet.  That change did not mean drinking sugared Pepsi instead of Diet Pepsi.  It meant changing from junk food diet drinks to a more natural diet without any added sweetener.  I stopped consuming soft drinks, tea or coffee, and drank herbal teas that did not need sweetener, Mountain Valley Water (which I use for all cooking and beverages, even for my pets).  I’ve returned to eating fresh fruits and fresh fruit juices or shakes and avoiding anything with sugar or artificial sweeteners.

Since I’ve stopped using NutraSweet, my vision is becoming better and the headaches have ceased.   In fact, I can now see with eye glasses that I used 6 years ago.  Whereas, when I used Equal, I was constantly getting new prescriptions.

Since I rarely buy food at the grocery store, the food I am able to buy is not yet contaminated with artificial ingredients.  And, although I’ve had a weight problem for years, it is not due to buying natural food, but rather what I had eaten while also consuming Equal.

I’m losing weight now.  In the last two weeks, I’ve lost about 8 pounds.

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I just read your long article on NutraSweet.  I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome which I attribute to chemical/pesticide poisoning which altered my immune system so that I was susceptible to the yet to be discovered virus that causes CFS. That’s my educated guess after over a year of “internet study and research”.

Nevertheless I do have a NutraSweet story. When NutraSweet first came on the market in the ’80s, I was drinking Diet Pepsi with NutraSweet and noticed migraine headaches were increasing in frequency and severity.  On mother’s day 1987 I had such a severe migraine that I thought it was a stroke.  I was in my 30’s so you can imagine how worried I was.  I had a CT scan at the Wellington Regional Medical Center in West Palm Beach, and it was negative for a stroke, so they gave me some pain medication and sent me home.  I have never had NutraSweet since then, and have been a fanatic about keeping my young children off of it.  As the years have gone by, whenever I read something negative about NutraSweet, I am not surprised. It is sickening that most children’s medicine has NutraSweet in it.

It is a crying shame that you and others have been/are going through such hell, and ill health.  All because of corporate greed on the part of Searle.

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Yes, I got the information I wanted.  Yes, I am a victim and I have known that for over 10 years now.  However, I was unaware of the awareness groups as well as the other major side effects.  As a child, I was misdiagnosed with hypoglycemia due to vertigo I experienced due to Aspartame in diet soda.  I was only 11 and they put me on a low sugar diet, meaning I actually consumed more NutraSweet and the dizziness continued.  I finally lied to the Dr. because I was sick of appointments and being treated like a freak.  I said they had stopped and went back to eating normal.  After I stopped consuming NutraSweet, the dizziness stopped.

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Yup.  Both with having side-effects and with digging through long list of ingredients to make sure that something I’m going to eat doesn’t have Aspartame in it.  (A good indicator is if it warns Phenylketonurics not to eat this.)

My side effects varied.  From food and sodas, I get nasty, nasty headaches.  I really think it’s had a negative effect on my memory, too.  For a while I tried to do the Slim Fast thing, and the powdered mix gave me the most bizarre sensations–like I was kind of drunk but with serious caffeine buzz.  My insides just quaked and I could feel my blood rushing through my veins with each pump of my heart.  After the second “meal”, I stopped.  (Note, though, that the pre-mixed, canned stuff doesn’t have Aspartame, just the powdered mix.) I even get headaches now from breath mints or chewing gum that has Aspartame in it.

My suggestion for you (if you have to beware the stuff) is to avoid anything that has the word “lite” in it.  Nine times out of ten, it’ll have NutraSweet in it.  You’ll have to learn how to diet without using those products.  (Which sucks rocks if you want my opinion, but, what else can you do??)

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I suffered for about a year with what my doctor thought was some kind of “chronic mono” or “chronic fatigue syndrome.”  In addition to fatigue, I had extreme difficulty concentrating, and felt like I never came completely awake all day.  It turned out that my symptoms were caused by Aspartame when I switched to diet soda, and went away within 48 hours of ceasing to drink it.  The suggestion that it might be the diet soda came from a coworker, and I never expected it to turn out to actually be the cause.

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You may be skeptical of the research and comments made on that particular web site, and sometimes I am also skeptical of everyone who always seems to want to be suspicious of EVERYTHING. BUT, I truly believe that Aspartame is a bad thing for me. And I no longer use it in any way, shape or form, nor do I allow anyone in my family to use it! I began drinking Diet Coke about 2 years ago – because I wanted to save some calories – even though it tasted awful – I got used to it and really enjoyed it – then about 1 year ago I began having horrible headaches, foggy thinking even optical migraines (lost my vision for short periods of time) I never, never had a migraine or foggy thinking before – anyhow, did a lot of reading up on Aspartame – and decided to give up my Diet Coke – this wasn’t easy – I craved it – 3 different occasions I have tried some Diet Coke and all three times within an hour or so I developed a sever migraine and/or the foggy brain thing! That’s all the research I need to know I will stay away from it forever!! sorry so long – but thought you might be interested in hearing from an “average woman” not a crazed person out to find bad in everything Praise the Lord for the wonderful things He has done in my life through WDW!! In His Love.

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We have known, for years that NutraSweet is a significant bladder irritant for Interstitial Cystitis patients.  With the small open wounds in the bladder membrane that most IC patients have, NutraSweet is one of those compounds that appear to easily penetrate and further inflame those tissues.  IT is one our top ten forbidden fruits. And, between you and me, I think that those people who have lived on diet sodas for years and then developed the incurable IC can blame NutraSweet as the trigger for their particular condition.

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Did anyone use a lot of this before CFS?

Not before but after in attempt to lose all the weight lying in bed created.  I got major urinary pain, but the urologist couldn’t find anything.  He even did a biopsy, because my bladder was covered with red spots like the beginning of lesions.  He said, “It’s going to turn out to be an allergy, I bet, but to what, I have no idea.”

By process of elimination, I discovered it was NutraSweet.  No symptoms since.

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I had an epiphany about NutraSweet and quit using it two months ago and guess what?  The tiny flare-ups I had a night are gone, gone, gone. Not a twinge. Just want to let you-all know.

I observe all the other nutritional no-nos but couldn’t say goodbye to NutraSweet. i have replaced it with the herb STEVIA which research  shows to actually balance blood sugar, not wreck it!  And I lost five pounds. Wow.

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Does this stuff give you somewhat of a mental block? I’m hypoglycemic and I can’t have anything with a lot of sugar in it.

Around last October I started drinking lots of Sparkling soda, ice cream, candy, etc. sweetened with Aspartame. And the last few months I’ve been kind of blank, unable to come up with new ideas and stuff, and just bored.

I also after several months began to get slight dizzy spells.  3 or 4 days after stopping, I felt brighter, less bored, and the dizzy spells vanished completely. Now I use Sweet Low with no ill effects.  Unfortunately there’s no ice-cream with S&L instead of sugar, so once in a while I indulge a little.  It’s still better than using Aspartame.

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My beloved wife Kelli died last month.  She was 37 years old.  She left behind an 8 year old daughter.

Kelli died of a brain tumor.  She was a heavy user of Aspartame.  On a typical day, she would consume between 6 – 12 cans of diet cola.  I used to joke to her that she drank so much diet Pepsi, that she should cut out the middleman and have them deliver the stuff right to our house.  Her use of Aspartame did not end with diet cola.  She consumed it in many products every day.  Like most women, she was obsessed with watching her weight.

I have heard representatives from Monsanto claim that the product is the most widely tested and safest product on the market.  It’s not a coincidence that the studies they quote to support their claim were funded by Monsanto.

There are so many doctors and scientists who are questioning the safety of Aspartame that it is time the FDA took action.  I’m not a scientist, and don’t claim to understand all of the studies.  However, it seems to me that when you can find a direct correlation between the introduction of Aspartame into the market and a sharp rise in the number of brain tumors, it’s more than a coincidence.  It needs to be investigated.

Lives are at stake here!  I do realize that it’s too late to bring Kelli back.  I can’t tell you the hell we went through for the past three and a half years.  Her illness took a toll on our entire family.   We will suffer from her loss for the rest of our lives.

Dr. Friedman, please have the courage to stand up against Monsanto and the other big business interests trying to hide the facts.  Get Aspartame off the market!

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Has anyone else on this list experienced headaches or a feeling that your eyes were going to pop out of their sockets at night (when you’re trying to go to sleep).  This latter symptom has happened to me twice and it doesn’t hurt but it is extremely uncomfortable and makes me feel like I have to hold my eyes in w/ my hands!  I toss and turn and can’t go to sleep when this occurs.  Very strange!

I had the same problem. At one point I was consuming either two glass or diet soda or copious amounts of powered drink formulas, all laced with Aspartame.

The headaches got so bad that it took two aspirins, twice during different time of the night, just to get a decent night’s sleep!

Finally, I researched the matter on the Net and found PLENTY of reports about the same thing. I immediately quit ANY drink, mixture, or envelope containing Aspartame or NutraSweet. The headaches stopped and haven’t returned. That’s all the proof I need!

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I am off this poison and feel much better. However, my friend’s son is 37 and has been rushed to the hosp. twice now for severe chest pains and was just told that it is not a heart problem. He drinks too much diet soda. Have you heard of Aspartame causing heart pain? I told my friend to tell her son to speak to the DR. about this. I understand he drinks at least 5 cans a day to control his weight.

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I know for me I get horrible headaches, extra foggy, and horrible pains in my stomach with any artificial sweetener.  I finally talked my husband to try not drinking diet pop for one month.  I just figured all his weird symptoms—-rash on face at all times, constant sinus nasal drip, and bad breath had to be connected.  Well, one week off of diet soda and it all went away.  He has not had any diet pop for over a year now.  I do not believe that putting that chemical in your body is good for you.

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I know from personal experience that Aspartame, NutraSweet etc. gives me horrible, and I mean dreadful, migraines.  Aspartame also stimulates appetite, I don’t know where I read this, but I have read it in a paper or something.

I have heard anecdotal that when Aspartame heats up, it can become toxic to your body (like when the truck delivering bottles of Diet Coke gets hot).  I have also heard, on some TV program that it is causing serious eye problems.

I will never touch the stuff again.

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I’m 42, male, in reasonable general health (if slightly overweight) and run a small computer company near Oxford, U.K.

I switched to Aspartame-based sweeteners in tea and coffee several years ago. Over the past 9 months I’ve been suffering from bouts of diarrhea on an approximately twice-weekly basis usually without any apparent cause.

Over the past two months these had been getting more severe with bouts lasting several days. Unpleasant and uncomfortable but not accompanied by vomiting or feeling really lousy as one might normally expect from food poisoning or a stomach bug.

I tried various modification of diet (already having excluded almost all prepared foods in favour of a low-fat diet of fresh fruit, vegetables, chicken and fish) and

Three weeks ago I read ‘Aspartame.  The BAD news!’ and decided to stop using artificial sweeteners or products containing them. Here in the UK this was a pelleted and Granular sweetener marketed as ‘Canderel’ plus the occasional diet Pepsi or diet Lilt. I did this just as an experiment (I’m a bit of a cynic about ‘Internet Scares’ I’m afraid!).

The diarrhea stopped within a day and hasn’t (fingers crossed!) returned. Bowel motions are now more normal than they have been for many months. I still have some digestive problems; I hope these will improve as the effects of Aspartame on my system dissipate and that there is little or no permanent damage.

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I cut that garbage out of my diet in December.  I found the dizzy spells I was getting have almost disappeared!  I never heard of swelling as a side effect of Aspartame, but I wouldn’t doubt it!  Dizzy spells, headaches, stomach problems, and now edema. That stuff is poison.

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My own experience with Aspartame (NutraSweet) is that is gives me screaming headaches.  Several years ago when I was dieting and constantly complaining of headaches, my neighbor (a nurse with an epileptic son who was also affected by Aspartame) suggested that I eliminate the diet pop I was drinking.  Lo and behold, that particular type of headache disappeared.

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I found this spring that my feet were swelling for the first time in my life. My internist suggested I walk more (this during the rainy spring we are having in NYC–rain makes my legs feel like each one is encased in a 75-pound concrete block).  I followed his advice, but the swelling persisted. Then I found the cause: diet colas with NutraSweet, which I had just begun to drink.  As soon as eliminated them, the edema (swelling) disappeared. I later read that Aspartame (NutraSweet and Equal) causes foot edema in some people.

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Aspartame (a.k.a. NutraSweet) gives me unbearable headaches — it started slowly, and built up with my use of any diet substances containing Aspartame.  Within the first month after it was introduced, the insides of my elbows and the backs of my knees would be speckled with bruises if I had anything with Aspartame in it, even one stick of gum.  Needless to say, I do not use anything with Aspartame!!

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I have struggled with weight all my life and I have tried most every type of diet out there. I have found that I have one really big problem with NutraSweet. Every time that I use it, I get really bad migraine headaches. I have tried lots of different products containing it and they all have the same effect. I have family and friends that have the same problems with it.

I know that if something gives you a bad side effect such as headache then it can’t be that good for you!

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I react badly to Aspartame/NutraSweet.  It makes me feel (mentally) something like a combination of caffeine overdose and a “fever delirium.”  High-speed, jumbled thoughts, with (physically) twitchy nerves and jerks.  The mental part is similar to a “moderate” Anxiety episode.  Any thoughts on this?

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I lived for the best part of a year with an allergy no doctor could explain, a skin crawling and sometimes pins and needle itch you would not believe. I went everywhere to find the problem, I was told to just accept it and get on with life. I was taking antihistamines which made me drowsy and apathetic.

I had lived away from home for years and the trouble started soon after moving back. My mother was putting EQUAL (an artificial sweetener) in my tea. My father had some put in his tea by accident and he got the symptoms.

It took me a few days without Aspartame and antihistamines but the problem slowly went away. FREE AT LAST.

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Aha, panic attacks. Mine are gone (fingers crossed) and I gave up Aspartame about three months ago. I’d been taking it in Diet Coke for a good few years. Don’t miss it one bit.

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A headache?  What I got was a technicolor headache with vision impairment and a feeling that I was going to die, die, die, and an emergency trip to the doctor.  *Just* a migraine.

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I’ve had two classic migraines, including aura, both triggered by Aspartame.  Bleah.  I now occasionally have a sinus headache morph into a migraine, less severe than the Aspartame ones.

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Ok, now to Aspartame.  While surfing the net about MSG, I ran across a site about Aspartame and it’s affects.  Yeah, I’ve read that there is lots of controversy over this product, and I don’t want to start anything with anyone about it, but I’m just going to state what this product does to ME and how it affects my life.  In addition to all those nasty side effects *dizziness, brain fog, blacking out,* (I have experienced these effects personally) I have also found that the maltodextrin used as the filler for Aspartame converts to MSG when ingested.  SOOO, with that in mind, it is very frustrating to also find that Sugar Twin (and the guy from the Stevia page has told me that the free sample that he is sending me) has that as its first ingredient also.

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My wife has been off Aspartame for approximately two months and has noticed a significant reduction in her headaches.  The few that she still gets are much less severe.  There was a definite change immediately after she stopped using the Aspartame.  The list of alternate sweeteners was also very helpful.  It will take a while before all of the Aspartame is out of her system.  I am sure she will continue to improve.  We’ll keep in touch.

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I just received your story and was amazed.  My husband drinks at least a 6-pack of diet Pepsi a day and has no effects.  However, since I quit nursing our son I felt free to again drink caffeine and started to drink diet Pepsi.  I didn’t drink it every day and also drank regular Pepsi.

After a few weeks I noticed I started to get headaches, had trouble focusing my eyes and was getting dizzy.  I at first thought that it was from the caffeine since I hadn’t had much for a couple of years.  I then noticed I only got symptoms after drinking diet Pepsi.  I wondered why but didn’t think much of it, I just quit drinking it.  Now I know why and it scares me because my husband and I have both allowed our 2 year old son drink small amounts of diet Pepsi.  Not to mention other drinks and foods containing Aspartame.

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NutraSweet has Aspartame in it, and Aspartame thins out the lining in the blood vessels. For those who suffer from frequent headaches or from migraine headaches, this can become a serious problem, as the thinning of the blood vessel lining will produce higher levels of pressure in the blood, especially those in the brain. I suffer from Migraines, and I’m Hypoglycemic. It took a couple of years to figure out why I was getting headaches after meals, et al. Fortunately, I did the research and consulted my doctor before I ended up blowing a blood vessel.

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About 10 years ago I participated in a double blind study of the effects of Aspartame at Duke University. I was asked to be included because I had complained to the FDA and some medical doctors interested in the substance’s side effects.

At the time I was previously very healthy, and I was consuming 10-20 ounces of Diet Coke daily. I started having migraine headaches (I didn’t know they were migraines until my doctor diagnosed, I had never had them before), confusion, dizziness, memory loss, and I just felt very “old”. I was only 25 years old at the time.

I read an article about the “possible” side effects of Aspartame, and it sounded just like me so I wrote to the doctor who wrote the article, explaining my experience. It was several months later that I went to Duke for the study. I was very concerned about the effects of Aspartame and wanted to contribute what I could to the cause, in this case I contributed my body! They checked me out head to toe, inside and out first, and then gave me capsules to take each day. Some with Aspartame, some without. Then each day they ran many tests on me again. The results showed that I have an allergy to some chemical in it. I guess it is a common allergy, many people have it, and therefore many people can have side effects to Aspartame.

I believe this is only one problem with Aspartame, it is very much a poison to our systems, and should be avoided at all costs. Every person who knew me at the time I had the symptoms now avoids Aspartame, they saw what it does to a healthy person.

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My brother is a company president, used to drink 4 to 6 cans per day at work, of diet soda. After I forwarded him your info, he quit. Then he thanked me, saying, I used to get KILLER headaches every day, now they are completely gone.

I used to drink 3 to 4 cans per day, thinking it would help me lose weight.

I quit and guess what, I LOST WEIGHT.  What happened was, my stomach was no longer irritated by Aspartame. When I drank Diet Coke, I would get caffeine high and also a stomach ache. To soothe my stomach, I would eat.

Guess what, I have lost about 15 pounds without trying, because my stomach does not ache any more from the Aspartame!

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I want to share a personal experience concerning Aspartame. A couple of weeks ago I bought this raspberry juice concentrate. A week later I started to feel weird. I was tired out of my mind. I had problems with my long vision (it took time to focus my eyes on the object that I was looking at). I thought I was getting something. Then when I reread the label of the concentrate to my astonishment I noticed that it had sugar but it also had Aspartame.

I poured it down the sink and in a few days’ time the symptoms disappeared. I failed three of my exams because of this. I was sitting in the exam room looking at my exam papers. I knew I could do them but somehow I couldn’t get my thoughts organized. I think this was due to Aspartame I was prepared for the exams so it wasn’t because I hadn’t read enough. I’ve known the negative effect of Aspartame for a long time but this kind of personal experience is frightening.

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I have been off diet sodas, diet anything with Aspartame, for three months now and I can really tell an improvement in how I feel.  I have now convinced my great aunt, daughter and several of my daughter’s friends to get off the stuff and I no longer have it in my home.  My aunt was having the classic symptoms you described and since she has been off it, she has not had a single headache.  My daughter was a little reluctant, but being 23 has to be difficult, I think I can remember that far back.  The one thing my daughter noticed immediately was the loss of water retention.  Her face has now broken out, but mine did too.

I told her that I thought it was the toxins coming out because after around 10 days, my face cleared up. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for informing me and others of what this horrible chemical was doing to our bodies.  I salute your work and may God’s blessings be upon you.

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There is something terribly wrong with NutraSweet. I drank lots of Diet Sodas for a long time, and always had terrible migraine headaches. I couldn’t figure out what the problem was.  I went to doctors and then to a Special Chiropractor to fix me up. Nothing worked. Drugs just took the edge off. To no avail.

Then one day my very concerned husband said stop drinking diet soda for a while. Guess what. My headaches went away. They have gone completely. When I try to drink something like Crystal Lite, the next day the headache is back with a vengeance.

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I have found that anything with NutraSweet (Aspartame) I think it’s pronounced as/par/tame, gives me a “blow my brains out” headache. I can tolerate one Diet Coke or anything with NutraSweet in it, without the headache, then real trouble.  It has always made my sister very dizzy and she does not have CFIDS or anything else, Thank God.

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Aspartame gives me severe migraines (about the only way I ever experience them!). Damn shame about these neato mints- I guess I won’t be buying them any time soon.

It’s this witches’ brew of poisons that actually tastes “sweet”, not Aspartame itself. It’s amazing what the FDA will approve for public consumption, isn’t it?

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I too suffer 12 hour migraine headaches after drinking a single diet soda.

The first time it happened was after staying up all night playing “Empire” on the VAX-750 at Interactive Graphic Systems back in 1984. When the sun came up, I got up from the ADM-3 terminal and raided the fridge for something to drink. The only choice was “Diet Dr. Pepper.” I guzzled the 12 ounce can and started to drive home from Woodland Hills, California to Northridge, California. About five miles down the road I started to experience the worst headache of my life. I thought that I was going to die. But I made it home alive.

I simply cannot believe that Aspartame is legal! Yet it is.

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Thank you for the Aspartame information.  I have migraine headaches when I ingest Aspartame thus I try to make certain I do not eat or drink anything with Aspartame.

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As I originally told you, each morning of my life for approx. 15 years, I consumed an entire pot of coffee with approx. 3-5 packets of NutraSweet or NatraTaste or Equal in each cup per day.  Along with a high consumption of fat free yogurts, ice cream, etc.  It is true, I craved sweets constantly.  Since not using Aspartame, I don’t even use or want sugar or sweets.  I actually don’t even drink coffee anymore.  My system is so clean that it only wants the purest things.

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Concerning your headaches, have you considered a possible allergy to NutraSweet? I experienced migraine headaches for many months, often drinking a diet soda when the headache started, thinking the caffeine would help the pain. A friend suggested the headaches might be related to an allergic reaction to NutraSweet. Apparently they were. I stopped using it in any form and the headaches stopped.

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To my point, in desperation I decided to ditch all discernible forms of NutraSweet, and am amazed at how much more my food cravings have let up (haven’t thought about pop tarts all day long!).

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The NutraSweet and coffee might also be a problem.   They can both be trouble for some people as they are very sensitive to it.  I cut out the NutraSweet and went to Stevia and I immediately dropped weight.

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Whenever we give Nathan a regular soda (not often) he is a super great angel, behaving and sitting and happy.  The NutraSweet in Diet Cokes is BAD and gives an adverse reaction.

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I cannot take anything with NutraSweet or anything like NutraSweet. It gives me severe headaches. So needless to say I stay away from anything like that. Also MSG gives me headaches. So I watch for that also.

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I tried to quit diet Pepsi, cold turkey, and almost died when my metabolism essentially shut down.  I was taken to the emergency room at a local hospital, and no one knew what was wrong with me or why I was drifting in and out of a consciousness.  I’m now on oral phenylalanine (of my own doing) which miraculously reversed an almost comatose state and brought me back to where I am, now.  I’m trying to get off of the phenylalanine as fast as I can; it seems like a horrible drug addiction.  I’ve never taken any “drugs” in my life, but this seems as serious as any drug addiction I’ve heard of.

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I cringe at the thought of people drinking/eating stuff with the ingredient known as Aspartame. I find it to trigger my headaches. People should realize that it leaves an after taste in their mouths as well. A lot of people still do not understand that NutraSweet is bad stuff especially ones that are prone to seizures too.  It’s a chemical that our bodies can do without. The fewer chemicals the better off our bodies will be. I’m a very concerned professional (health field).

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I must tell you and others that had it NOT been for the Aspartame discussion, I would not have found out what was triggering my desire for carbs. It was the diet sodas.  There have been topics of discussion that did not affect me either, but I am sure someone was helped by reading them!

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I wrote you in August.  I got off of Aspartame on August 22nd.   It just sent FDA a message; I hope it got to the right place.  I couldn’t find what I wanted.  It had a comment page that I sent but I think it was for comments for Internet page.

Here is what I sent to them:

I am sending you notification that I think that Aspartame is a very dangerous substance.  It is what caused me to have slurred speech, lost most of my reflexes, dizziness, hives, balance and coordination, my heart would pound hard when I would be sitting, I had  trouble sleeping, nightmares, I had to have help tying my shoes.  I was having a terrible time concentrating. I had to have my daughter do my bills at work.  I was tested for all kinds of things.  I was checked for stroke, heart trouble, Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis.  I had a CAT scan, and a MRI.  I had about $5000 dollars’ worth of tests, and the Doctors couldn’t figure out what was the cause.  I have fibromyalgia, and Aspartame made it much worse.  I have been in terrible pain for years.  It took me about 70 days to get Aspartame out of my system and now I am in less pain than I have been in for years.  All of my symptoms left except one, I am still having difficulty concentrating.  Please consider taking this hazard off the market.  Since I have been free of Aspartame, my husband and many other people have noticed that I am able to do many things that I haven’t been able to do in YEARS!  I had drunk Aspartame in diet drinks ever since it came out.  I had no idea that Aspartame was what was causing most of my problems until I started doing research on what could cause slurred speech.  I don’t want anyone to go through what I have been through.  I thank God that I found out before it was TOO LATE!

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I am 26 years old and I have never had a serious medical condition in my life.  Recently, I began having blackouts, feeling rather run down, and I was having frequent mood swings.  I consider myself to be in excellent physical condition and watch my diet religiously.

Not very long ago, I was taken to the hospital while having one of my supposed seizures, or blackouts.  I tend to stray away from “seizure” because as soon as the word is brought up you are labeled epileptic.  While at the hospital, I was put through all of the usual tests when someone is said to have had a seizure.  The tests, C-T scan, MRI, and ECG, did not reveal any obvious problems.  So, for lack of anything better, my brilliant (Hahh!!) neurologist diagnosed me with epilepsy.  At the same time I was also having problems with my blood sugar being too low.  He didn’t even try to link either of my two problems together into a feasible diagnosis.  You can understand that I was feeling angry, depressed, and thoroughly confused.

It wasn’t a week after I had been released from the hospital and I had another “seizure”.  My girlfriend and I thought back through the events of the prior days and nothing seemed irregular.  While in the hospital my physician placed me on Dilantin, an anti-convulsive medication, and it was supposed to alleviate my problem.  Obviously it wasn’t working.  My girlfriend and I then began thinking of anything that we had changed in our lifestyles in the last six months since these problems occurred.

We found an article on the adverse effects of NutraSweet and became very curious.  Then we discovered it.  With our efforts of keeping a strict diet I began consuming large amounts of Crystal Light.  I liked the powdered drink mix because by the package I just assumed it was flavored water.  I never drank any diet sodas so I really never encountered NutraSweet to a very high degree.  Soon I was consuming 6-10 gallons a week along with my normal water intake.  I did not experience any immediate problems; at least we don’t think so.  Then came the problems that I have discussed.  Since then I have found a doctor that believes in my reaction to Aspartame, and has discontinued my medication.  I am now trying to restore my life to the way it was before my NutraSweet problem.  Due to my seizures, my driver’s license has been suspended for six months.

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I have been off Aspartame for some time now and I have been under the care of a fine doctor to rid myself of the chemical.  My confusion (getting lost on the way home) disappeared as soon as I stopped consuming Aspartame.  But it is apparent that brain damage has been done, because my memory has been seriously reduced.  I have difficulty remembering the names of my students, or any other new information.

I am considering a suit against Monsanto and/or the FDA seeking damages, but have not yet consulted an attorney.  Are you aware of any law suits by individuals like myself against Monsanto or PepsiCo?   I would appreciate any information you have that could be of assistance to me in this effort.

Thank you for everything you have done.  If it weren’t for you I would still be doing brain damage to myself courtesy of these criminals.

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Let me first commend you and your “partners in crime” for the work that you do in reference to Aspartame and its ill effects on the human body.  As a sufferer of Aspartame poisoning, I feel quite strongly that you and your people may have gone as far as saving my life. At the least, you people are responsible for improving my quality of life by an exponential amount.

I was diagnosed with type II diabetes a little over 3 years ago. Like a scared little diabetic, I was concerned for my health enough to make several changes in my lifestyle, to improve my overall health and to try to keep my diabetes under control.

I began using Equal in my coffee (4 cups/day) and I began drinking diet Pepsi, about 4 per day.  I tried to use as many products with Aspartame as possible.  During the next 2 years, I lost 55 lbs., much to the delight of myself, my family, and my doctor. But during these 2 years, my health began to suffer, and I started experiencing many problems that no one, including my doctor, associated with Aspartame usage. As a matter of fact, everyone, including myself, thought that most of my problems were my “advancing age” (46 now).  The problems I had were as follows; indigestion (used Rolaids like candy), headaches, almost every morning, (used Advil almost every day). Severe mood swings, memory loss (mostly short term), my vision deteriorated, insomnia, and finally vertigo.  When I began the dizziness associated with vertigo, I again went to the doctor thinking maybe I had a clogged artery to my brain. My doctor could find absolutely nothing wrong with me. He scheduled me for a “fasting” blood test the next morning. The next morning I took a thermos of coffee sweetened with Aspartame in the truck, to drink on the way to work after the blood test. That morning, I felt great. No the lab, until now?”. it hit me like a ton of bricks. An almost forgotten memory of the controversy over the approval of Aspartame.  I searched the Web and ended up at your site.  The rest is sort of history. I stopped using Aspartame products, and all the symptoms went away, almost immediately. Except I fear my eyes are permanently damaged, and my short term memory has improved, but is a long ways from what a man my age should be experiencing. I am now on a “one man” crusade in work, to educate my fellow workers and friends to the dangers of Aspartame. I have been successful with 4 individuals, who are now on the mend, and who also NEVER associated their medical problems with their use of Aspartame.

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I have had more than 1 doctor warn me about NutraSweet.  Funny, I don’t use it anyway.  Because my first time ingesting it resulted in hallucinations and the most incredible anxiety I have ever experienced.  I ran into my mother’s bedroom crying and insisting that my room was haunted.  I told her that things were flying around and my digital display on my clock had changed from green to blood red and was dripping.

Thing was.  I didn’t even know I had had NutraSweet.  A friend of mine had made Kool-Aid with it, and we had gone for a picnic at a fishing pier.  I asked her if she had put “anything special” in the Kool-Aid and she said.  Just “Equal.”  I put it in the back of my mind, until one day (about a week later), I hear on the radio that there were people having bad reactions to NutraSweet, including hallucinations.  I called the FDA that afternoon.  They sent someone over to interview me, and gave me Searle’s address (the manufacturer).

I sent for more information and FDA reports and such.  This was before the internet and before they began putting it into every diet food on the market.

What I read about Aspartame (NutraSweet) astounded me, and I never touched the stuff again.  I got very habitual about reading labels and asking people if what they had given me had Aspartame in it.  I also made a point of educating people about it, as much as I could.

My sister has had a seizure disorder since she was a child.  The constantly told her it wasn’t epilepsy.  Oddly enough, her new neurologist and a second opinion just confirmed that it IS epilepsy.

ROTFL (as if we didn’t know).  Anyway, she had been on her usual “epilepsy” meds for her seizure disorder (that still cracks me up) since she was in 3rd grade.  Only one grand mal seizure when she was about 13.  We felt that had to do with her getting her period the first time and the hormonal changes affecting her brain.  From the time she was 32 or so, she started to have petit mal seizures again.

No one could figure out why.  Then, one day, about 2 years ago, she revealed to me that it was very common for her to drink 3-5 Diet Cokes a day.  I was so upset.  Here she was.  Just the person who shouldn’t be drinking that poison!!!!  And now she is having small seizures again?  I asked her to promise me that she would quit the Diet Cokes and drink regular ones for 2 weeks.  Just as an experiment.  She hasn’t touched one since, or had any seizures at all.

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Yes I am off of Aspartame completely!!  Have been feeling good.  Haven’t had any seizures and have been able to cut back on my Dilantin.  I am also cutting out caffeine now.  Of course my neurologist won’t admit that Aspartame has anything to do with seizures, he just laughs when asked that question.  But I do know that I didn’t have seizures until I was 19 years old, (after I started drinking diet soda) and am not having them now (off of diet sodas and all other NutraSweet).  My CT scan and MRI were both normal and doctors can’t explain why I had seizures.  EEG did show seizure activity, so I know I was not just crazy.  I would be curious to see if my EEG is now improved.  But that costs a lot of money, so I guess I’ll just enjoy my new and improved lifestyle and keep my fingers crossed.  Cutting back on the Dilantin has also given me more energy!

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I have been plagued with unknown health problems for 3 years. Been to several doctors, had all kinds of tests run, and after the tests confirmed I had nothing wrong, and I was still having seizures, I begin to eliminate foods from my diet, I still had all kinds of problems, such as fatigue, heart palpitations, hypertension, abdominal pain, hair loss, memory loss, vision loss, to name a few, but the seizures were the worst. When I eliminated Equal from my diet 6 weeks ago, I have not had another seizure, and all other ailments except the irregular heartbeats have improved. I wish I knew the long range damage of Equal to my body, and I might have a better outlook on life. Do you know a lawyer working on this for the people with damage to their health from NutraSweet, and where can I contact them.

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I just wanted to let you know how I’m feeling after two weeks away from NutraSweet.  You may remember I had spoken to xxxxx xxxxxxx about a non-pharmaceutical for my excruciating insomnia – well, I no longer need one, as I sleep through the night now.  The only lifestyle/dietary change I’ve made is the elimination of Aspartame (Diet Pepsi, more specifically).  I still consume caffeine every day.

I was very concerned about gaining weight, because of my history of eating disorders, but so far, so good.  I think I’m eating more, but haven’t gained an ounce.

The flashing lights in my eyes have settled down and I can’t wait until my retinal specialist examines me Monday – he’s skeptical about the Aspartame link, but when he sees my improvement, perhaps he’ll be more convinced.

My kids have noticed changes in my demeanor. I meet them outside when they get off the school bus, rather than them finding me exhausted in bed at 3 p.m. I’m also much clearer in the morning, and not prone to agitation.

I’ll keep you apprised of my progress along the way, and thank you so much for all the valuable information to which you have directed me.

Update

December 25 marked the last day of my 60-day withdrawal from Aspartame, and I just wanted you to hear how things are going.  I’m still having an awful lot of vision problems – legally blind.  What is now apparent is that this particular part of my affliction may be life-long, because of damage to the optic nerve and retina that is irreparable.  My eyesight “waxes and wanes”, and the flashing lights sometimes make me feel like going insane!

However, on a more positive note, I am sleeping so much better, and I do not feel the rage and ensuing depression I felt when I was using Aspartame on a daily basis.  My heart has stopped fluttering, my mouth doesn’t burn any more, and I feel a little more “there”  I have not experienced any more grand mal seizures, either ( you may recall I had four in the period between 1994-1997 with no history of epilepsy, tumors or massive head injuries)

Monsanto has used the general population as guinea pigs, as far as I’m concerned.  And in light of Fen-phen, Rezulin, and other drugs approved, then abandoned by the FDA, I am a firm believer that the FDA is not qualified to be a regulatory body when it it comes to the public well-being.  To me, FDA approval is meaningless, as they say, you can put syrup on it, but that don’t make it pancakes!

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I found your list of reactions to NutraSweet while searching for something else. I thought I would let you know I finally discovered the cause of my terrible itchy skin after 4 months of lotions potions doctors and even a naturopath. No one could help it was only after discussing with someone the possibility of it being something I was eating that I began a process of elimination. After one week of no I felt better after 2 no more symptoms. So now to lose weight I am exercising more. After reading your list I will now stop all my family having any.

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I am a long haul trucker who’s been driving safely for 20 years. Last year I was in an accident caused by a dizzy spell or seizure. I would drink large amounts of coffee with an Aspartame sweetener along with chewing large amounts of gum containing Aspartame. Usually 8 to ten packs a night. I believe my accident was a result of Aspartame
Update
I’m sorry I just read your last e-mail. I am fine. I don’t use Aspartame. Honestly I’m not happy about the lack of awareness about the problems with this poison. I’m going to restart looking for a lawyer again in a last ditch attempt to hold them responsible for the dizzy spell that I had. I don’t think the law firm I’ve got for my workers compensation thinks it’s worth his time. But I know what happened. I know what I did to stay alert [chew lots and lots of gum with this product. And drink diet sodas. But in the end if it fails at least [thanks to your web sites] I know what caused my dizzy spell and also my wife and kids avoid this poison also.

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I try not to eat anything, chew gum, or drink anything that contains NutraSweet.  A few years ago I realized that sometimes when I chewed gum, I would choke and lose my breath for several seconds, which is VERY scary.

It then became apparent that it only happened when chewing gum with NutraSweet in it.  I know only one other person that this happens to. We call that kind of gum “choker gum”.  Do you know why it affects some people that way?  I read what you had to say about phenylalanine on the internet.

Why isn’t it banned?!  It’s disgusting!

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I also was interested in the Aspartame post.  I’ve taken myself off it for years because it caused migraines, irritability, and cloudiness in thinking.  I used to consume large amounts in college when I was trying to conform to the anorexic body image prevailing at the time.  Now I wonder how many people out there are drinking Diet Coke while conversing with their shrink!

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Thanks for the info.  I took Logan off it totally about a year and a half ago, and his language and “with-it-ness” increased dramatically within a week.

Been suffering from depression for a couple of years now.  Don’t know why I didn’t think of it. I am addicted to Diet Coke.  Guess I am now “on the wagon”

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I have spent much of this afternoon reviewing, with interest, the material on your web site, along with that on the xxxxx web site and that of xxxxx, as well as the xxxxxx Web Site.

This was prompted by a several weeks of ongoing severe headaches and throat irritation that had gone unexplained.  I had come to the conclusion that perhaps allergies were at play, and started to watch for what brought on the symptoms.  The last two evenings, symptoms were brought on severely by the same apparent cause: extra-large, fast food Diet Cokes!

Over the past 3-4 months, I moved from my prior job to create a startup business.  I am a software designer and developer and have spent a great deal of time at home creating a new software program.  As a result, my intake of Diet Coke has increased dramatically.  However, I did not begin to expect this was a problem until the past two evenings.

I have cut out these drinks as of today, and will monitor whether this causes the symptoms to subside.  If you would like, I will report back to you after a period of time.

Thanks you for your efforts to make this information available.  The first site I found was the xxxxx site.  I was quite discouraged as I thought I had identified the problem.  Only when I followed my other search links did I realize the whole truth might not be there.

Update

I have sworn off Aspartame since my first message. My symptoms disappeared and have not returned.  Frankly I was amazed.  This has caused me to look more carefully at other stuff going into my body.

Note that I did not give up coffee initially.  This was on my list of possible causes also.  Much later, I did give it up, but long after (months after) my symptoms had disappeared.

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I saw some very disturbing information on NutraSweet on the WEB a few months back.  After reading the information I stopped drinking Diet Coke and diet sodas immediately.  I had been drinking Diet Coke for about four years or so, pretty much on a daily basis (Meaning one or two a day).  For about the last two years I had some increasing pain on the inside bone of both elbows.  I thought it may have been an old hockey injury.  I started to get very concerned when the pain was persistent and seem to be getting worse to the point of having great pain when lifting not so heavy objects.  I remembered when I had started drinking diet sodas.  That was the only constant variable in my diet in the past years.  The pain got to the point of being too severe to ignore.  I happened to look up on NutraSweet on the WEB and found an abundance of negative information.  One particular report mentioned that sore joints were one of the symptoms.  I have not ingested diet sodas since then and am happy to say the pain is 90 % gone.  Coincidence?

Maybe, I don’t think so.  I hope that I haven’t done anything too irreversible at this time.  I did coincidently drink a couple of quarts of freshly squeezed vegetable juice each week during those years.  A friend of mine owned a juice store at the time and (like a bar) I would stop in a couple of nights a week for a drink”.  During that time (approx. 5 years) I only had the flue once.  (Note: I am not a health or exercise fanatic)  I am sorry about the long winded note, but I thought you might like to hear my story.

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However, I have had a different encounter with NutraSweet and all Aspartame-based products.   This summer I was diagnosed as not only having asthma/allergies (already knew that) but also chemical sensitivities to phenol & formalin (formaldehyde precursor).  In my reading, I found an explanation for the Aspartame reaction I had.  Once ingested, there is apparently a reaction with Aspartame in the intestines which produces formaldehyde.

Even a small breath mint with NutraSweet can make my bronchi inflame to the point where I can’t even get enough air to speak. My face turns grey-blue, I get agitated (I usually stay calm during an asthma attack), and I’m exhausted for several days.  Once I cut out all NutraSweet, it stopped.  Although you have not run into this extreme, you may want to look into chemical sensitivities.  It’s possible that you have run into a chemical sensitivity rather than a straight allergic reaction.

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I have had several episodes of sensitivity to NutraSweet. I try to avoid it but have accidently ingested it in punches that contained diet sodas. It seems to affect my brain function & I feel irritable & edgy.

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Since that day that you wrote me I stopped completely the use of NutraSweet. My intake per day of this molecule was huge. Now, the dizziness is gone I hope that it did not kill too many neuron cells or created any genetic damage. What is very interesting is the participation of Dr. R. Wurtman in this issue. As long as it was politically convenient for him he helped the struggle against the FDA. When he needed approval from them for Redox (another medical disaster), NutraSweet became O.K. It makes me very angry when he appeared on the CNN after 24 patients already were diagnosed with valve damage and stated that Redox is the safest drug on the market for this purpose. At the same time the damage to the neurons was showed in tissue culture.

I am a scientist myself and I know how political and monetary advantages can change their scientific opinion and kill many people.

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Thank you very much for your time and devotion to this cause. In the first week of August, I was searching for a cause for my mom’s neuropathy and abdominal pain. Thanks to your website I have an answer.

I can’t convince mom’s doctors that this is the cause. Most doctors seem to be brain dead. They just think it is normal in diabetics to develop severe abdominal pain.

Since I am convinced, I am going full swing into educating the public. I am going to hand out flyers entitled DIET COKE ALMOST KILLED MY MOTHER at the store where mom bought her poison as well as picket the FDA. My parents live about 5 miles from the FDA.

I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes. Let me know if you would like to in anyway coordinate my efforts so that I don’t go off half-cocked so to speak and do no good!

Mom has passed the 60 day mark with little improvement except her arthritic pain is gone and her B/G level is much more stable. She still has severe abdominal pains which are treated by Percocet and weak legs. She is using about 1/4 as much insulin. She is confined to a nursing home because it became impossible for my 76 year old father to care for her.

I have talked to so many people who are affected by this poison. I rarely consumed it but couldn’t understand about 8 months ago feeling very strange every time I ate dinner at my folks. At one time I had to stop my car on the way home because of a rapid heartbeat. Thought I was having a heart attack. While writing this letter, I went outside to talk to a friend, a junk dealer named “Popeye”. He told me about getting tunnel vision and convulsions after consuming crystal light at his brother-in-laws house.

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I don’t know how it works with seizures but eliminating Aspartame from my diet made my migraines go away, from an average of 3-4 month down to none

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When you last wrote I couldn’t see any change in my health.  Shortly after that, about 80 days after stopping Aspartame, I am feeling much better.  I may still have seizures, but I’m managing WELL on only 400 mg. Dilantin daily.  Before even 500 mg every other day was not helping.  I hope to decrease the Dilantin sometime and see if, by any chance, the seizures are gone.  I will do that under my neurologist’s direction.  Right now, I do not feel like changing anything.

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This is not very scientific but I wanted to write to you about my mom’s experience with Aspartame.  She takes medication to control her sugar and never is able to get it under control.  She also drank lots of diet soda and ate things with NutraSweet, Jell-O, pudding, cookies, etc.  The doctor told her to give it up and start taking shots.  She decided to find a new doctor.  About this same time (Last April, I think) I got your articles via e-mail after reading about you and immediately called my mom.

My dad answered and I told him about it.  From that moment on no diet soda etc.  And immediately her sugar count began going down and came under control.  About 2 months ago she drank Crystal Light for 3 days.  Because she had it around for my nephew and she thought what the heck.  Well her sugar went sky high, so she stopped.  Two weeks ago she had 3 diet root beers in one evening.  The next morning, it was sky high again.  I think she is now convinced.  I wish we could convince my sister to stop (weight problem) and not allow my 3 year old nephew to drink it.  But she said she is cutting down.  I did share the recent article with her about it affecting conception, as she is trying to get pregnant again.  At least she didn’t drink it while pregnant.  Thanks for all your information and I hope this helps prove even more what you say.  My boyfriend is a pilot and he has quit drinking any diet soda.  He never ate foods with it, and he is sharing that info with other pilots.  Keep up the good work and have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a Blessed Holiday Season.  I hope my story makes sense. I am not a great writer.

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Thumper I get a horrible headache and diarrhea from NutraSweet. It took me a long time to trace it back to diet Pepsi. I read an article a few years ago that suggested NutraSweet had been linked in some way to some type of neurological problems. I don’t remember if it was brain tumors or strokes. Headaches were a symptom though. It seems to me that saccharin causes bladder cancer in rats. But like you said, the human equivalent was an outrageous amount. I don’t recall the human equivalent in the NutraSweet tests. It is probably the same way.

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I would be interested in the NutraSweet correlation myself. I have insomnia and a digestive disorder. The digestive problem got lots better when I stopped NutraSweet products. The insomnia is always worse when my digestive problem is active so . . . I just am very curious.

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I am allergic to Aspartame (I have CFS or ME) as is my son with autism. We both get a bad sore throat.

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I was a frequent user of Diet Coke and used Equal for sweetening breakfast cereal.  I gave it up about 4 years ago.  It seems to aggravate my guts and I have some very frequent, severe headaches.  I seldom get the headaches now, but the gut problems come and go (Diet Coke for 18 years).

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I seem to have intolerance to NutraSweet whereby I break out all over when I use much of it.

If I use more than a couple of packets a day, I don’t break out, but I have found that my gums will bleed. If I stop using it, the bleeding stops.

I’ve decided to switch to Stevia.

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If I were you I would look to Aspartame.  It gives me terrible headaches – but it took forever for me to make the connection because they show up during the night after an indulgence and they feel a lot like sinus.   I take one feverfew capsule every day now because I believe that the Aspartame triggers the migraine type pain.

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I too wrote a couple of postings to this list regarding the same subject. I am an active male, age 50, non-drinker, physical fitness devotee. I quit drinking four to six (average) diet soft drinks per day. I lost ten pounds!

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I had a very bad experience with NutraSweet–it caused severe headaches, visual disturbances, hemispheric numbness and paresthesias in my face and head (one side only). It took me quite a while (and a complete neurologic work-up) to figure out for sure if it was the Aspartame–but when I figured it out and tried NutraSweet by itself I knew for sure. I felt really terrible while using it. I think it is a dangerous chemical–and have since read that there have been convulsions and deaths from using it.  I won’t touch it ever again–nor do I want my children, or grandchildren consuming it.

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I have mastocytosis, mast cell disorder–due to the degranulation of mast cells in my blood and in various organs, I have weakness, paresthesias, fatigue, pain, facial swelling, respiratory problems, hypersensitivities (looks like severe allergy) to food additives–and NUTRASWEET IS the VERY WORST, followed closely by sensitivity to MSG.

Both these chemicals trigger mast cell degranulation for me, which if severe enough, leads to anaphylactic shock. If I do not treat the shock symptoms immediately I could die rather quickly. I also have had severe neurologic problems from these chemicals which mimic stroke.  I hate NutraSweet and the companies which are putting it into the food chain. We are going to have millions of people so ill they will have to live in nursing homes before they are old–if we do not get the POISONS out of our food chain, starting with Aspartame, and monosodium glutamate.

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I think the people who have immediate reactions are indeed “lucky”.  I had a friend who drank several NutraPoison sodas every day.  She developed severe, debilitating headaches but never made the connection to the NutraPoison.  Over the course of a year she spent thousands of dollars on specialists and tests (she even had a brain scan).  Spent hundreds of dollars on different kinds of drugs to alleviate the headaches, all to no avail.  Someone mentioned to her that NutraPoison has been known to cause headaches, so she decided to stop ingesting it.  Her headaches stopped 2 days later.  A couple weeks later she tried drinking one soda and got a horrible headache.  She then became an anti-NutraPoison activist, trying to warn others.  Too bad I didn’t listen.  She told me she started doing research on how dangerous it was and practically begged me to get off it, but I just didn’t want to listen. I kept saying that it was only bad for certain people, but I “obviously” didn’t have any problems with it, so I kept on drinking it.  I wish I had had a severe reaction so I would have realized how damaging it is.  I kept drinking it for years, thinking all along that I just wasn’t “allergic” to it.  My family and friends were all worried about my NutraPoison intake, but I kept telling them it was certainly safer than sugar.  Finally I decided to try to stop drinking it for a while to see if there was anything in what people were telling me.  After being free of NutraPoison for 2 weeks I noticed that I wasn’t tired in the morning anymore (didn’t need caffeine to wake me up), I stopped craving sweets, I lost weight, and I felt better.  A few weeks later I decided to try it again.  I had muscle aches, joint pain, and I almost threw up.  It tasted like poison. I used to actually crave the taste, but now it just tastes like the poison that it is.

It converts to formaldehyde even in the retina of the eye and has caused enough blindness that in l986 the FDA was petitioned to ban Aspartame for this reason. It ravages every organ in the body.

I just found out (at only 43) that I have glaucoma, even though I don’t have any risk factors.  Perhaps it’s from my years of drinking NutraPoison?

Also, the wood alcohol in Aspartame literally destroys the immune system. Would you get up each morning and take a little pill that you knew little by little would breakdown your immune system?

I also got MCS, FM and CFS while drinking NutraPoison.  My liver simply doesn’t do phase II detox anymore.  Maybe NutraPoison didn’t directly cause these illnesses, but I do know that it added to my total toxic load.

I can think of no redeeming value for NutraSweet except a good rat poison. I think I remember reading somewhere that given a choice, rats won’t eat NutraSweet (or maybe it was cockroaches?) so it may not even make a good rat poison. No redeeming value does NutraSweet have.  It is addicting and it makes billions for Monsanto.

I’m sorry to say that for years I helped support Monsanto with my NutraPoison habit.  I cringe at the thought today. I can’t believe I wouldn’t listen to all those who were trying to help me.

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The following is my brief account of recent experiences of a toxic reaction to Aspartame and/or acesulfame k.

I had never heard of Aspartame (or acesulfame k) and recently suffered my first ever panic attack. More than anything else I could not understand why or how this could possibly happen to me since I am very fit and a reasonably calm person who performs well under stress. Then, thanks to reading an account on the internet, mentioning Aspartame, I did an analysis of recent changes in my diet.

To my surprise and horror I discovered that I had been taking some chewable vitamin C tablets (purchased at Boots the Chemist here in the U.K.) which contained both Aspartame and acesulfame k. I had consumed 35 tablets at the rate of one a day. I was immediately convinced that this was the source of the problem since my usual diet never includes anything containing artificial sweeteners or other artificial substances and I have always kept a close watch on my diet. Of course, I stopped taking these tablets and within days my symptoms changed dramatically. I had suffered palpitations and tightness across my chest and the bridge of my nose, and my anxiety level was extreme. After stopping g the tablets the palpitations came less often and were less profound and my anxiety dropped considerably. As the days have gone by I have felt continually better.

I cannot believe that this wretched substance is out there in so many products just waiting for the next unsuspecting victim. It really is time for the big food giants to admit that Aspartame, acesulfame k and products like them, are not fit for human consumption. If Aspartame can do this to me (and it really was one of the most harrowing and nightmarish periods of my life) then what is it doing to our children.  Here in the UK more and more children are suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome.  How do the scientists know that this is not a side effect of the consumption of Aspartame in Diet Coke and other products?

Clearly, there is more to Aspartame and acesulfame k than we are being allowed to know. Many people’s experiences are more tragic than mine and if it were not for the access to information via the internet I may never have known what the source of my problem was.

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After reading your web page, I have finally figured out why I have been feeling so weird.  Mood swings, panic attacks, heart palpitations, chest pains, and since I have cut out Aspartame and any other artificial sweeteners, I feel like a new person.  You never hear anything about this in the media, and the only reason I figured it out is because I am a vegetarian, exercise like a banshee, drink tons of water, take vitamins, am 5’6 and weigh 112 pounds, and Diet Drinks were my only vice.  I feel like a totally new person after cutting them out of my diet.  Thanks for you information!

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I found your name & address on Internet today.  I wanted to share my experience.

Several years ago I started drinking a lot of Diet Coke.  Gradually I began to feel tired all the time.  I am a librarian and by noon every day all I wanted to do was sit at my desk and close my eyes or stare into space.  Not only was I tired, my back hurt all the time.  And it was like my brain was in a fog.  I was in my early 40’s at that time and had decided I would never be able to learn much of anything new.  Then one day I was reading magazine at my desk because I was too tired to work.  I don’t remember what magazine – only that is was a woman’s magazine.

There was an article about NutraSweet possibly causing loss of brain power.  (That might not have been exactly how it was worded)  I decided right then to quit drinking Diet Coke and see what would happen.

It only took about a week and it was like the fog lifted from my brain. And gradually my energy came back.  And my back quit hurting all the time.  Now I can work all day without excessive fatigue.  And I have learned how to use a computer, something I might not have wanted to try a few years ago.

I did not realize I had Aspartame Disease.  I did not even know there was such a thing until my mother taped a radio program about it.  I recognized my systems from among the many!  I have not drunk diet drinks in over years five years.

I plan to tell others about the danger of Aspartame.

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I feel I must respond here.  I have been having problems craving diet foods like diet pop and iced tea that contained NutraSweet. However, at the time I did not realize it, was sick, and the doctor brought it to my attention! I quit consuming it just to see if it made a difference and it did! I have a problem with the serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitters. No one will ever convince me otherwise. My family saw the change in me and they even voluntarily cut it out of their diet!

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NutraSweet! Bah, I hate to even see the word.  It made my life so miserable for 10 years.  I thought when it came out it was the best thing that ever happened.  I could drink all the pop I wanted with NutraSweet.  I got daily migraines.  Had every kind of medical test to try and figure out what was causing the migraines.  Finally when the headaches were coming 4 times a day and I was banging my head against the wall because I was so frustrated, I started taking a look at what I was eating.  The first thing I stopped was pop, mainly because there wasn’t any, and noticed that I DIDN’T GET A DAILY HEADACHE!!  I hadn’t had a migraine in a very long time, UNTIL today.  So the only thing I had eaten was a container of yogurt and sure enough, there was NutraSweet in it.  I haven’t allowed NutraSweet in the house in 2 years and here I’m the one that brought it in with the yogurt.  Have to pay more attention to labels!!

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About six years ago, I started drinking Diet Coke. My girlfriend drank it and it was always in her icebox. Prior to this, I probably chewed a piece of “Sugar-free” gum, or had a “Sugar-free” mint, or even occasionally put “Equal” in my coffee. I drank her Diet Coke and quickly acquired a taste for the “NutraSweet” laced soft drink. Before I begin, I want everyone to know that Aspartame, NutraSweet, and Equal are all the same thing; hence I will refer to the substance as NutraSweet- the trademark name for Aspartame.

Soon, I was drinking Diet Coke for breakfast, in place of coffee. I probably drank at least four of five Diet Cokes a day. I went on about my life and for about two and one half years, and I was doing real well. I was slowly building up my business, my finances were in order, and I was certain to ask for my girlfriend’s hand in marriage any day. Which, I did on Christmas Eve 1995. She accepted, and we started making plans for the union.

About two months later, I was sitting on my girlfriend’s parent’s sofa, early one Sunday morning and the next thing I remember: is me fighting with the paramedics as they were strapping me onto a stretcher. I remember going into a CAT scan. I remember seeing my girlfriend sitting quietly in my hospital room watching me. That was about all I remembered in the two days that I was in the hospital. I was told that I had a Grand Mal seizure.

I was scheduled to fly to New York City and begin work on an important project that Monday. I was replaced and I never made that business connection again.

I was told that I was epileptic and that I had to take an anti-seizure medication for the rest of my life. I was told by my neurologist, that he, for the record, had recommended that I do not drive my car. The only way that I can get around in my business is to drive. So, I took the medication, and drove to my subsequent jobs at my own risk. Shortly thereafter, my coworkers started to notice a change in me and my mood. They would say that it swung wildly, and without much provocation. My work was rapidly declining in the amount of calls I got, as a direct result of this. My girlfriend noticed the same thing and she decided to augment a: wait and see policy, before cementing any more marriage plans.

I visited my doctor and told him that I thought the medication was changing my moods. He said that he had never heard of this before and told me that the only other alternative to Dilantin (my anti-seizure medication) was a drug called Tegretol which he could not recommend because of its non-time release quality. My doctor and I decided that maybe whatever caused the seizure had perhaps subsided, as the cat scans showed him nothing and he could not determine any reason for my Grand Mal seizure. I wanted off of the medication because I thought it was causing my mood swings. The doctor agreed to let me try, without giving his approval, to keep him out of any liability. He suggested that I slowly wean myself off of the medication. I did. I had another Grand Mal seizure, while driving with my girlfriend. We were fortunately at a stop light, and she called 911. I was again in the hospital with virtually no memory of what happened. My car was impounded and I had to go and retrieve it after paying a fine.

My hospital bills were staggering. I was barely able to pay my rent, so I let other bills go by the side. I was losing more work due to the fact that my mood swings were stronger than ever and people simply did not want to work with me. I am a freelance film professional. This was pretty much the last straw for my fiancé and she decided that the marriage was off. Still I drank between four and six Diet Cokes a day.

Eventually, my doctor told me that Tegretol had come up with a new time release formula and that we could try it. I was to wean myself slowly off of the Dilantin and start taking the Tegretol. I was certain that the Dilantin was not only causing my mood swings, but also making my mind fuzzy, unable to remember what thing were called that I worked with every day. So I switched, I told my prospective employment contacts that I had a new medication and to give me a new chance. They did, because we had worked together for years prior to my seizures and subsequent mood swings.

This was going on at about the same time that another thing was happening which I thought was completely unrelated to the seizures. I have always been an excellent athlete. I played soccer in high school and went on to play “league soccer” my whole life. I had just helped bring this new team that I just joined into the finals of the league playoffs. What I have lacked in skill over the years, I more than make up with speed, endurance, and tenacity. I am a runner and love to run hard and could always out run and overtake my opponents. I came into the third season with this same team and all of a sudden, I started to cramp and pull muscles during the game. I bought Bengay for the first time in my life. I started taking potassium, eating bananas prior to the matches, and slowly warming up and stretching for hours before matches. I would sit out a game or two hoping to heal, but to no avail. I remember playing hurt, with four or five pulls or strains at about 30 percent, of my capacity.

I gave up on that season and took the off season to heal. I started to run after about four weeks of rest. I would stretch and I went to see a sports medicine doctor, who helped me rehabilitate under has care and guidance. I started running full stride just weeks before the season and felt great. In the first game of the season, oiled up with about a tube of Bengay, having stretched and warmed up for about two hours, I started pulling and straining muscles fifteen minutes into the game. I was pretty sure that with age comes problems like these. I was forty-one at the time. I still went out and played out the season, but in severe pain and usually could not go for more than ten minutes without everything cramping at once. So two seasons of soccer, were ruined and things did not look very bright for my future in this sport, or any sport for that matter.

Well, the new improved drug Tegretol was in my system and I was determined that the old drug was the cause of my mood swings. I made a special effort at work to show my coworkers, THE NEW ME. I had a new girlfriend who understood what I was going through and things were looking up.

One evening, we were at the movies watching Bowfinger, I think that was out about two years ago in first release, and I received a page from my coworker: the friend who has stuck with me though all my various problems. You have to understand how difficult it was to even have problems of any kind because I was always the one who was in perfect health who never had a problem that would bleed into my work. I walked out of the movie and answered the page. My coworker told me that I had not changed and that he could not use me or recommend me anymore. I was hurting his business by being on the set and disrupting things with my mood swings. I told him that I thought I was a whole lot better. He assured me that I was not. I was devastated. He had given me at least one more chance to prove myself and I failed. He said that he remembered the old Mark, and wished that he was still around.

I remember getting work a couple of months later, on the set of, Walker, Texas Ranger, as what is referred to as a day player. That is when you come in and help them out because they have two units shooting in two different locations and they need more help. I was pretty down about losing a my friend’s confidence and all the work that he would help me get. I remember standing there chatting with a coworker, drinking a Diet Coke, telling him that I didn’t know what I was going to do to effect change and get my career moving again. He looked at me and simply said, “MARK, MAYBE, IT IS THE DIET COKE”.

Well, I was grasping for straws at this point in my life. I was financially ruined, due to lack of work. I was not able to play soccer, due to my muscle pulls, strains and spasms. My mind was fuzzy and I could not remember things or relate well because I was always search for that one word that I couldn’t find. I had lost the woman who I wanted to marry. I still did have this new girlfriend who was very supportive. I looked at my can of Diet Coke and spoke to it, ” NO WAY”.

I got home threw out my Diet Coke. Since, neither I nor my doctors could figure out what was wrong with me, I figured that I would give deleting Diet Coke from my diet a shot. I was still convinced that the medication was responsible for my ills, mood swings, but neither I nor anyone on earth that I knew or saw could explain the seizures.

I did try to wean myself off of the two different medications on about five different occasions during the three years that I was taking the anti-seizure medications. All of these times were without my doctor’s approval. I knew what he would say if I told him what I was planning on doing. I wanted to be free of the medication so bad that I thought, each time that whatever caused the seizures had subsided and I would be free off all the bad things that were happening to me as a result. I slowly, and ever so carefully tried to wean myself off the medication each of the five times and ALL five times, I had seizures, or near seizures.

What is a near seizure? A near seizure is driving, and ending up or waking up, thirty miles from where you started in a part of town that you would rarely go to. I remember pulling over to the side of the road and grabbing three Dilantin and swigging them down with my trusty Diet Coke and waiting on the side of the road until I could feel safe.

A near seizure is driving to a small town, where you are to stay in a motel, stopping at the motel you are supposed to go to and asking the clerk if he had ever heard of the motel. I know these two incidents sound normal, but the sheer terror of not knowing where you are or why you are there, is what I refer to as a near seizure. It is, like you concentrate as hard as you can and still you cannot comprehend what the heck is going on. It is a memory eraser. Of course I thought that the seizures for partially responsible for my short term memory loss as well as the medication.

So, here I was, at the end of my rope. I gave up Diet Coke cold turkey. I experienced severe headaches and went back to drinking the Diet Coke for a couple weeks, but a tiny voice told me that I needed to suspend drinking the Diet Cokes for life. In my heart, I didn’t believe that tiny voice, for I loved and cherished my Diet Cokes.

People are downright serious about their Diet Cokes. I know that I was: I remember being on a job, a couple years back, where the person known as the Craft Service person, he or she provides the snacks, drinks, and usually some sort of breakfast, did not have DIET COKE! I was angry, upset, and could not understand why she did not have it. I let her know it specifically, just what a major infraction this indeed was. I have spoken with her recently, and she said that I was not the only one who would get irate if she did not have a particular food or drink item. She did tell me: it was almost always the Diet Coke drinkers who rant and rave and carry on like spoiled children when there is no Diet Coke present first thing in the morning, or God forbid: she runs out. She said it was much worse than coffee drinkers are when they didn’t get their coffee right away.

So, I totally stopped drinking the Diet Coke and missed it terribly. I had to check it off of my list as a possible culprit responsible for my seizures, mood swings, and muscle problems. My life had change so drastically that I was willing to try anything to salvage what I could from the ruins, to even give up: DIET COKE.

One month passed, and the only thing that I noticed was that I missed Diet Coke. After two months of this craziness, I decided that I would attempt, once again to slowly wean myself off the Tegritol, my anti-seizure medication. I was in a hurry to see if dropping the Diet Coke was doing any good at all. After all, if it was not doing any good, then I was depriving myself of the my drink of choice. I still craved it and watched with envy, others sipping away at the delicious sugary bubbles.

One week passed. No seizure. Two weeks, a month! I had weaned myself to one quarter of one pill per day. I was prescribed to take, three pills a day. After sixty days, I went in to see my neurologists and told him that I had stopped drinking Diet Coke, which he could have cared less about and that I had weaned my prescription down to one-twelfth of what he had prescribed that I should take to avoid having seizures. He was not terribly thrilled to hear that either He said that I should immediately discontinue taking the Tegritol all together, because one fourth of one pill would have the effect of a placebo in my system. The therapeutic dosage was to keep me in a safe level to keep me from wanting to do what my body wanted to do: seizure like crazy.

He thanked me for the years of patronage and released me from his care, telling me that if I ever experienced even the slightest feeling of a seizure coming on, to call him. I had almost a full bottle of Tegritol left, just in case, I had a seizure. He wrote a letter, at the request of my insurance company six months later, after calling me and conferring with me that I was still seizure free, stating that I was no longer in any immediate danger of having another seizure, as I was trying to bring down the high cost of my health insurance policy. Of course, my insurance company could have cared less, because they did not grant me a lower premium.

After the two Diet Coke ‘free’ months, I was beginning to feel calmer, less irritable. I called my coworker and friend who had given me so much work in the past. I told him that I felt kind of like the Mark of old. He was leery and told me that if he brought me back for one more project it would be back to the beginner level and that I would be given one more chance. He said that was a big if and he would have to give it a lot of thought. He said that he didn’t have anything at all for me right away. Three months passed, four, five, and six!

I was finally rehired my by friend on a small job. Everything went well. Over the next couple months he hired me cautiously on small jobs at the beginner rate. It was not enough to live off, but it was start and I had a couple other odd jobs to help me get through this difficult time.

Soccer season was beginning again and I was called to play. I cautiously said that I would give it another shot. I came out and practiced, ran and did well. Of course, I rubbed down with Bengay, and stretched for an hour before each practice. I came into the first game and was able to play a full game, pain and injury free. I was not missing my Diet Coke any longer. Much of what I had lost was slowly coming back to me. I played that whole season, injury free, still using my pre-game routine and Bengay.

My work was picking up. I started to remember people’s names again, what things were called that I worked with and more importantly I was getting back memories that I hold so dear and of which had left me for a while. My sentences were getting clearer and I started to feel less brain fog. I felt naturally more understanding and felt literally like I was starting to become myself again. I started to realize that NutraSweet Diet Coke had single-handedly affected my life and changed it for the much worse.

It has now been over two years since I gave up the Diet Coke. Just as it takes away parts of you in this slow way, it gives back the thing you lost as NutraSweet ever so slowly leaves you system. I think that it took the longest time to leave my brain and maybe it took the shortest time to leave my legs. I am not sure that the NutraSweet is totally out of my system as I still feel clearer each day and almost everything has returned to my life as it was before.

I am proud to say, that I alone cured myself, by listening to that coworker who said, “Maybe it was the Diet Coke”. I cured myself by listening to that little voice inside me, that cried: FOUL, when I was trying to decide whether I should consider to give up a drink that I was quite find of. My doctors were miffed, my life was in shambles, but I figured it out by GOD! I am not an epileptic. I have not have even the slightest twinge of a seizure on over two years and I have not taken any anti-seizure medication, for almost two years.

I can play soccer, and run like the wind. I have not opened a tube of Bengal for over a year. I seldom warm up for more than ten minutes. AND I have not pulled a single muscle for over two years. My team has once again made the playoffs two years in a row, and we even moved up a division. Something that this team has never done.

I am working more than I ever have with more doors opening up every day. My friend and coworker looks at me as he did before I took my first can Diet Coke and guzzled it down. I am back to my upper skilled higher paid position and I am looking forward to greater leaps in the next year. My mind is clear. I was always known to remember every little detail and once again I can and do and have back some memories that I thought I had lost through the Nutrasweet induced fog that I have lived through.

So, now where does that leave me? I want to make sure that this substance is removed form our shelves.

Meanwhile I can tell everyone that I know to stop drinking this stuff. If it doesn’t get you one way, it will find a way to invade your life and steal from you. I promise that, from personal experience.

Nutrasweet works slow, so very slow, that you don’t notice the changes, until you are affected in some consequential way.

I have read some documentation on all the ailments, problems, and effects of Nutrasweet. From reading all of the available literature, I feel lucky, that things were not any worse for me; unless I have some Aspartame full, festering, brain tumor ready to explode. Most of the data collected and studies done do not mean much to the average consumer. One can get lost in all of the controversy, but I know what Diet Coke did for me.

I DO NOT WISH, WHAT I WENT THROUGH, ON ANYONE.

Please forward this letter to as many people as you know. It is time to put an end to this. If the people speak out <by boycotting products laced with Nutrasweet and do not want to be affected by this any longer, then the manufacturers will have to listen and effect change.

Thank you,

Mark Long

 

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I started taking the contraceptive pill when I was 17/18. Took Ovranette, a combined Estrogen /Progestogen on and off until I was 30. I smoke, so when I hit 30 I tried a Progestogen only pill. It made me bleed continuously, so I stopped taking it. Started taking Mercilon in 1991. I had always had heavy, painful periods, bad cramps in my lower back and down the fronts of my thighs, as well as bad depression for 2 weeks out of every 4. Being on the pill relieved these symptoms.

After about two years on Mercilon, I started getting cramps again with the monthly bleed; this didn’t bother me too much. The actual bleeding was really reduced, only a really tiny amount.

Two years ago, in July ’95, I was on the week off, and was due a bleed. I started to feel quite ill, no fever, just queasy and tired, then I got bad back cramps for 5 days, then a very small bleed just one showing of blood, and then the cramps turned into a really bad pain on the left hand side of my back, just above my hip. It wasn’t movement related, I felt like I had the ‘flu, and after a few days went to the doctor. I don’t and didn’t have good doctor, just one I went to for the pill prescription. She gave me some anti-inflammatories and sent me home to bed. The pain didn’t go away, so I went back to her. She sent me for a back X-ray.

That night, I had really severe diarrhea and cramps in my stomach every 20 minutes, with blood in the diarrhea. I called the doctor at 8.00 am, and my husband went and picked up some Lomita (anti-spasmodic). That stopped the cramps and diarrhea.

I went for the X-ray, no problem with my back. She took a urine sample and a stool sample. She sent me to a physiotherapist. The physio said it wasn’t muscular or skeletal. She suggested some kind of pelvic inflammatory problem. The doctor found blood in the urine, sent me for an ultrasound. No problem. Sent me for an IVP – she insisted that it must be my kidneys – no problem with IVP, noted some small areas of opacity on my pelvis (rear), kidneys just fine. The doctor was really horrible, so I decided not to see her again. She wouldn’t believe me when I said it was gynae. She refused to send me to a gynecologist. Went to another doctor who agreed I should see a gynecologist. Saw the gynecologist who said there was nothing wrong with me, and it must be my kidneys.

Doctor sent me to an urologist. Urologist was the only doctor I met during this entire business who listened to what I said. As he asked me questions, I heard his questions and my own answers – by this time I had been sick, with constant diarrhea and pain for nearly 3 months. I was also severely run down. As we talked I realized there was something I could do to help a bit, which was to start taking a multi vitamin! He said that he didn’t think it was urological, but he’d do a cystoscopy just in case. Did it, no problems. Sent me for a CAT scan, because he suspected something ovarian.

No result, other than a retroverted uterus.

I got the really bad, flu like sickness and back pain a second time after a bleed, couldn’t get out of bed. I stopped taking the pill.  The sickness passed after about 10 days, and I got a bit better. Diarrhea didn’t stop. Went to another gynaecologist who did a laparoscopy.

Had suspected possible endometriosis. None found. Only result of note, the retroverted uterus.

I started going to the physio for pelvic strengthening exercises, the bad pain came back with the next period. Went to the gynecologist again, with letter from the physio, he put me onto Depo-Provera to stop the cycles.

In between all this, there would be days when suddenly, my back would be okay. I also saw another 3 back specialists, who insisted that my back was fine, and that where the pain was was not back pain. Anyway, went on the Provera in Dec 95. OK for about 2 weeks, then back came the pain – lower back, particularly left side, above hip. Pain not worse with movement or position. No actual position helped to alleviate it. In late January I started a bleed, with cramping and back pain – this went on for 2 and half weeks. The gynecologist was away and his replacement was the first gynae I’d been to see, and I never wanted to set eyes on her again!! So when he came back, decided I would be better on 8 week shots rather than 12 week shots. In addition to the back pain, I now had one in my groin, like elastic being pulled from the front. Diarrhea had begun to settle down, and I didn’t have the sickness any more.

I stayed on the Provera until Dec 96. No improvement with the pain, still having 6 weekly bleeds, and bad cramps continually. Back cramps, like when menstruating.

The last bleed I had was in the middle of Nov. 96. Between the middle of Nov. and two weeks ago, I had no bleeding, but frequent back cramps and pain.

In Mid-February and again in Mid-June, I had terrible PMS. Sore breasts, which I never used to get, weepy, cramping, back pain. I started on the Atkins diet six weeks ago. Two weeks into the plan, and just after the induction phase, I had some Chinese food. I got back cramps. I realized I hadn’t had them for two weeks, thought about it and realized that a lot of the time when I had cramps it was after having Chinese food. MSG!!

The following week I felt a stirring in my uterus as the pain moved from the lower to the middle back – sort of a rising upwards – got the usual menstrual constipation, followed by some bleeding, for 6 days! Not terribly heavy, but real bleeding. No cramps. Some back pain, but not too bad, and no sickness afterwards. Whilst I was researching low carbohydrate stuff on the net, some of the articles mentioned Aspartame. I used to drink gallons of the stuff. Three days before the period started, I stopped taking any at all. I don’t know if that’s long enough to make a difference.

My back is quite good now; I’m getting some disk pain – like when I walk the sciatic nerve is getting upset, so it feels like my back is trying to put itself back to normal. I have some pain still in my groin, but its discomfort rather than pain.

I think I have mixture of several different allergies. I’ve been lactose intolerant for years, and totally allergic to full fat milk since I was 3 or 4 years old. Right now, I think I have to let my body clear out all the stuff that was poison to me, like gluten, and get my hormones into some sort of balance as well. I think it will be a while, but I feel well, and can cope with the pain a lot better, particularly when it feels like “good” pain, repairing rather than damaging.

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I would get sleepy after drinking a Slice when NutraSweet first came out.  I just wanted to close my eyes and put my head down on my desk.  I was getting plenty of sleep and couldn’t ask for a more interesting job but I attributed it to fatigue because NutraSweet was touted as having no side effects.  The last straw came when I drank a Diet Coke on an empty stomach and later that day (but after I had dinner) I experienced a strobe effect as though my brain were clicking on and off.  It was very frightening and I quit NutraSweet cold turkey.  I didn’t experience any more sleepiness at work until I was in my ninth month of pregnancy.

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I can vouch for those symptoms!! I tried to drink Diet Coke for about a month and had much the same results (along with blinding headaches), and can vouch for the mental state it would put you in.

To say the least not only do I stay away from any NutraSweet product – but keep it from my children as well. Sugar may not be the best but it is definitely better than the effects of diet products.

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On 07-11-97 I received information on the fact that Aspartame (NutraSweet/Equal) could cause tinnitus by destroying the central nervous system.  I had been a large user of diet sodas which contain Aspartame. I figured I had nothing to lose by switching to plain water. The results were not immediate but took approx. 2 months. I can now honestly say that my tinnitus has been greatly reduced and completely gone much of the time.

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In 1985 I was a marine stationed at Quantico Va.  I drank NutraSweet.

I was an analyst and I had to use my brain power to make it thru the day.  I noticed that when I drank NutraSweet I would have trouble remembering.  It took a while to figure it out.  I was lucky.  I quit drinking diet soda and my memory power returned.  I told few people about this.  Some did not believe me.  I did so I never drank the stuff again.  Now 12 years later you have explained to me what that was all about.  I was lucky.

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It is an emergency that you find the strength as a man to recall such a deadly substance as Aspartame.

I always thought that I would first get my message through to FDA to remove sodium benzoate from food and drugs. WE BLEED SEVERELY WITH THIS PRESERVATIVE. NOT TO MENTION THE HEADACHES THAT MY SON ALWAYS HAD PRIOR TO A BAD HEMORRHAGE.

However; the fact that I haven’t had success in being heard for sodium benzoate, perhaps you will consider the severe reactions we have had to NutraSweet. Headaches, blurred vision, dull ache in head days following severe headache and poor focus with eyesight during the days following. Nausea, etc.

The MOST IMPORTANT THING I WANT YOU TO KNOW IS THE TERRIBLE THINGS MY BROTHER HAS BEEN THROUGH SINCE THE 80’S WITH A DIET COKE ADDICTION. I FIRST

COMPLAINED TO FDA IN ’85 AND ’86, only to be told there was only information about short-term memory loss related to Aspartame. Nothing about addiction, depression, vision problems, personality changes, or anything else. I was told that FDA would need at least 10 years to study the effects of Aspartame.  Following the refusal of FDA to listen to my complaints for both my brother and my family. I knew I had to get someone to listen to me since my brother displayed such Diet Coke addiction that I feared for his life. I found a name back then. Dr. Louis Elsas, Prof of Pediatrics at Emory University. I communicated with him by telephone. He wrote to me, and I felt better once I had found someone who believed me. I knew he was the doctor so talked about at that time in the 80’s as the one who was warning pregnant women to avoid Aspartame to protect their babies brains and

To keep it from babies after birth at least until the babies were 6 months old. He had seen brain damage from the substance in babies in these age groups. He told me that at that time (late 80’s) someone in Washington was tracking NutraSweet Victims. It was a little encouraging finding someone who didn’t think I was crazy to believe in a Diet Coke addiction.

It would be too lengthy to try to explain all that Aspartame DID TO MY BROTHER. But I feel better knowing how hard I worked to convince my family and his doctor of his addiction to Aspartame. I feel even better now that he is off NutraSweet products.  Especially happy that his psychiatrist is weaning him off all the big time medications he was on for symptoms that had gotten so out of hand with increased use of Aspartame.

TO WATCH SUCH AN INTELLIGENT COLLEGE GRADUATE GO DOWN THE TUBES AND LOSE MORE THAN A DECADE OFHIS LIFE IS PAINFUL. BUT THANK GOD HE IS ONE OF THE FORTUNATE ONES WHO STILL HAS A LIFE!!!  WE FEEL IT WILL TAKE SOMEONE WITH A REAL CONSCIENCE, NOT A NEED FOR GREED OR PRESTIGE WITH ASPARTAME MAKERS, TO STEP UP TO THE MIKE AND ANNOUNCE THE RECALL OF THIS DEADLY NEUROTOXIN.

If anyone backing NutraSweet thinks the whole public can be changed into believing that Aspartame is safe. Let me share with you the answer I got from an ATTORNEY concerning Aspartame safety. We were at a wedding 2 weeks ago. I speak with him often since we were on a cancer board together years ago. I know of his love for flying, so I asked him about his knowledge concerning the Aspartame “unsafety” at high elevations. His answer was that NutraSweet is no longer allowed in his home. He said once he determined that NutraSweet made him depressed and made his wife’s moods bad, he banned it from his house quite some time back. Now maybe you can see that many people are intelligent enough to make healthy decisions for themselves.

WHAT ABOUT OUR KIDS AND OUR GRANDKIDS.  WASHINGTON NEEDS TO WAKE UP AND FEED OUR KIDS BETTER FOODS (LESS NUGGETS, HOT DOGS, JELL-O, CHOC MILK, INSTANT POTATOES, ETC).THEY NEED SOME REAL HOMECOOKED AND FRESH FOODS, FREE OF UNNECESSARY ADDITIVES, AND CERTAINLY ASPARTAME SHOULD BE BANNED FROM ALL FOODS AND DRUGS, FIRST AND FOREMOST THOSE WE PUT IN FRONT OF OUR KIDS. LET’S GIVE THEIR BRAINS A CHANCE.

PLEASE STAND WITH THE PEOPLE WHO CRY OUT FOR YOUR HELP IN GETTING THIS DEADLY NEUROTOXIN OFF THE MARKET. RECALL IT PLEASE.

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Thanks for your work on this subject.  I was suffering dizziness and memory loss for many months that was getting progressively worse. I had all kinds of medical tests including an MRI and ear tests for balance problems.  All results were negative.  I decided to search the net for answers and found the Aspartame Awareness Network.  After reading their information and yours I stopped drinking Diet Pepsi and my symptoms have been greatly reduced (90%) after 5 weeks of quitting.  I am forwarding this information to my ENT.  He is very interested in this work, he had not heard of this controversy.

Thanks for your hard work and please let me know if anyone would like to file a class action suit against these bandits.

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Just to add one more adverse reaction to your file; I don’t touch NutraSweet or any preprocessed foods, for that matter.  I have never mentioned my reaction to any doctor mainly because they would probably lock me up.

NutraSweet gives me a feeling of not being where I am. I feel like I’m watching a movie.  I’m sitting there, but, I’m not there. Feeling like I’m looking through people.  I have no ambition to do anything, I know what’s going on around me, but I don’t care.  It also makes my stomach feel really strange.  Does this make any sense to you?  Crazy, Huh! It also makes me think, and react differently than I normally would.

Thanks for the space.

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I quit and after reading that about the Aspartame I’m glad I did so! I think it’s been over a week and I don’t seem to get the intense headaches I use too during my cycle.

I grew up on Equal I’m 29 now so I’ve been using it as long as it’s been around. Not anymore.

I just wish that a safe alternative would be available in the U.S. I use stevia now and a little Sweet & Low but I would love to be able to have some of the stuff that we make here in the states, but sell in other countries (would that be cyclamates and Splenda?)

Anyway I’m glad I stopped using the Aspartame (and I was a die-hard user).

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I have had a brief, but distinct experience with NutraSweet that I would like to share. You may include it in reports to appropriate agencies.

Two summers ago I experimented with drinking one or two diet Seven-Up sodas perhaps three to four days a week. I don’t believe I ever drank more than six to eight sodas a week. Normally I don’t have anything “artificial” in my diet, but I wanted something sweet tasting and didn’t want the sugar intake. Within a month I began to notice increasingly numbness and tingling in my hands. This concerned me because I work with my hands a lot. I wondered what I had done to cause this. The only difference I could think of was the Aspartame intake, so I stopped all intake of it. Within another month the symptoms had vanished completely!

I am grateful to have noticed this sooner rather than later and to have been able to stop these problems before they got more serious.

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I’ve always known I had problems with anything with NutraSweet in it, and I finally convinced my family of it, but most people look at me like I’m crazy when I refuse a diet cola. Now when they tell me it’s all in my head, I can send them here and they can read this for themselves! Thanks so much! I’ve learned to avoid it like the plague after several bouts of almost crippling headaches immediately after drinking a diet cola, and itching for several days after I got even the slightest amount. I’m allergic to so many things though, I thought it was just another weird quirk of being me.

Now I know I’m not the only one with problems with it. Again, THANK YOU!

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I can’t back this up with a source, but I used to eat & drink a lot of this stuff, and got a lot of terrible-need-to-lie-down headaches.  One time, as I was lying down with one of these headaches (about 6-7 years ago when I was living in Austin, TX), I picked up the paper and read an article about Aspartame, and how it has been proven to cause migraines, seizures, and a bunch of other symptoms that I can’t recall today.  So I quit NutraSweet and never had another headache like that again.  Since then, (and as I said, I can’t remember where I read this) I have read a couple of times that the good ole USA is one of the only countries in which Aspartame is not considered a poison.  It does not pass the USDA’s standards, and the only reason that it is everywhere is that there is SOOOOOO much money to be made on this stuff, they went ahead and approved it anyways.

Attack if you will, but I really believe that there’s at least an element of truth in this.  I know way too many people who have adverse reactions to think it’s harmless.

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I have been using diet products (Soda and gum) for years.  I swore by Aspartame for the longest time – until I realized that every time I chew a “NutraSweet gum” i.e. – Ice Breakers, my throat starts to close up and I feel like I am choking.  Every time I drink Diet Snapple, my throat feels very uncomfortable.   I have also had irregular heartbeats.  The doctors can’t attribute it to anything.

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My husband [Bill] and I have read the information you sent to him. I have pulled some information off the internet.

Because of the information we received from and through you, we both no longer use anything with Aspartame.  Bill, has better control over his sugar (he is diabetic) and his memory has improved.

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I used to guzzle diet soft drinks (I’ve since eliminated them completely from my diet.) with Aspartame and I noticed when I drank them I’d start gobbling food also.  Anytime I drank/ate something with Aspartame in it, I wanted more and more to eat.  I thought it was just me but since then I’ve heard from many people that Aspartame supposedly triggers your appetite.

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Maybe this is just coincidence, but I gave up everything “diet” months ago. This topic is very timely because it made me realize that for “years” I have been complaining about poor cognitive functionality and memory loss to my doc. We blamed it on everything from the meds to depression, which we all know definitely does cause a certain degree of both memory loss and cognitive functioning. However, I can say that my functionality has much improved over the past months, as has my memory. Granted my depression is improved, never gone, but improved and I am on fewer meds than I have been on in a long time, but maybe there is something to this. I’ve personally always been convinced that Aspartame, especially, did something unpleasant to the way I felt.

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I have cut two things out of my diet which triggered migraines for me: NutraSweet and caffeine. I also take a preventative once a day and what a world of difference it has made in my life!!

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I have waited a respectable amount of time to send this post, to be sure what I am about to report to you is in fact, accurate.  I am now satisfied that I have enough facts to do so.

After reading the special issue report on Aspartame, I decided that since I had already been without the additive for 10 days prior, because of a diet plan I was trying out (that I since abandoned), I would continue to refrain from Aspartame and see if there was any credence to this information.

You see, I was diagnosed with FMS (fibromyalgia) in 1992, suffered horribly from hip joint pain and morning immobility.  Being a hypoglycemic since childhood, artificial sweeteners were always a part of my diet – a substantial part.   Because I am an advocate for complementary medicine and nutritional healing, I gave this bulletin very serious consideration.

At the same time I gave up Aspartame, I also started Physical Therapy, as my hip joints and lumbar area of my back had become so immobile, I could no longer toilet properly.  Now, I’m a senior in school for Occupational Therapy – there is nothing that can set an OT reeling more than the loss of an Activity of Daily Living – trust me on this.

After 4 weeks of therapy, I saw little change, but some.  Magically, in the 5th week, which corresponded to a little over 6 weeks without Aspartame, something magical happened.  A rapid progression that I know from my training as an OT, is not something that occurs in therapy – progressions in therapy are usually slow and steady.  Having a scientific mind, I decided to be my own test subject and I completely discontinued the Physical Therapy, but continued to avoid Aspartame.

Guess what – it’s now been 8 weeks without the dreaded chemical and I (and those around me) am happy to report that I am pain-free, mobile and feel better than I have in as many years as I can remember.   Almost all of the signs of the FMS (fibromyalgia) and joint immobility are gone.  I am working on regaining my muscle tone, now that I have proven my theory to me.

Needless to say, my husband is thrilled to have his wife back, and is telling everyone he knows and meets of my story – in his words – he lost his wife to something as stupid as diet soda and all of the doctors and health practitioners could not help.  It was his sharing the post about the Nutrition Newsletter with me that ultimately led to my recovery.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.   I am grateful for the service you provide and will continue to spread the word.

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I have been experiencing unexplained joint pain for the past couple of years.  No one can figure out what’s causing it. Are you saying this could be the result of NutraSweet???

Curious and a little frightened, absolutely.

I took the challenge.  No Aspartame for 60 days.  I can’t tell you what it feels like to have my life back!

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Being an avid fan of diet drinks (I drank the first diet drink as a kid. diet rite cola, moved to diet dr. pepper, and then to tab and diet coke, I can speak the truth. LISTEN TO THIS WOMAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   I had to quit secondary to Arthralgia, memory problems, massive edema problems, arrhythmias, etc. I also started having problems at higher altitudes due to Aspartame.  I drank a 32oz-1liter/day maximum only on days I worked.  I quit and my problems have resolved 100%.  It took 6 months, but it was worth it.

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I am 49 years old and first experienced disorientation/confusion spells while at work starting in 1986.  I had always drunk other soft drinks and only began drinking Diet Coke in 1986 when my company replaced our other drink machines with Coke machines.

These disorientation spells progressed in frequency and severity when, in 1990 I suffered a grand-mal seizure at work after drinking 2 Diet Cokes and a chocolate candy bar.  I suffered another grand-mal seizure in 1991 and have had 8-10 grand-mals since that time experiencing spells of severe disorientation almost regularly every 3-4 weeks.  The most recent experience was this prior weekend after attending a party in which I drank 5-6 Diet Cokes – much more than my usual 1 or 2.  This grand-mal resulted in my heart stopping and quitting breathing.  Had I not been in the company of my girlfriend who is an RN, I am sure I would be dead right now.

I have been on Dilantin, Tegretol, Felbatol and after this weekend’s experience my neurologist plans to put me on Lamictal since none of these medications have been able to eliminate my disorientation spells which I have continued to experience at least monthly.

I was alerted to Aspartame in 1994 by a co-worker who provided me several articles which I found alarming.  I quit drinking Diet Cokes for about one year and experienced no grand-mals and only one or two minor disorientation spells.

I guess I resumed drinking Diet Cokes as I either forgot their potential impact or didn’t really believe the connection.  I DO NOW!!

I can’t believe the volume of testimonials on the Web.  I accidentally hit print and went through all my paper stock.  I find it very gratifying that people are taking the time to share their experiences on the Internet.

I have had every test known to mankind, numerous times.  These included MRI’s, CT, EEG, blood, blood and more blood.  Cysternogram to check for infection of the brain fluid and proper flow.  NOTHING turned up in any of these tests.  All very, very frustrating as I have always been very active and this condition was becoming debilitating.

I had also experienced grand-mals over the pacific on the way to Hawaii vacationing as well as numerous other vacations that ended in a 911 call.

My family has no history “anywhere” of epilepsy and I have found it very trying to be labeled with this stigma.  I have also lost one job as a result of excessive absences when I experienced 3-consecutive grand-mals toward the end of a 2-week vacation.  My children are petrified for me to visit them at school (embarrassment I guess) as they witnessed one of my grand-mals while dining out.

I realize now there is ONE COMMON ELEMENT – DIET COKE!!!  For some reason, the other diet drinks don’t affect me as severely. Is it possible that Diet Coke has a higher concentration of NutraSweet??

I DON’T GET IT!   IT SEEMS THIS PROBLEM COULD BE EASILY VERIFIED WITH A CONTROLLED TEST.  SURFING THE INTERNET, I SUSPECT THERE WOULD BE PLENTY OF VOLUNTEERS OR SUBJECTS.  I CERTAINLY WOULD VOLUNTEER.

ALSO, HOW ABOUT A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT???  IF THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY CAN EVENTUALLY BE DEFEATED, I SUSPECT THE MAKERS OF NUTRASWEET COULD AS WELL.

What is this drug doing to our children who are being weaned on it?

What will the effects be on them when they get older??  Hopefully all this documentation will still be around for evidence of negligence on the part of the NutraSweet makers and those food/drink companies that have elected it as the food additive of choice.

I personally plan to post warning posters on all Coke machines at work and anywhere else I can as I feel this has had such an adverse effect on my life that I am going to take this as a personal vendetta.

I AM PISSED!!!!    My quality of life has suffered for 10 years +.  I KNOW it is directly attributed to Aspartame as I can demonstrate its effects.

HELLO FDA – ANYBODY HOME???   OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK!!!!

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By the way, I quit drinking Diet Coke on September 2nd this year after suffering a “Status Epilepticus” (as in “dead”) and immediately my seizure, disorientation spells, chronic fatigue, migraines, sore muscles and joints all went away completely !

This was the only change in my diet and prior to that time I had been experiencing seizures, disorientation every 2-3 weeks at a minimum.

Also, my “woman-friend” is an RN and has witnessed my condition, seizures etc. for the past 1 and 1/2 years.  She also was the one who administered CPR after my September 2nd incident.  She has also kept a very detailed log during this time (as I find out) which has come in very handy at this point.

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I am 28 years old and started drinking Diet Coke back in 1990 after a friend convinced me that the sugar content in normal coke was bad for me. Earlier this year (Jan-Feb) while surfing the net I stumbled across the article on your home page entitled “The Bitter Truth About Artificial Sweeteners”.

As I was “addicted” to Diet Coke and consuming around 1-2 litres a day, I was absolutely horrified to read about the dangers of Aspartame. I was so shocked I gave up the stuff that day and have not had another drop since.

Prior to stopping, I suffered from a lot of the symptoms mentioned in the article – terrible muscle spasms, vertigo, dizziness, nausea, depression, slurred speech etc. Within 7 days of stopping, most of the above symptoms had disappeared and to date I have not had any recurrences of these.

There is no doubt in my mind that Aspartame causes the ailments mentioned in the article. As I live in Australia, I would like to know if there is an action group here that I can offer my assistance too.

If not I will continue to warn those that I come into contact with. It is an absolute crime that this substance has been offered to an unsuspecting and ill-informed public. It must be stopped.

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I am writing to thank you for your crusade against NutraSweet.  I am a type 1 diabetic for 25 years now.  I received my first article from you by accident, as I was a member of another email users list when your article accidently got posted to all of us last year.  I wish I could say I followed your advice at the time, but I chose instead to believe the “other side”, and thought you were simply a reactionary (very sorry).  I did lay off NutraSweet for about a week just for laughs at the time because I was starting an exercise program, and wanted to rid my body of all artificial stuff.  However, when my blood sugars improved, I attributed it to the exercise.  Eventually, I added the NutraSweet back into my diet, nothing too much, just a diet Snapple here and there – maybe 3 a week.  And my blood sugars were no longer quite as good, and I began having what I refer to as “knock-down, drag-out hypoglycemic reactions.  I just thought I needed to do more exercise!   Last December, I was told by a dietician that NutraSweet was perfectly safe, and I just went wild eating it in everything and upping my Snapple intake to two or more a day.  Who knew?  Well, my blood sugars went from difficult to horrible.  My appetite was running rampant; I was waking up with 500 blood sugars and going to be with lows of 35-40.  I was depressed and angry all the time.  No one could figure out what was wrong with me.  I didn’t want to have sex with my husband and I even began having hot flashes (I’m 36).  Some minor tingling, which I have always passed off as “just one of those diabetic things”, which never was more than just a minor sensation, was getting worse.  I was gaining weight, feeling uncoordinated and spacey, like I always had a hangover, and felt like death.

One day, I was looking up menopause in my medical advisor, and happened by the section on multiple sclerosis.  I read the symptoms and it sounded just like me, with all the tingling and stuff.  I panicked, then I remembered your email from a year and a half ago that talked about NutraSweet possibly causing MS-like symptoms, and decided to give up NutraSweet to see if it would help.  The next day, my blood sugars were perfect, and I re-read the article and saw that NutraSweet has been implicated in swinging sugars!!

My blood sugars have been perfect for almost two weeks now.  It is uncanny. I am so beside myself with glee I can hardly stand it.  I have energy, my vision is better, my constipation is gone, I can think far more clearly, my stamina has improved, and I want to live life again.  My blood sugar meter average has dropped from 200 to 165 in the time span of 10 days, and still falling.  It is once again easy to correct low blood sugars, and they are very minor occurrences now.   My insulin dosage has gone from 30 to 17 total units per day.  I have, simply put, been reborn.

A chemistry teacher in my diabetes support group says it is true that Aspartame converts to formaldehyde and methanol in the body.  A much respected neurologist where I work (I work at a research institute within a medical center) said that she had a patient who was having seizures and eating lots of NutraSweet.  As you can guess, the seizures stopped when NutraSweet was eliminated from his diet.

I am telling everyone about this.  I have forwarded the info to my diabetes educator at a University.  She theorizes that if the NutraSweet was the culprit, it may have caused a mimicking of gastroparesis (delayed emptying of ingested foods), which in turn caused my swinging sugars.  A research tech also told me she systematically eliminated foods from her diet to find out what was causing her constipation and severe abdominal pains.  Her search was over when she tested the NutraSweet.

I am going to fill out one of the action report forms.  Is there any other way I can help in this effort?  I don’t even know if you respond to emails, but I just wanted to add my testimony to the growing list of NutraSweet recoveries.

Deep thanks and God bless you.

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I wanted to write to let you know that I have now been completely off of Aspartame for one month and I can feel the results!

First, for two years I have had fibromyalgia-like symptoms.  I hurt all over. Shoulders, legs, back, neck ankles, all were painful most of the time.  I had chronic insomnia and could hardly sleep at night.  My vision was getting worse all of the time.  In the single month that I eliminated Aspartame, I feel 100% better.  I don’t hurt.  The carpal tunnel in my wrist and shoulder has finally subsided.   My memory seems to be improving. I have more energy and I don’t get as hungry.

I found that I was drinking 3-4 Diet Cokes every day.  Fortunately, I did not use Equal in my tea or coffee.  I use either sugar or sweet n low.  I don’t know much about saccharin testing but I cannot believe that it is as bad as Aspartame.  I am going to get some stevia and try that.

I have made copies of some of the articles and sent them to a number of people who have also “sworn off” of Aspartame.

Obviously the FDA does not care one bit about product safety.  If a company is as big as Monsanto, they can market any kind of poison they please without a whimper from the FDA. And, it appears that Congress is powerless to stop them.  Or, that Congress is too busy with their “in-fighting” to do anything for the people who voted them into office.

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I, too, suffered severely from neuropathy.  My feet would hurt so badly at night that my husband had to rub them.  I work on my feet all day and they were either numb or hurting.  I would elevate them every night and my doctor recommended pepper cream.  The cream was terribly expensive so I never bought it.  Through research, I started to wonder if NutraSweet was my demon.  Sure enough. I went of ALL NutraSweet and artificial sweeteners.  Within one month. I could make a fist again and I have NO pain whatsoever in my feet, legs or hands.  My fingers were to the stage that they would buckle on me.  NO MORE!!!!  It would be worth a try for you.

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The summer is over and I missed it thanks to Aspartame. This is my toxicity reaction summary. It started on Father’s Day June 9th. My husband and I went out for breakfast. In the middle of the meal and “out of nowhere” I felt like I was fainting. I was so shocked by this sudden onset; I went to the restroom and splashed cold water on my face trying to regain my composure. I felt weak the rest of that day.

A few days later I had another fainting spell at work only this time it was worse – accompanied by rapid heartbeat and shortness of breath. I left work saying I didn’t feel well. I thought I had too much caffeine and if I went home for a while it would pass. It didn’t. In fact it got worse – to the point I called 911. I thought I was having a heart attack. My resting heart rate was 120. They gave me 02 and my heart rate came down to 80. I declined a ride to the hospital still thinking it would pass.

I then started having nighttime tremors/panic disorder. I would wake up in the middle of the night with a dry mouth and then the tremors would start. At one point I think I had a seizure because I was shaking so badly.

Then on the fourth of July – I was in the emergency room with the same symptoms. They ran all kinds of test, EEG, Thyroid – all fine. The only thing abnormal was my blood count. Hemoglobin was 11 and the red cells were small. I was diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia. Told to get off my vegetarian diet and eat some red meat! Great advice from a doctor huh?

Followed up with a visit to my doctor. She was surprised that my blood count was 11, she expected it to be 5 or 8, normal is 15. I started taking a prescription for iron.

Well the night tremors and shortness of breath continued. I kept calling my doctor and she thought I might be having panic disorder as a result of the anemia so I started taking Valium and Prozac. This helped the nighttime panic attacks.

I started researching Prozac and Serotonin and this is what led me to you.

Thank goodness someone is watching out for us! I had developed a bad chewing gum habit. I chewed 1 large pack of Extra sugar free gum daily. I stopped this immediately and here it is Sept. and I am finally starting to sleep and feel like a normal person! I am no longer taking Prozac or Valium but switched an herbal remedy called St. John’s Wort. I’m convinced the Aspartame destroyed the Serotonin level in my brain and destroyed my blood.

I don’t drink or smoke and had been in perfect health prior to this. I am scheduled to have a complete blood count done this month with a test for Ferritin. Is there any blood test for Aspartame toxicity? Why not? How should I approach my doctor? Everyone thinks I got sick because of my vegetarian diet. I know it’s not so. I probably consume more iron than the average carnivore!

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I need some questions answered.  I have a 14 year old son has been having what the doctors are calling optical migraines.

At the age of 11 years old he was diagnosis as hypoglycemia.  I was a mother who never believed in letting her kids to eat or drink anything with NutraSweet in it until my son became hypoglycemic.  Since then he has drank Diet pops.

Since January 1997 he has been having problems that he loses his peripheral vision.  The first time he lost it for around 20 minutes and then when his vision came back his lips went numb. (He got a headache after his vision returned; it lasted through out that day.)  I took him to the doctors and he sent us to an ophthalmologist.  He then a thorough check of his eyes and said everything look good and healthy.  He thought that he may have had an optical migraine.  He said he may never have another one but if he did he would like a CAT scan ran.

In March he had another episode.  This time it lasted 20 minutes and the headache lasted for two days.  I called the doctor and he had a CAT scan ran.   The test came back normal.  Still they feel that it is just an optical migraine.  If it happens again he will see a pediatric neurologist.

In April he had another episode, this one lasted 10 minutes and the headache lasted two days.  He was set up to see the neurologist.  The neurologist said he felt that it was just optical migraines.  That he should just take an extra strength Tylenol and a Benadryl then sleep.

He also said he would set up an EEG to be run to make sure he is not having seizures or mini strokes.

Five days after seeing the neurologist he had another episode.  This time it lasted 45 minutes with no peripheral vision and during this time his tongue on the right side and his right thumb went numb.  I panic and took him into emergency.  The checked him and referred to his neurologist.  They both decide that it was an optical migraine.  (His headache lasted for one and a half days.)  He is set up for May 12 to have an EEG ran.

What I am wondering is if he is toxic from the NutraSweet?  Has anyone had these symptoms?  I am trying everything.  I told him not to eat or drink anything that has anything with NutraSweet in it for two weeks.

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Thank you for all the information you sent to me.  Brent had his EEG ran yesterday, everything came back normal.  The only thing he saw was that he had two irregular heartbeats.  But he felt this is something that he will outgrow.

While reading some of the information I see that maybe the NutraSweet can be causing this.  We are going to eliminate this from his diet for the next 60 days, to see if this is his cause.

Again, I thank you for the information and if there is any more you can send me please do.

Update

Just an update on how Brent is doing.  I last e-mailed you in May.

Since then Brent has had nothing with Aspartame in it and he has had no problems.  Everything seems to be going good.  I would like to thank you for all the information you sent me and I have passed it on to a lot of people.  Please let me know if there is any new information.  Please pass on Brent’s symptoms and reactions so other people may be aware of what Aspartame can do to your body.

Update

Hi. I am writing in regards to my resent letters to you about my son Brent.  Since we have eliminated NutraSweet from Brent’s diet he has only had one episode of a migraine, it could have been from he started taking vitamins which I am not sure if they had Aspartame in them.

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I had looked at several of the Internet references on Aspartame recently, but about a year ago I had also become aware of a report (or reports) regarding airline pilots losing their licenses because of problems with Aspartame.  It took a while for them to figure out what was causing the problem.

Personally, I cannot tolerate Aspartame at all.  It causes confusion, memory loss, and other nasty reactions.  The last time knocked me out for almost 2 weeks.

How I got it the last time was a fast-food establishment had their hoses; the diet cola was hooked to the regular cola faucet.  This is the second time that has happened, at different chains.  And the kids they have working there are have not lived long enough to realize that people can die from this stuff if they have a bad reaction.  The first time this happened, I realized that the cola tasted like “diet” instead of like regular.  I asked them to check and sure enough the hoses were crossed, and they fixed it.  This last time, it was hot, I was dehydrated, my husband was in the car suffering, so I didn’t ask them to check the hoses — I just drank it — and suffered the consequences for almost 2 weeks.  Never again!

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I used to regularly consume 2-3 cans Diet soda/day. I also used to live with urinary tract infections averaging one/month. I work in a medical lab and these are confirmed infections by routine urinalysis and culture.

Two years ago I had a terrible UTI, and had been having some resistance to antibiotics by this time. I had to go to California for a meeting, so I trudged onward with antibiotics and my soda. When I arrived in my hotel room, I went to get a pop and found out it was $1.50/can. On grounds of principle, I couldn’t buy it. I recovered from my UTI, bought a soda and was ill by the afternoon. After doing some of my own cause and effect, I figured it was the soda and thought maybe it was carbonated beverages. SO NO MORE SODA FOR ME!  It took a while to pinpoint the NutraSweet, but I have been free of urinary tract infections for 2 years and you can’t believe the relief! I tell everyone I know who has a UTI, to stop the diet drinks if they take them. Thanks for your web site.

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Thanks so much for the information you sent.  I was off Aspartame for a while and was so much better that I started using it again.  I am in big trouble right now with dizziness, memory, and MS symptoms.  It is frightening what it does when it gets above 86 degrees.  I have left cases in my garage before.

I am unloading my Monsanto stock as fast as I can.

My husband has taken all the info to the nurses at the radiology department. They can’t believe it.  My hubby specializes in mammography.  I’d love to do some research asking ladies with diagnosed breast cancer how much Aspartame they have in their normal diets.  I bet there is a huge connection.

Course all these symptoms can come from so many things.  The proof is when you improve by being totally off the darn stuff.  Then you know.

Thank-you, thank-you for your knowledge and sharing.

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I had incredible stomach pains for about two years. They seem to have stopped since I stopped drinking diet drinks. Aspartame (NutraSweet) is another story though (hint – don’t go near the stuff!).

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I do get headaches from it. I have occasional severe headaches (basically, migraines) and I found that consuming Aspartame either started or promoted an attack.  And it makes me a bit dizzy, too.  🙁

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I had been drinking Aspartame in Diet Coke/coffee/crystal light and eating it in snack foods for about six years and began to have chronic urinary tract infections – at least two major episodes per year for three years.  Medical professionals blamed it on caffeine.  So I gave up all caffeine which, of course, decreased my Aspartame intake, which caused my symptoms to improve slightly.  However, even without caffeine, I was still having infections.  My friend who is a nurse suggested that artificial sweeteners can cause bladder irritation.  Because I love coffee and coke, and was hoping caffeine was not the cause, I gave up all Aspartame, in foods and drinks.

For one year I had no infections while continuing to enjoy about 1 cup of coffee and 1 coke per day (my usual intake).  Everything was going along well when all of the sudden, I had an infection.  While I’m wondering what could have happened (was it really caffeine after all?) I started looking at the foods and drinks I had recently purchased.  Although I am fastidious about checking labels, I had missed a very small label on the corner of a box of Fiber One cereal.  It did indeed contain Aspartame and it only took eating a small bowl of cereal three days in a row to cause a major urinary tract infection.

I have had no reactions for three years since that last episode, and I can enjoy as much coffee and coke as I like as long as I do not ingest Aspartame in any amount.  I will not even chew a stick of gum that contains Aspartame. I also noticed, about a year after I stopped ingesting Aspartame that I felt more alert.  I hope this information is helpful.  I would be interested in working towards having Aspartame pulled by the FDA (even if that hope is slim).  Luckily, as a health educator, I have the opportunity to increase awareness of the dangers of Aspartame.

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I have found your site very informative and helpful.  I have now been off NutraSweet containing products for approx. 3 months and I have found this very beneficial.  The symptoms that I had been experiencing after 10 years or more ingestion of Aspartame are beginning to subside.

One of the problems I have is that after 10 years of dieting I am now 54lbs heavier than when I started!! I read somewhere that the methanol is stored in the fat and I’m worried that my symptoms will continue as I lose weight and re-release the accumulated poisons back into my system.  Do you know of any source of information on the storage of the poison in the human body?

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Yes, I’m doing much better since I swore off NutraSweet!  Most people I know can’t believe I quit drinking Diet Coke.  They’ve always known me to carry a can or bottle of it around with me.  That was part of my image:  long blond hair, Ray-bans, and a can of Diet Coke.

I have been waking up feeling rested.  I’m not as achy.  I’m not as tired.  I don’t crave sweets anymore.  I haven’t lost any weight, but that’s probably because I drink a lot of Coke Classic now.  I don’t NEED a coke first thing every morning now like I did a Diet Coke.  I used to get headaches if I didn’t have my Diet Coke within an hour or two after waking up.  Now I can go all day without a coke and not have any problems.  I kept telling myself it was caffeine withdrawals, but if it’s not happening now, that can’t be the case.  I drink as much caffeine now as before, only now my caffeine is NutraSweet free!

My son’s behavior problems are improving now that he’s off NutraSweet and mostly off artificial colors.  He’s working better in school, and he’s doing really well at learning to read and to add and subtract.  He seems to be sleeping better now, too.  Now when he climbs up onto my lap it’s not painful like it used to be.  Uncomfortable, yes, since he’s 50-something pounds!  But not painful.

My vision is improving and so is my memory.  I’ve been working full-time for more than 6 months, and I just completed a quarter of college full-time as well, making two B’s and an A.  I’m still prone to depression; in fact, I’ve been depressed lately.  But my bouts are not as bad as they’ve been in the past.  Before when I’d get depressed, I couldn’t drag myself out of bed or have enough interest to do housework.  I’d sit around eating brownies by the pan full and Ben and Jerry’s by the pint.  Now, I can still get my day-to-day work accomplished if I’m depressed, just not as quickly and efficiently.  I think when I start taking my anti-depressants again, they may actually work since I’m not constantly depleting my serotonin levels and counteracting the effects of the medicine with Aspartame.

I’m working on losing the weight I’ve gained in the past couple of years (some 40 or 50 lbs–thank you Diet Coke, Duncan Hines, and Ben and Jerry!), and I think I might have a fighting chance now that Aspartame isn’t tricking my body and brain.  I honestly can’t believe how my taste buds react to sweets now.  Thanksgiving day I ate pumpkin bread and pumpkin pie for dessert instead of reaching for the chocolate cake and chess pie.  I couldn’t even bring myself to taste the chocolate dishes!  That is so unlike me!  I remember when I was younger I used to crave salty foods and protein, like ham slices or something.  That’s what I’ve been craving again lately.  That and healthy foods like salads and vegetables.  Amazing!  Incidentally, I decided to drink a Diet Coke about a month ago just to see what it tasted like and made me feel like after a couple of months without it.  Blech!  That tasted nasty!  Made me feel funny, too.  Gave me a headache.  Funny how I could come up with all sorts of explanations for symptoms instead of facing the truth that I was poisoning myself.

I talked to a woman at church a couple of weeks ago who was puzzled why she had been feeling bad lately.  I found out she had just started drinking Diet Coke about a month earlier.  She had been drinking only water before.  I asked her if she felt like she’d been beaten with a baseball bat every morning when she woke up, if she felt like she hadn’t slept a wink, if her kids were finishing her sentences for her, if her vision was a bit blurry, if she’d been craving sweets lately, if she got headaches more frequently especially if she’d missed her morning cup of Diet Coke, and if her muscles hurt when her kids climbed up onto her lap.  She answered yes to all those symptoms, most of which she hadn’t really thought about or noticed until I brought it up!  I told her my story and gave her the info I got from you, and she said she’d quit drinking it and see how she felt.  I haven’t talked to her in about a month, but I should see her soon and I’ll ask if she’s doing better.

Thank you so much for helping spread the word.  I probably would’ve kept drinking the stuff until I killed myself if it hadn’t been for you and your crew.  If I can help, I’d be glad to.  I’d like to have an even better success story for you 6 months from now since I feel better physically and better about myself after getting off the poison.  I feel like I can accomplish more of my goals now!  My depression and achy body won’t get the best of me anymore!  Hey, if I can work 43 hours a week and take 3 college courses and make a 3.33 average while being a single mom of a kindergartener, I think there’s probably even more that I can do!

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Thank you kindly. And thank you for your great work against the deadly genetically engineered drug Aspartame.

We all owe you a debt of gratitude. I had my own Aspartame story also. I was having lots of problems concentrating and thinking clearly for over two years. I was drinking a half gallon of Diet Coke most days. I had no idea!!

I never would have suspected that stuff as the cause had it none been for your work. Now they want to screw up the rest of the food supply.

I gave up Aspartame almost a year ago and I do feel much better. Now I also am avoiding the other genetically engineered foods.

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Thank you for your quick and informative answer.  I am a seven year drinker of DIET PEPSI and just quit drinking that poison 45 days ago, and I cannot believe how great I feel.  I am only 56, and my doctors and friends told me that it was old age creeping in.  Well, they were wrong! I FEEL GREAT!!  If I can do anything other than just get the word out let me know.

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I have had arrhythmia and severe headaches from Aspartame.  In my teen years I consumed quite a bit of NutraSweet.  Eventually, my family realized that the “heart palpitations” may be connected and I stopped consuming it.

In my early 20s I decided to try it again.  Same thing.  After just a small amount, I was again experiencing the arrhythmia and severe headaches.  I get a headache almost immediately after consuming as little as four ounces of a NutraSweet laced product.

I’ve never believed in activism, but since I started studying NutraSweet, I’ve been interested in spreading the word.  Especially to the people who are risking their children’s lives.

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I still wonder why NutraSweet is allowed to be on the market. I no longer touch anything that has it in it. When I was drinking the diet soda with NutraSweet I started having serious memory lapses and my short term to long term memory transfer ability was debilitated. Even though I haven’t touched NutraSweet in 5 years I still feel that I haven’t regained my full memory back. I know some of my memory trouble is due to “fog” but “fog” can’t cause everything.

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Thank you so much for your report on Aspartame.

I am 47, female, and I truly feel that Aspartame has been a big part of my problem along with MSG, cheese, and caffeine.  I have given up all of these for the past 40 days and my symptoms have improved by 85% I would guess.

I had all the tests like you – over seven months and they said they also felt I was beginning with seizures – the partial kind.  I hadn’t lost consciousness yet but was feeling close to it. That diagnosis just didn’t sit well – it didn’t feel right, you know what I mean?  They put me on anti-seizure medicine (Neurontin) for 3 months to see if my symptoms would go away.  (I was still using NutraSweet a lot) the medicine didn’t phase one symptom. Then they put me on Inderal thinking it was a migraine type problem – migraine equivalents they called it – but Inderal didn’t faze my symptoms either – plus I gained weight!!  I got so disgusted I tried the avoidance of migraine trigger foods – a list my sister sent to me thru E-Mail.

NutraSweet was on the list.   As I said in a few weeks my symptoms were so much improved I couldn’t believe it!!  How long does it take for that chemical to get completely out of your system?  I suspect it might take a while – what do you think?

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There have been questions about Aspartame since its inception. I’ve recently stopped ingesting it and to me it’s quite noticeable that I feel better. No headaches or memory lapses which could have come from it.

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I discovered a few years back that Aspartame gives me migraines.  I am very careful about what I purchase and read all suspect labels.  Aspartame shows up in the darndest places!

The other day I bought some Welch’s juice bars.  They were labeled ‘No sugar added’.  For some stupid reason, I did not search for the dreaded NutraSweet on the label.  I thought that ‘no sugar added’ meant they were naturally sweet.

I ate one.  Now I am on day 3 of an Aspartame headache.  I threw the rest of the headache bars in the garbage.

I’m not sure how to contact Welch’s about this misleading label.  I’m sure that an upstanding company like Welch’s would not knowingly mislead the public.  😮

I just read on your page that Aspartame can hurt the optic nerve.  My mother has been using NutraSweet for 20 years and now she is almost blind.  She has had glaucoma for all this time, but has been using eye drops and her pressure has been under control.  Her eye doctor says that her blindness is caused by optic nerve damage due to the glaucoma.  I’m sure NutraSweet hasn’t helped.

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My wife is so sensitive to any artificial sweetener that any amount no matter how small causes a severe reaction.  Even one drop of Diet Coke will make her sick for days.  A gulp of diet soda is so deadly to her that it requires an immediate ambulance ride to the hospital.

You should know that these sweeteners are used in many things you don’t realize.  Toothpaste for example.  Last year she discovered by accident that her toothpaste had Aspartame in it and she was being poisoned by it on a daily basis.

We check every single thing she consumes but outside of the United States this is difficult because of the lack of labeling laws.  England is especially bad.  Last week while trying to buy off the shelf cough medicine, the pharmacist had to call each manufacturer to check what they contained.  We found that every single brand on the shelf contained artificial sweeteners except one.  Just a few days later she was almost poisoned again by a Sangria drink she ordered at a restaurant – the lemonade in the drink was made with artificial sweeteners instead of sugar.

Because of her I’ve become more informed of how these sweeteners work and I can hardly believe it.  They can only be described as mind altering drugs.  The war on drugs should begin with artificial sweeteners.

In summary, beware.  This dangerous stuff is not just in soda — it’s in all kinds of seemingly innocent stuff you buy at pharmacies and elsewhere.

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My mother and I both have been a victim of Aspartame.  Are you aware it’s almost impossible to get children’s vitamins or yoghurt without it?  My mother broke out in a terrible rash up and down her arms like hives that remained on her for a month after the Aspartame was discontinued.  I got intense headaches.  It was awful.  This is not a case history, but just a comment.

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I’ve noticed over the past few years that after using Equal for several months, I will have serious pains in the stomach area.  The first time I went to a MD who fully examined me and told me to use Zantec, to no avail.

I then started to omit various foods, etc. and found that when I eliminated NutraSweet for a week the pain went away.

After a call to the company, without any meaningful comment by them, I then started using Equal after a month or so without difficulty for about a year. When the same pains started again I at once stopped using NutraSweet and the pain disappeared almost at once.

After the past eight months of usage, again, I today began the same pain and have stopped NutraSweet.  If I am correct that the source of the pain is NutraSweet (Equal) the pain should stop in a day or so.

Update

The stomach pain disappeared. I did what I had done before and that was to stay off Equal for a few weeks and went back to sugar and at times the pink stuff.

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I have been Aspartame, caffeine, and sugar-free for about 75 days now.

When I went off these three items on April 30, my main complaints were: shaky handwriting and trembling hands; flickering lights in the outer field of vision and joint pain. These have disappeared almost completely.

I have not gone back to Aspartame at all, but I have begun to drink regular coffee without suffering any ill effects, except one day when I overdid the caffeine bit by having about six cups.  Then the shaky handwriting and the flickering lights were back.  While I am happy to be rid of most symptoms, I cannot really say that all of the good effects were solely due to quitting Aspartame. Thanks anyway for the information. Maybe we all consume too much caffeine, also. If that is true, then the coffee and soft  drink industry will really be mad!

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I was a total Diet Coke addict, and eating cold cuts like crazy.  When I learned about all the additives in cold cuts, and read so much about NutraSweet on this list, I cut them out and have lost 14 lbs. in the intervening four weeks.  (I also have a tendency to abuse the heavy cream allowance, making myself elaborate flavored decaf coffee drinks at night to assuage my dessert cravings.)

My Ketostix weren’t turning anything darker than medium beige, and a week after I made the changes they started turning a medium purple and I started losing.

Also I wasn’t drinking enough water.  I now go through two 1-liter bottles a day and I believe it’s helped.

Man, giving up the NutraSweet was HARD.  I had headaches for a couple of days, but after about five days my cravings for sweets really diminished.  I don’t think I’m ever going back to NutraSweet, after all the bad stuff I’ve read/heard about it.

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I was alerted to the effects of Aspartame through reading the message board under the better heart health site on the internet.

I was new to computers and anxiously read all I could access about tachycardia, arrhythmias and high cholesterol.

I found a posting that listed side effects from Aspartame.  I had some of the same symptoms that she had experienced like; fast heartbeat. She kindly sent more information about Aspartame.  I experimented by listening to my body when I consumed Aspartame and sure enough it was a cause of rapid heartbeat.

I cut it out completely.  I used to consume quite a bit of the stuff in diet drinks and by adding it to coffee.  I am also cutting out coffee, fat and am starting to exercise regularly.

I told the story to my brother, two aunts and two uncles who also have heart problems as well and they have also found a connection.

Thanks a lot; I’ll continue to share your information with anyone who I think might benefit from the news.

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I have been noticing gradually improving memory and mental acuity since I have quit Aspartame. I’ve had very few headaches. A side effect of quitting Aspartame is drinking much less soda since I can’t afford the calories.

Thank you for your tremendous efforts in behalf of all you may be helping. My reading concentration is much improved also. God bless you in this unique ministry.

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I have been drinking diet sodas since they first came out.  I have a bunch of the symptoms listed, the worst being swollen stiff joints, attributed to rheumatoid arthritis.  I easily drink 2 liters of diet Pepsi a day.

Your message is really shocking and upsetting.

Update

I have mostly not had any Aspartame for a couple of months, but, every once in a while if I would have a diet soda.  No more.  The last time I drank diet pop a bunch of symptoms returned and I’m blaming them on the pop.  The joint pain has not completely disappeared, unfortunately.  So maybe that’s not all Aspartame.  Thanks for the info and concern.

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My name is Lynn and I live in St John’s, Newfoundland, Canada.  I have recently become very interested in the scourge of Aspartame.  I am a sufferer of migraine headaches, and have been so for many years.  I have concluded that the culprit of my problem is indeed Aspartame.

Unfortunately, after being diagnosed with the problem my doctor did not inform me that one of the possible causes of migraines may be Aspartame, even though she did give me a list of many types of food that cause the disorder.  At the top of the list was the warning that foods containing phenylalanine may be a problem to sufferers.  However not even a hint as to any problems derived from consuming Aspartame. I continued to suffer from migraines even though I discontinued eating every food on that list.

What a shock I received one day when I was purchasing ‘sugar-free’ yogurt at the supermarket.  In the ingredients list it said that the product contained Aspartame and that Aspartame may contain phenylalanine.  I immediately stopped using the product in my diet and the symptoms went away entirely.  I was Amazed. Why wasn’t I informed about the possibility that Aspartame may be the very thing that was making me sick?

I have been looking through the net and the symptoms listed on some pages include some of the scariest I experienced during what I called a migraine. These included memory loss (to the point where I couldn’t remember my brother’s or my roommate’s name), and slurred and jumbled speech.  I revisited my doctor to tell of these symptoms which were getting progressively worse (before the Aspartame halt) and she said that she has had other patients complain of similar symptoms and that everyone experiences migraines differently.  I question whether doctors are informed about the effects of Aspartame or if they are just as blind as I was.

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Hmm.  Well I find that if I have more than 2 servings of NutraSweet a day I get a nagging sore throat.  That is as long as I drink a lot of water.  If I’m subsisting on JUST Diet Coke (and yes I HAVE done it 🙂 I do get really tired.

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I’d like to add my .02 to Sandy’s post.  NutraSweet (Aspartame) is also dangerous for people with hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).  Most doctors will tell hypoglycemics to stay away from sugar, but mine never mentioned Aspartame.  If I eat or drink *anything* containing Aspartame, my blood sugar plummets and I get a horrible migraine.  It’s even worse than eating a sugary snack.  I read a few months ago that the reason for this is that it “tricks” your body into thinking it’s had sugar (because of the sweetness), but the “energy” (calories) of sugar aren’t even there to temporarily raise the blood sugar before it lowers the sugar in the blood.  Now, when I get cravings for something sweet, I make tea and add stevia.  I’ve never had an unfavorable reaction from it.

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My daughter has seizures if she drinks or eats anything with NutraSweet. I have also heard that it has been banned from Japan.

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I’m glad it made me sick when I first drank it, so it never had a chance to do me in.

It’s really a shame that they don’t remove it from the market, but then with Monsanto people being placed in positions of authority at the FDA, what do we expect?

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Within about 10 days there was a substantial reduction in headaches. Particularly the ones behind my eyes that hurt so much and caused eye problems.  As for other problems, I have seen nothing.

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Aspartame causes me to have headaches and be more light sensitive.

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Have a friend who has been diagnosed as a “probable” MS patient. Last week she learned thru a friend of a friend that NutraSweet might be her problem.

She has cut out NutraSweet from her diet entirely and, although it has only been less than 2 weeks, says she feels significantly better and has already reduced prescription drugs.

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Are you referring to a study or did you state your opinion (I agree with you in a way because NutraSweet makes my mouth sore and gives me an overall ill effect every time) I believe in good old sugar.

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I know that NutraSweet gives me one hell of a headache. Don’t know if that has anything to do with ADD, however.

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My PVC’s have recently returned – the cause once again is plenty of stress.

I also found out that the Aspartame (NutraSweet) in diet soft drinks was aggravating the condition. I’d get PVC’s within about an hour of drinking a diet soft drink.  No more Aspartame and the problem has lessened. Still, though, one of the primary underlying causes is certainly stress.

So I’m back on Lopressor again, for a little while anyway.

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I have been plagued by a rash along the insides of my fore-arms for several years.  I saw a dermatologist who said it was due to extra-dry skin and told me to use lotion after my showers.  (This didn’t work.)

Strangely enough, about a week after discovering I was pregnant, my rash disappeared.  I had been a real Diet Coke junkie and vowed to stop during my pregnancy.  When the baby was about 3 weeks old, I had my first diet soda in 10 months.  Within hours, my rash returned.  It took a little testing to confirm my theory, but now I am certain.  Anytime I have been rash-free for weeks, if I drink a diet soda or have a “lite” cup of yogurt with Aspartame, the rash is back the next morning.

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I am an RN and have who has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and I am Aspartame free since 6-97. So far so good!  But I have a nurse friend that has been diagnosed with Meniere’s Disease and am wondering about that and Aspartame.  She is on a very restricted Sodium diet and is better.  But, mentioned the Aspartame and she notices that when she drinks diet Pepsi, her Meniere’s flares real badly. She thought maybe it was the caffeine.

But I am wondering about the Aspartame.

Update

I don’t know if you remember, but I contacted you about the possibility of a connection between Aspartame and Meniere’s disease.  My friend gave up her diet Pepsi and has not needed to take her diuretic except 3 times in one month.  She was taking them daily to reduce the dizziness.  She hasn’t needed it.  She said she really wasn’t keeping track, but suddenly realized that she did have a decrease in symptoms.

I am now known as the NutraSweet police, but I have given your info to everybody, including several physicians.  I have not noticed much change in my fibromyalgia symptoms, but sometimes you don’t know how good you feel until you feel awful again.  I have had some sort of virus, we think.

Jokingly we have decided that it is Aspartame withdrawal.  I will tell you that on reflection, I had a seizure disorder and the worst seizures were when I worked 11 PM-7AM shift and lived on diet pop for caffeine.

Two years ago, I had an EEG and No seizure activity was present!  Imagine that.

Please forgive me for going on so long. I want to say THANK YOU!! And please continue your work.

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When I was first diagnosed and made the transition from REAL soft drinks to diet.  I started getting a lot of headaches. It seems that one of the most common side effects of NutraSweet (Aspartame) is headaches, until your system becomes metabolized to it.

And then from time to time when the Aspartame builds up to toxic levels, it has been known to cause migraines.

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I know that NutraSweet in foods or drinks gives me violent headaches. And my siblings recently confirmed the same about themselves. So, my drink of choice is. WATER! LOL

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I don’t personally recommend that diet soda, I know that NutraSweet will give me a migraine 9 times out of 10 I have something with NutraSweet in it.

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When I was on Atkins, I used to eat a lot of Sugar-Free Jell-O (especially with whipped cream or cream cheese or cottage cheese.

Eeeps! No wonder I was so messed up and gained weight!) But gave it up when I realized I was having physical reactions to NutraSweet.

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NutraSweet gives me headaches so I do not drink it.

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I was “hooked” on Diet Coke. I mean I liked it better than regular!   I drank it morning, noon, and night!  What a gimmick. You can have all you want. And no calories. I was also experiencing panic attacks.

When the first letter hit the list. I stopped drinking it!  Thank you all!!!   I (knock on wood) haven’t had a panic attack in over a week. 🙂  I never gave in totally to my panic so I haven’t been house bound. But it so much more pleasant when I don’t have to experience them at all!!!!!!!!

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I used to drink vast quantities of Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi (both caffeine free) — they never seemed to quench my thirst and I suffered from terrible headaches. I quit using any products with Aspartame and the headaches have gone away.

I don’t think this is merely anecdotal. There is mounting evidence that Aspartame is NOT safe. Please remove this dangerous drug from the market.

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I know how hard it is to give up Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi — I was addicted to the stuff. Do you remember how much I used to put away? Athol (my husband) as almost as bad.

Here is my NutraSweet story — I used to get horrible headaches and was thinking of taking out shares in Johnson & Johnson I was sucking down so many Tylenol! Mary Beth had told me that NutraSweet gave her terrible headaches and I poo-pooed her until it eventually got so bad that decided to try. The headache used to sit at the base of my skull and my neck would crack horribly when I stretched it in an attempt to alleviate the pain. After going through a few weeks of withdrawal symptoms — I was fine. I haven’t taken ANY pain killer for over three years.

Now Athol’s NutraSweet HORROR story. A couple of times in South Africa and then a couple of times here Athol had unexplained blackouts. It wasn’t a faint — he didn’t crumple like a faint — he would go down like a felled tree! We saw an endless parade of heart specialists and neurologists; he had MRI’s, EKG’s, EEG’s, zillions of blood tests. No answer.

Eventually one collapse (about 3 or 4 years ago) was so bad we thought he’d had a stroke — he had all the symptoms of a stroke. Paralysis down one side, slurred speech — the works. He was hospitalized — more tests including a Doppler scan of the carotid arteries (clear). They finally let him come home after three days and we were really none the wiser. The doctor and hospital decided that a perfectly healthy 33 year old male with NO predisposing factors had had a TIA (transient ischemic attack) — doctor-speak for mini-stroke. He had several more collapses after that.

Finally one at work which freaked everyone out. His boss insisted that he stay home until he was properly diagnosed. He saw yet another neurologist in the city and this one finally diagnosed epilepsy. Athol then went through a series of four anti-seizure drugs. Dilantin (caused a suicidal depression), Depakote (came damned close to destroying his liver, the liver enzyme SGOT measured 240 when it should be under 40), Tegretol (made him unbelievably moody and aggressive) and finally Lamictal which seemed to be OK.

Problem was the initial dosage wasn’t preventing the seizures. They kept increasing the dose until Athol was like a zombie. In the meantime I had read that NutraSweet could cause seizures. I begged Athol to stop using the stuff, figuring that someone who was already having seizures didn’t need anything that could cause more.

Finally in October of last year he did stop. Unrelated to this he had decided to start reducing his medication because he hated how he was feeling. He decided that he would take his chances with the seizures rather than feel so lethargic and spacey all the time. He gradually reduced his dosage and on Christmas Day 1996 stopped using medication altogether. He has not had one seizure since. Coincidence, I think not. He only started these seizures after he’d met me and I used Aspartame.

When I think of the harm I must have done to myself, Athol and my kids by having us all use this poison in the mistaken belief that sugar was actually worse for us I feel physically sick. I can only hope that we quit in time.

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Thanks for the e-mail today, it has been 34 days without any Aspartame, and I feel great. Looking back, it amazes me that I was just going along, not really thinking about how I was feeling; when Jim said that he had really noticed that I wasn’t in as much pain, as before.

As he said, I wasn’t twisting all over the sofa trying to get comfortable.  My pain level has gone down by at least 60% if not more. I am doing my gardening, and general housework, and other things without too much pain. I can carry on now, even when I am getting tired. Whereas before, I would have to lie down, and nap or at least rest.

I really haven’t got any down side, to anything, as yet. I really feel like I am getting my life back.  I am much nicer to be around, my friends have noticed that, and I can even joke around now, I am not always spending my energies on fighting the pain. I just hope that it continues to get better for me.

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I feel much better, thanks. I no longer get blurry vision, have less tremor in my hands (although this is one symptom which I think will never go away completely), no more chronic “tickle” in throat which caused me to constantly clear my throat, less chronic depression, and best of all, I don’t feel that deep down fatigue that I used to feel in seemingly every bone in my body. Overall, I seem to sleep better also, although I still occasionally get one of those sleepless nights.

I no longer get those inexplicable monster “back-of-the-eyeballs headaches” when I read anymore; although I used to be an enthusiastic reader at one time before Aspartame, I couldn’t tolerate reading for more than 15 minutes when I as on Aspartame.

I still do get tired more than I feel I should, but I definitely am doing better than just 6 months ago. I believe that an important residual effect of

Aspartame use is that due to chronic fatigue and basically feeling sick all the time had led me to become much less active which caused me to gain weight and to lose endurance from lack of enough aerobic exercise.

In addition to removing Aspartame from my diet, I have also cut my caffeine down to only one cup of coffee (seem to still need that jolt in the morning) per day which really minimizes that 2pm to 4pm “valley of fatigue”  crash which used to hit me very hard usually right after lunch.

Other diet revisions which I have made: 1) almost compete substitution of soft drinks with fruit/vegetable juices such as V-8, oj, cranberry, grape, etc. about the only soft drink that I’ll still have is ginger ale but even that I have rarely; 2) major reduction (but not fanatic abstinence) in consumption of red meats especially cold cuts; 3) we make a couple of big pots of different soups every weekend made with a lot of fresh veggies which we use as left overs which last through the week; 4) also have increased intake of vitamins up to at least 1500 mg of vitamin C and 400iu of vitamin E  per day along with a multi for B vitamins which I always make sure to take along with meals to ensure more complete digestion and adsorption.

I really did not start my diet change until after my 60 day countdown of stopping Aspartame use. So I guess it was somewhat “scientific” or whatever. The main idea that I have brought away from following the CFS and Aspartame post lists and web info is that everyone has a right to actively take care of his own health and to have free access to the materials and information to do so. I think that the modern medical system has become too bureaucratic and unresponsive to individual needs, especially if your symptoms don’t happen to fall neatly into an easy to diagnose and prescribe ailment. As time permits, we’re trying to read more books about holistic health approaches.

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NutraSweet makes me sick, my husband and daughter. It started with me.

Several years ago, I took two NutraSweet packets in several cups of coffee and had one pop a day. I noticed my eyes were always burning. I read a story in the tribune about two women who sued for blindness caused by it. I stopped taking it. The burning in my eyes went away.

I was afraid to have my daughter take it and wouldn’t let her drink pop with it in it. She stayed over at a friend’s house where a diabetic grandma lives and drank some of her NutraSweet pop. She was sick all night and half the next day with a horrible headache.

When my husband accidentally had a drink with NutraSweet in it — he believes in sugar — it made his head hurt, his nose run and his eyes burn.

I think this stuff is poison and i don’t care what the FDA says is safe. They’re acting more like a shill for corporations than a consumer protector. A friend of mine pulled a story off the net about a worker at the Searle plant dying from NutraSweet exposure. Apparently, all the workers have to wear space suits and this guy wasn’t careful. Kind of like the food additive version of who killed Karen Silkwood. She also pulled a story off about the woman who died in the ER and smelled so bad? It was from NutraSweet. The chemicals in NutraSweet tuned into methyl. Something that smells bad. Anyhow, I don’t use it and I tell people its poison, don’t use it.

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About a year ago I stopped drinking/eating anything with NutraSweet. This was truly amazing, because I practically lived on Diet Coke. I have noticed a marked difference in my mental abilities since giving up the NutraSweet.

I made the decision after reading a newsletter from a group that was trying to inform the public about the dangers of NutraSweet. I can’t find the publication now, or the name of the group, but I can tell you what some of their issues were.

They claimed that NutraSweet only barely passed the FDA approval process, and if it were not for appointing an additional researcher to the panel that was approving/or not NutraSweet it never would have been approved.

They claimed that in experimental animal studies, NutraSweet caused holes in the brains of animals given the product. If I remember correctly, this was not massive doses that caused this damage.

Also, this group claimed that studies showed that one of the metabolites of NutraSweet (what the product brakes down into in the body) is formaldehyde!!!! Just what I want running through my body!!!

As far as helping you lose weight, they claim it fails here too. This is what they claim happens. When you eat sugar, the brain detects the sugar and produces substances to metabolize it. When your body doesn’t do this, it results in serious medical problems because of the imbalance. When you consume something super sweet as NutraSweet, your body is tricked into producing the same substance to metabolize the sugar it thinks you consumed. This creates an imbalance in the body.

Your body uses cravings to help you to correct this problem. You end up craving sweets, and most likely you will end up consuming them one way or another. So the benefit from drinking diet sodas is negated!

Anyway, I have sworn red off the stuff, and think I am better off for it. I used to have the “Lyme brain fog” when out and about running errands. I would go crazy looking for a diet caffeinated drink to help “clear my head”.  It was only making it worse.

I tested this on myself by not consuming NutraSweet for about a week or so, and then drank a diet soda or two during the day. The increased confusion and brain fog was so marked, it convinced me to stop using NutraSweet.  Now if I have 1 every once in a while it doesn’t affect me, but if I have more than one, I’m feeling pretty bad. I noticed this one day when I was eating a birthday cake made without sugar and only NutraSweet. I did not know this at the time I was eating it, but I got very sick afterwards. Later, I heard the woman who made the cake boasting how it contained no sugar and was made with tons on the “blue stuff”.

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Shortly after Aspartame came on the market I started using it frequently. In 1983, desperate to take off some weight, I gave in to all the commercial hype and started using it regularly – everyday.  I had gone to Florida to start a future there.  I was consuming products with NutraSweet in many of the things I ate daily.  I started to feel like I was moving in slow motion.  The headaches – they were unbelievable.  I would just lie on the bathroom floor (closest proximity to toilet) and just cry and throw up.

Finally, one night, after being in terrible pain and confusion my roommate took me to Boca Raton Hospital.  I thought my head was about to explode.  Before being shot up with Demerol, the doctor asked what I had been eating.

I told him I was dieting and he immediately asked how much NutraSweet I was consuming.  I was honest and told him I had been passing over healthy foods for things like pudding with Aspartame in it or Jell-O.  As a compulsive eater, I couldn’t settle for just one serving, I would eat the box at one setting instead of a regular meal.  Then I ended up with what I call the NutraSweet hangover.  It took me days to get back to normal. That was it for me.

I moved back to Buffalo shortly after that and went back to college.  I did my own little study for a graded project, which was videotaped.  I got an A.  After reading some of the stories, I’m really glad my professor kept my project to show to future classes.

Every once in a while I used to tempt fate and see just how much I could get away with.  I would actually try to consume a can of pop, and naturally, I would get sick.

My sister, who is very athletically inclined, used to drink diet pop on the volleyball court.  She told me how she would start to feel like her body was slowing down, as well as her reaction time. I certainly made a believer out of her.  She won’t go near the stuff.

I’m so glad I ran into this extremely important info on the net.  Thank you for your organization.

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Thank you for your enlightening information regarding Aspartame.  I would like to share my personal experience with you.

When the product hit the market in the early 1980’s, I was a teenager.  Because I was always watching my weight, I drank lots of diet soft drinks.  At the time, as you will recall, Aspartame was added to soft drinks without any other type of sugar additive available.  Since NutraSweet was touted as safe, I, along with everyone else, continued to drink diet soft drinks.

Approximately two months after the switch over, I started to have mild seizures.  At the time, I was not sure what was happening and continued to drink diet soft drinks unknowingly.  As the seizures continued, I went to a physician to find out why this was happening to me.  They tested me and concluded that I must have had a mild form of epilepsy; although nothing conclusive ever showed up to indicate epilepsy.  I was prescribed an anti-seizure medicine, Dilantin, at the age of 18.  After being on the drug for perhaps six months, my father had heard a TV news report (back in the 80’s) that some people were having a reaction to the sweetener.  At that time, I went off of anything containing NutraSweet, as well as my Dilantin, and within six months was completely normal again.

I am now 32 years old and will not touch NutraSweet in any form.  My children are not allowed to drink diet soft drinks or have anything that contains NutraSweet.  I feel that Aspartame is a dangerous food additive and should be taken off the market.  What makes me angrier still is that no choice was ever given to the consumers regarding what type of sweetener they wanted.

Saccharin had been on the market for years and I had had no problems at all with it.  The lab mice that were injected with the Saccharin were injected with doses so large no human could ever consume the quantity given to these animals.  I’m angry because I was not given a choice.  I would have rather continued to been able to purchase products containing Saccharin, instead of going through what I want through with the NutraSweet products.

Please continue your good work!  Hopefully, through your work, we will be able to see NutraSweet come off of the market!  Thanks again.

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My daughter drank Diet Coke until about 3 years ago.  The diet brand started to make her sick gradually until she dropped them altogether and drank regular (classic) coke with no problems.  She has to avoid all diet products with aspartame or NutraSweet or her symptoms make her very sick.  Maybe there’s some truth in your question.  (But then again, both products make my brainstem swell.  Think it could run in the family?

Hmmm. Seems there’s something not hit on yet with the exacerbated symptoms and brain swelling, then with the NutraSweet with it.  Because of my seizures I have to do without it.  And also the right temporal lobe of my brain is swollen. Ok, that’s all I know). Will leave the details of this one for another brilliant researcher out there.

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I agree with what you said about NutraSweet not causing CFIDS.  But it can cause problems.  About 2 weeks ago I ate large doses of this in a Jell-O salad (for 2 days!) without knowing it was sugar free Jell-O.  I have had a major set-back with SEVERE joint aches, especially my right knee which was hard to walk on, fever, sweats, chills, HEADACHES, & extreme exhaustion which put me back on the couch unable to function.  I finally went to my Dr. for pain pills & he said, “What did you eat?”  As it was an allergic reaction he said, & it would take about 2 weeks to clear out of the system.  Much sorting out, I awoke late at night saying I bet the Jell-O was NutraSweet.  And after tracking the source, it was.

Now the most pains have subsided, but the headaches are still here.  I get up in the morning and cry because I feel so bad.

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I just wanted to say thanks for the information that you made available on the web about Aspartame. I am a 27 year old male. For the past 10 or 11 years I have consumed large quantities of diet sodas. All of which contained Aspartame. I would drink soda all day long. When I wasn’t drinking diet soda, I was drinking coffee or ice tea sweetened with sweet & low or equal. All this time I was figuring I was doing my body good by not consuming all that sugar. That was until I heard about Aspartame.

On December 31 my mother and my wife told me about the 60 Minuets show on the aspartame. I like to check these things out for myself, so I spent hours today on the web reading about this stuff. Most of this information came from Dorway. I was sickened to read about my own governments sell out, not this type of thing surprises me.

I went down the list of reactions. At one time or another, all of us experience some of these things, but they can usually be explained. I am in good health. I am overweight, but I work out and do cardiovascular exercise a few days a week. I am often surprised at how fatigued I am. I have been getting headaches out of the blue for the past two years. I have experienced some hair loss from time to time. I lately have become dizzy a few times with no warning. My joints ache; at times I have memory loss.

I don’t drink very often, and I don’t use drugs. I try to eat right and take care of myself, and I generally stay well all the time except for these unexplained symptoms that I get from time to time. I don’t go to the doctor unless something is major is wrong, so I have never talked to anyone about these problems.

I was glad to hear about this from you. This might well be my problem. I have decided to try the 60 day test. I probably will never use the product again, but for the next 60 days I will not go near the stuff. I am also telling everyone I know about the Dorway website.

Update

It has been about 120 days since I kicked the habit. I thought maybe my letter was lost in cyberspace since I had not heard from you in so long. My headaches are gone. Surprisingly my dizzy spells are gone as well. That was what was worrying me. I was keeping a record of these spells, and the last one I that accrued in early Jan. They would come at any time even watching TV. They are gone. My joints no longer ache, memory is better and I feel great. I will say I do miss Diet Coke etc.  I now drink a lot of water, mostly sparkling or seltzer with only lime or something. I want to thank you again for the info.

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I had gotten used to living with headaches and fatigue.  I thought I wasn’t getting enough sleep (7 1/2 to 8 hours per day).  Each day, I used around 6 packets of equal — three in a large 20 ounce coffee in the morning and three in a large 20 ounce tea in the afternoon.  The reason I used the stuff was that it dissolved quickly compared with sugar, and I actually do prefer the taste to sugar.  Add in lots of sugarless gum and a diet soda from time to time, and it was consuming a lot of Aspartame.

I am otherwise in good health and exercise frequently.

Almost immediately upon giving up NutraSweet, my symptoms went away.  No more fatigue and fog in the morning, and a clearer head throughout the day.

It was your web site listing hundreds of pages of toxicity reactions that convinced me to change my habits.  You have got to keep getting the word out.

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Just for the record, I stopped using Aspartame and my vision problems disappeared. I suffered for years, tried all kinds of treatments and it was simply caused by Aspartame!

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I don’t have any documented proof by article.  But I can tell you that I am positive my brilliant daughter lost her photographic memory the first year NutraSweet was out – that first summer.  She is an electrical engineer now, but was afraid she wasn’t going to make it during her last year of high school as valedictorian.  She did!!!  But boy did she have to kill herself working on her studies.  It would have been so much easier without the photo memory loss.

I myself, have a time with short term memory loss on just a couple cans of diet pop with Aspartame.  I can’t even remember who I just talked to on the phone sometimes.

That stuff is really bad and it aggravates my fibromyalgia I found out just recently.

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I’m another one with fibromyalgia.  When they first switched to NutraSweet in the diet sodas, I started itching so bad from head to toe, that I had to be on Benadryl for a year.  That’s how long it took me to find out the cause of the itching.  I suspected the itching was related to a food allergy, but when I went without the diet soda for three days, the itching continued.  I found out the cause when I went two whole weeks without any sodas and the itching stopped.  It takes two weeks for it to leave the fatty tissue in your body.  It definitely affects people with fibromyalgia.  I wish they would wake up and realize how harmful it is.

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I am 50 years old and also have had joint pain for a few years which I attributed to approaching menopause.  Accidentally, I discovered that the source of my pain was the use of NutraSweet.  Once I stopped using it in my coffee and didn’t eat or drink anything containing Aspartame, my joint pain completely went away.

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Last Friday, 5/10/97, I discovered what caused a peripheral vision loss that was diagnosed in 1994. Aspartame. I couldn’t believe it when I found out this crap has methyl alcohol in it. Everyone knows wood alcohol makes you blind, and here I have been drinking it since 91. I have also had headaches, memory loss, confusion, anger and who knows what else.

In just 6 days without Diet Coke I have come to feel a heck of a lot better. I am writing to thank you for your efforts at educating the public (me) on the dangers of Aspartame. Keep up the fight.

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I loved your article.  Just recently I found out the EVILS of Aspartame.

As soon as I did I called my Mother and told her not to drink any more of her diet Pepsi, which by the way she has been drinking for 20 years plus.  Well even though Aspartame hasn’t been the market 20 years it was still wrong to change whatever they were using before.  Well she hadn’t drunk diet Pepsi for a couple of weeks and she was starting to feel better. Out of habit she bought a diet Pepsi and drank a little, and soon after realized what she had done.  Within the hour she starting having pains in her sides and the old familiar headache came back.  She also just felt like crap the rest of the day.  Needless to say she’ll never do that again.  By the way she has had continual stomach and intestine problems as far back as mid ’86. And every doctor has given her one potion or another to treat the problem (poison in her system).  I have introduced my mom to vitamins and minerals and she loves the results.  The other day she bought some vitamin B complex.  Well she took it and laid down took take a nap.  When she awoke she had a headache, well guess what the vitamin had, ASPARTAME.  I am so glad people like you are standing up and making the FDA take responsibility for its BIG mistake. (One of many) If we can get the politics out of the way maybe some common sense will kick in (fingers crossed). By the way I call Yoplait and grilled them on their use of the poison.  Of course I fell on deaf ears.  Well keep up the great work.

And if you need any more info on my story let me know!!!!

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This makes sense to me. Even though I’m taking medicine to guard against panic attacks I started having them constantly a short while ago. I never realized until I read your post that I had been bingeing on diet soda (we just had a new fountain installed in our break room). After the novelty of the fountain wore off, I went back to drinking water — the panic attacks stopped!

Thanks for giving me an idea as to what caused their resurgence.

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Here is another testimony to add to your thousands of others just discovered by me on the web.  I have used Aspartame for years, usually going back and forth between regular sodas and diet sodas as my “health consciousness” fluctuated.  I knew that diet sodas caused me severe gastro-intestinal problems, but figured that was the price I had to pay for that “great taste and refreshing fizz”.  It wasn’t until my husband informed me that he was sick of having to “rub my stomach” and maybe I should consider cutting back on the diet drinks that I decided to research NutraSweet and found your website. (My stomach cramps were so severe that I was unable to sit down or eat or do anything other than go to sleep for the evening, and I also was a chronic headache sufferer.)  Now I vow that I will never knowingly ingest Aspartame again, and just regret all the years that I’ve allowed this harmful substance to ruin my body.  What disturbs me the most is the children’s vitamins I have religiously given my 3 kids. All containing Aspartame, of course.

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I agree! Nutripoison gives me migraines that feel like a brain explosion! Really, a half a Diet Coke will give a four day headache.

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No, I never did receive the info on joint pain, but I did go off NutraSweet (avid Diet Coke drinker) and the results were wonderful.  Within days the pain in my hips and legs subsided!!!  It’s nice to roll out of bed in the morning and not cringe all the way to the bathroom!!

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My son, who is 7, developed an allergy to NutraSweet when he was about 3.  It alters his behavior.  It is like Jekyll and Hyde right before your eyes.  He gets so aggressive and hyper and he cannot be controlled.  Anyone else have this problem?  I thought it was sugar that was making him hyper and we put him on a sugar free diet when he was 3.  About 30 minutes after ingesting it (NutraSweet), he went crazy.  We tried this off and on for about a week and had the same results.  He has had NutraSweet since then and it still makes him crazy.

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I spent January through February Aspartame free by cutting out Diet Coke.  I am diabetic and have spent most of the 20+ years drinking diet sodas.  I thought I was crazy because my husband said I had become belligerent and “testy.”

I’ve had back and shoulder pain (what I thought was bursitis) for most of these 20 years.  And it’s always been difficult to control my diabetes in all this time.

I had been going to an acupuncturist for the back and shoulder pain.  It worked but was only temporary and expensive.  Well, it didn’t take long in those two months for the headaches and back and shoulder pain to go away. And my attitude has improved tremendously.

The unthinkable has now happened.  I backslid and drank one Diet Coke, which then became three a day within a week’s time.  For the last six weeks I have been suffering from back and shoulder pain and headaches, and have become a bear again and very “emotional.”  And when I wake in the morning, my hands are stiff.  Have been drinking probably 5-6 Diet Cokes for the last 5 weeks, and am trying desperately to get off the Diet Cokes again.

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All the studies in the world are not going to convince me Aspartame is okay when my husband AND I get excruciatingly painful headaches when we ingest the stuff (and since we’re not genetically related, that’s pretty scary), and only when we ingest the stuff, and when we stop ingesting the stuff, our headaches go away. I will also never forget being told BY MY DOCTOR not to ingest Aspartame when I was pregnant, because it might cause fetal brain damage. I think this is a dangerous product, and I won’t let my kids go near it.

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Read with great interest the information on Aspartame.  What a tragedy!  I repeatedly found myself plagued with severe migraines if I consumed as little as is found in four cans of diet soda.  I thought I must be crazy; surely they can’t be caused by the NutraSweet.  After testing my theory, the cause and effect finally became clear to me.  I thought I was the only one until I found various sites dealing with the issue.  Thank you for confirming what I really had already known in my heart – Aspartame is very dangerous.

Update

Headaches are all but gone.  I’ve only had one or two migraines which were clearly hormonally caused.  I am spreading the word, Betty, and so admire all you’re doing.

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I just wanted to say THANK YOU for taking the time to put this vital information on the web.  So many consider the subject taboo.

I am 33 years old and have kidney disease. Two years ago Duke University performed numerous tests to find out why I had so many headaches, and other symptoms.  I was told that I had an allergic reaction to Aspartame which is found in most all diet products.  Doctors would not comment if this was related to the kidney disease I have, but I believe it is possible.

As a diabetic, I have great concerns about NutraSweet.  Several letters to the NutraSweet Corporation have gone unanswered.  God help all that are using these products to try and make themselves thin and beautiful for society.  They are putting themselves in the grave.

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My wife used to drink Diet Coke religiously.  We live in south Texas, a hot and humid climate.  Several nights, she couldn’t sleep.  She had heart palpitations and flutterings.  (She’s only 36)  She is a non- smoker, non-drinker, exercises regularly and is 5’4″ and 107 pounds.

I hate doctors. (I also have worked for American hospital supply co, been around the hospital long enough to know that they don’t have all the answers.)  We have used acupuncture and chiropractors, so use some alternate homeopathy treatments.

Anyway, after 2 nights of no sleep, I did what doctors do; I asked questions.

What did you eat differently?

What did you drink differently?

And the only unhealthy thing I could fathom was the Diet Coke. The coke left our home that day.

She has been in the pink ever since- with one exception.  The day she drank 4 oz. of the stuff her symptoms reappeared-albeit mildly.

Now, for the first time in a long time, she perspires, sleeps and feels just fine. Much more (filtered when possible) water, and an occasional herbal tea are the only changes in lifestyle.

Glad to have my wife back. All this and I had never read your stuff before!

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I stay as far away from it as possible. I discovered that it triggers terrible migraines for me.

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Thank you for compiling SO MUCH information! My diabetic husband used to go through times where he would do anything to find an argument. We finally connected these episodes to his NutraSweet consumption. I have a book titled something like “The Handbook of Food Additives”. It has a whole page (instead of a couple lines for most other additives) dedicated to this lovely product, but you’ve fleshed out the description and supportive details. It is SO hard to find soft drinks without it. Right now, he primarily drinks home-made iced tea with Sweet & Low. I’m fighting my own battle with a relatively mild case of environmental illness. What we DON’T need is another chemical that our bodies have to deal with. Keep up the good work.

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I have the same reaction to Aspartame as I do MSG, horrible head-in-a-vice headaches; I also have the same reaction to Ibuprofen which is SUPPOSED to be an analgesic.  Go figure.

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Aspartame also does bad things when it gets hot, and can have lots of other nasty side effects. In any quantity at all, it makes me dizzy.

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I have a really hard time with my stomach about 1 hour after ingesting anything with NutraSweet in it.  My stomach hurts, I have heartburn really severe.  Anyone else have similar symptoms?  Thank goodness I recognized them right away.  So I have to watch it close.  I read labels a lot.  At least I realized what was causing the problems.

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MTZ about NutraSweet not being good in the Zone. I would suggest that NutraSweet (Aspartame) is not good in or out of the Zone.  A growing number of people are discovering that their headaches and memory problems were directly related to this stuff, and the problems disappeared after stopping all use of it.  In my case, it was headaches.

Although fond of sweets, I’m even fonder of being pain-free.  🙂

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If I chew sugar free gum I get a pounding headache. Why put something with a possible negative effect if you can avoid it.

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NutraSweet is a potent migraine trigger for me, but sorbitol is no problem at all.

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Thank you for the very prompt response to my request. They arrived yesterday. So far they are airing out in my garage, because of my severe chemical sensitivities, but by tomorrow they will be fine. I know it will help a number of people who have no idea why they have so many problems. I lived in Skokie, IL when NutraSweet first came out.

Took one sip and turned red as a beat. Since Searle was in my home town, I called and reported it, and they told me just a rare thing peculiar to me. So, I waited a year, tried again, and same thing happened, only worse. Called again, and they said well, a few isolated cases, but do not worry!! Needless to say I never took another sip, and started a long time ago to warn people. But still no one will believe me unless they are really sick. So much to do, and thank you for your efforts.

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I had/have a case of prostatitis. 1st Urologist put me on Floxin 2/day – 3 months. At the end, pain lessened, but not gone; sex painful.

2nd Urologist did a good exam, and asked if I drank coffee, used NutraSweet or smoked.  Answer was “all three” I learned that all three things (NutraSweet and/or saccharine, caffeine, & nicotine) are “known bladder irritants”.  Urethra too I’d guess.

Have now cut out all artificial sweeteners & coffee/tea for 3-4 weeks.

RESULT:  Pain almost gone, sex drive returning.

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Found you via web search for Aspartame to show a friend who had purchased a ‘health’ product containing Aspartame and acesulfame-K. The product is ‘Redoxon’ vitamin-C, from, wait for it, Roche Consumer Health.

Acesulfame-K is unknown to me and will remain so. My experiences (2) with Aspartame were involuntary and only identified after I nearly died both times. The headaches caused were of such severity that 2 grams aspirin were required each time to alleviate them. The tension in the muscles of my neck would otherwise have broken it! This stuff is seriously bad. I cannot understand the continued marketing of it. The people who make and manufacture are seriously insane. Please notify my report to any interested parties. Please do not worry about hiding my identity – I don’t care who knows what I think of this kind of misbehavior by the Megagreedies of this world. May they die in agony!

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You requested that I give you an update after 60 days without Aspartame.   I have made some progress.   I have no more migraine headaches, no leg cramps, the joint pain is at least 95% gone, the skin lesions are going away, and I have lost 6 1/2 pounds without changing my eating habits any more.  Something else has happened that I can’t explain.  For years I have not been able to drink tea because it hurt my lower back (which I thought was my kidneys).

When I bought the Calli tea for detoxification, I didn’t think about that not bothering me.  After I had been drinking it for at least 2 weeks, it occurred to me that I wasn’t having any pain from drinking tea.  Could it be because I’m not consuming Aspartame anymore?  Anyway, I’ve been drinking tea now at fast food places instead of Diet Coke and getting by with it.  I could not even sneak in one glass of it before without it causing me pain right away.

I have a long way to go but I didn’t get this way in two months and I won’t get rid of it in two months.

It took me 14 years to get this bad and I will keep trying.  I have reached a lot of people and hope they will listen.  I want to get enough better that when I tell someone about this, they will listen and take notice of my getting better.

A Note from her daughter, mom didn’t mention these other improvements:

Her balance seems better at times. Several have noticed that her handwriting is better – isn’t as shaky. Her last eye exam, only 1 of her eyes had changed.   I don’t know if it got better or worse and she didn’t ask.   She did say that with her double vision that she saw 2 distinct items where now the two overlap again.

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I’ve had problems with buzzing ears since 1984 that could not be diagnosed by various ear doctors over the years, as well as chronic depression. After hearing a radio program on the bad effects of Aspartame in early November, I stopped all use of products containing Aspartame. My ears haven’t buzzed since, and I feel a definite improvement in my mood. How can I support the movement to remove this substance from the marketplace?

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I am one of the many people who have experienced significant side effects from the use of NutraSweet (if I sip a Diet Coke, I’m a space cadet for the rest of the evening.)

I was wondering if anyone was considering a Class Action law suit against the makers of Equal. While I don’t use it anymore, I honestly feel that it is a dangerous product.

My story is pretty typical – I was using Equal in my coffee at work, had really bad headaches, anxiety, dizziness, confusion, etc. and I really think that stuff did some long term damage -I stopped using Equal 3-4 years ago, but I still have Equal ‘flashbacks’ that I never used to have.

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Have just discovered your effort to combat Aspartame/NutraSweet use.   After eight (8) years of suffering and being seen by every specialist in my area, I have finally discovered (through a God-sent Kinesiologist) that I was actually “allergic” to all the NutraSweet I was consuming (sometimes in excess of 6 cans of Diet Coke per day, not to mention all the “diet” things it may have been hidden in!  Even after an MRI brain scan, no medical doctor questioned my “habits”!! I awoke one morning in 1989 with a funny sort of “dizzy” feeling and tried desperately for the next almost 8 years to solve or get to the bottom of my problem.  After eliminating NutraSweet from my diet for a couple of weeks, my symptoms disappeared!! Miracle!!  Please share this hope with others and register my toxic reaction with any and all organizations you can!

Grateful in Atlanta.

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I had major joint problems for some time about 5 years ago. My doctors thought that I had Lyme’s, lupus or arthritis, none of which was a particularly good option.  However, after testing for inflamitories and left it at that.  Soon I couldn’t even pick up a coffee cup as my elbow was so bad.  Then someone suggested that I stop eating anything with NutraSweet.

I decided that it couldn’t hurt. I think that I actually went through withdrawal; I wanted a diet soda so much it was ridiculous.  Anyway the pains in my joints started to leave with the last new pain leaving first and so on until finally my elbows which were the first to show symptoms were ok too.  About 6 months later I had to see my Dr. for something else and told him about what had happened with my nonspecific tendonitis.  He then told me that he hadn’t thought of it but that he was reading more and more about symptoms from the stuff and that migraines and joint pain were two of the most common.

NutraSweet free for 5 years with no problems and loving it.

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Well the headaches have not exactly vanished, although I’m hopeful. The Aspartame connection has not really panned out for me. YET! However I think I’m noticing a little less nervous energy especially at bedtime, my legs were restless and moving around a lot, (Kramer from Seinfeld calls them “jimmy legs”!!). This seems to have calmed down a lot. I’m definitely convinced of the deadly hazards of this poison and I wish the migraine had stopped as soon as I quit the soda but it didn’t, again your mention of formaldehyde poisoning is something I don’t feel has played out in me yet, right now I’m doing the 60 day test and seeing what happens (including a probable detoxification of some kind).

Update

Well I have some good news; it seems that my migraines are disappearing. For the last two weeks they have almost completely stopped.  As you know I’ve been off Aspartame for almost 4 weeks and just 10 days ago you said to take a magnesium tablet which I did, and things have been rapidly changing, I haven’t had a migraine at all in one week. I put off taking my homeopathic remedy flora while to make sure I was onto something which I think now I am (onto something). I really think the Aspartame connection is it. I haven’t done a detox yet but will soon. Also another thing I noticed is my wife is not having bad gas problems since quitting Aspartame too.

So good news huh? I haven’t had to take my Imitrex in over a week and that makes me happy because I don’t want to be on a super drug like that although I am grateful for it because it does work on the migraine quite well. so I’m hoping I’m done with the migraines, my intuition says I’m right and why should I question such divine advice!!

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If I drink a diet soda, within 10 minutes I will have about a 8-9 headache, complete with nausea and sometimes vomiting, and fever and chills alternating at about 120-second intervals.  This will last for several hours, until I can finally get the pain under control enough to sleep for 7-8 hours.

Also have a friend who is affected almost exactly the same way by the stuff. Nasty stuff.

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I think it was my post last month, reporting on how I am in almost total remission after stopping all NutraSweet cold turkey that got this threat started.

At the expense of sounding harsh, let me say this:  I reported on being a heavy user of NutraSweet. I couple of liters of Diet Coke per day as though you are bragging about it, and then complain about how bad you feel.  God helps those who help themselves.

Stop the NutraSweet for 90 days and go to bed early and get up early. Your ass will drag for a few days but you’ll get on a normal cycle. What the hell do you have to lose, people.  Don’t complain if you don’t try.

You’ll live.  I promise you, Stopping Diet Coke never hurt anyone. It isn’t heroin. You can do it. Just do it.

Flame me.  But if it saves one person from the hell I went through it will be worth it. A dozen people have emailed me to say that they feel much better after stopping NutraSweet. A few have said it didn’t help them at all. You could be one of those thinking clearly and out playing with your kids.  All you have to lose is 90 days of Diet Coke.

was very, very sick with FMS (fibromyalgia) and CFS.  For some irrational reason, I felt that you could take my Diet Coke from me when they pried my cold dead hands from around it.

When I finally was so bad that I quit cold turkey–not an easy task for a diabetic–I reported to you that within a few days I felt much better and within 90 days I am in almost total remission.  Stopping was not my only action. I take B-1, B-6, B12, Chromium, Multi-vitamin, C, melatonin and E daily along with eschenacia.  I also drink water and get to bed early. (8 hours of sleep starting at 2 am is not the same as 8 hours starting at 9 pm–that’s a fact.) I also exercise daily whether I feel like it or not.

But I’m telling you that stopping NutraSweet played a major role in my recovery. I don’t care why.  But I know it did.

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I’m glad to know that I’m not the only one having a problem with NutraSweet (Aspartame).  I did a lot of research on it and it seemed Pro-Aspartame research was funded by companies that benefit from NutraSweet sales.  And anti-NutraSweet reports were from other companies (like Rodale Research).

Anyway, I was having vision disturbances and mental “gaps” that were momentary gaps where I couldn’t remember where I was going or what I was doing.  I thought for sure I was over drugged with Xanax and Buspar.

After a lot of experimentation, two weeks with no NutraSweet and the mental gaps are gone and haven’t had a vision disturbance since.  (It’s been about 6 years)

I drink a lot of Pepsi in a day (used to drink at least a 6-pack) so I got a lot of NutraSweet, interestingly, since I changed to regular sugar-loaded Pepsi, I haven’t had any significant weight changes.

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But a few years ago I isolated some severe headaches and mood swings, attention problems to NutraSweet.

Boy, does this look familiar.  My husband for several years started to drink beverages with NutraSweet in it.  The rest of the house noticed that he was getting very testy (I say that with a smile, and also was trying to think of a better description).   So we started to pay more attention to what he was eating and drinking, and also started to make certain absent from his menu.  Lo and behold, when we took him off NutraSweet, he was back to his jolly old self again.

He now jokingly tells people “Give me NutraSweet, and then give me a $100 dollar bill, and I will be blast you for doing it wrong.”   So we keep him completely away from NutraSweet.

I can relate a few other stories about people we know well who stopped drinking anything with NutraSweet who had personality changes.

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I was addicted to 2-3 liter Diet Coke consumption a day? I will say this-It is addictive!!! My wife said my behavior became “less aggressive” – in fact I felt calmer after coming off Aspartame. Your article scared me shitless-I even did follow-up research to make sure you were right! You were right!!!

Boy do I have faith in our “system” now??? I believe that the powers that be know that this substance is addicting-it took 4-6 weeks to come off withdrawals. Addiction leads to sales and more money. What a bunch of psychopathic sicko’s!!!

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Some friends at work who knew that I consumed massive quantities of Diet Coke on a daily (hourly) basis told me about a TV news story they saw re: the dangers of Aspartame.  It got me thinking “maybe I ought to check this out.”  I found your web site and was alarmed to read about many symptoms I’d been experiencing, including (from your list): headaches, change in mood quality or level, diarrhea, memory loss, fatigue, sleep problems, change in sensation (numbness, tingling), change in activity level, joint and bone pain, eye irritation, change in body weight, nocturnal, change in thirst or water intake, and sinus problems.

Three weeks ago I quit DC cold turkey, and lo and behold, many of the above symptoms are clearing up, especially the numbness and tingling that was concerning me the most.  For several months, my left hand tingled, especially in the morning, often lasting all day.  I was also experiencing numbness in my legs when sitting for any length of time.

These symptoms so concerned me that I visited my physician to obtain his opinion.  He told me to get used to it, that I’m just getting older (I’m 39).  I’m relieved to tell you that after quitting the use of Aspartame, I’m feeling younger!  The tingling and numbness are gone.  Other symptoms seem to be clearing up as well!

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I just wanted to share with everyone that NutraSweet can cause attacks of MS. I know that with MS we are supposed to be eating low-fat, but watch out for the artificial sweeteners. Also, if you suffer from Migraines, NutraSweet causes migraines (or at least seems like it does). One night, I drank an entire bottle of light cranberry juice before I realized that it had NutraSweet in it. That entire night, I had more sleeplessness than before and stomach cramps like you wouldn’t believe. Over the next few days, my MS got worse, my vision became more blurred.

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We have a daughter – Laura born 15/06/94 so she is nearly 3 now.

In October 96 we weaned Laura off baby fruit juices onto the       more everyday sort of fruit squashes e.g.  Ribena.  We were very aware of the high sugar content of many of these squashes with the link this has to dental health problems. We saw juices in the supermarket labeled “No Added Sugar” and thought this seemed to be an answer to the problem fruit juice and no excess sugar to trigger dental problems.

In late December 96 Laura developed a rash, particularly on her extremities and lower abdomen; her hands were very badly affected.

We took her to our local GP and this resulted in a diagnosis of eczema; the Doctor prescribed an application of topical cream, and recommended taking Laura off dairy milk onto Soya Milk.  Laura drinks little milk anyhow so that seemed a strange diagnosis we were unhappy with this and decided to look further into possible causes.

The condition became more advanced and a further visit to the GP saw us with a different topical cream and reassurance that it was indeed eczema.

Around that time I subscribed to an Internet provider but due to PC limitations only used the service to access e-mail.  One night I was reading an e-mail from a fellow member of the local Friends of The Earth group in which he sent me details of Mission Possible and Aspartame. As I read I saw similarities with the problem we encountered with Laura, I looked at the label on our “No Added Sugar” concentrate and sure enough found Aspartame on its list of contents.  Taking Laura off the substance, saw the rash has all but gone within 14 days, but for the first 5 or so days,  (Aspartame free) she was like someone in withdrawal, aggressive and craving the substance.

I passed this information to our GP practice and the local newspaper, the former simply added it to Laura’s case notes and the newspaper is treating it as too hot to touch.  I sent the case history to the Times and Independent neither followed it up.

We are convinced that Aspartame is the trigger for Laura’s problems, we suspect it is in children’s toothpaste – unlabeled and many other products e.g. low fat yoghurts and Tesco’s Clear Apple Juice.

Consumption of both resulted in an almost instant rash and return of behavioral problems.

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I did take the 60 day test and never went back to Aspartame.  I do feel better in spite of the stroke.  I think I’ve had quicker healing because I quit the Aspartame.  I am able to walk somewhat without a cane.  I am a noticing increase in memory that was a problem even before I had the stroke.  I am gaining more energy, however, that process is rather slow and I think more due to the residual effects of the stroke.  Well, this might tell you something.  I took my driver’s test this week and passed. (Except for high speed driving.  I chose not to do that one yet.)

I am not 100% but am improving all the time.  Thanks for your efforts in this much needed cause.  Perhaps I’ll get the energy back soon and be able to assist you.

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I’m concerned about my brother.  He is 46 years old and since 1988 (approximately) he has deteriorated health wise.  At the age of 40, all his friends would continuously tell him to “lighten up” and that “life begins at 40” but he could not share their optimism since he felt like “hell”!  During this time he experienced several seizures and doctors who examined him told him he was epileptic, even though this is not traced in our family history.  He was also told that he was diabetic.  Diabetes does occur (mildly) in our grand-parent.  He was put on a special diet to control his blood sugar and the doctors prescribed medication to control the seizures.  Nevertheless, he continued to feel exceptionally fatigued and generally un-well and the seizures continued.

He went to many specialists, trying to identify what was causing the seizures and underwent a multitude of state of the art tests without any real positive results.  They eventually diagnosed him with Multiple Sclerosis but were unable to identify the real cause of the seizures.

On November 18, 1996, my brother was driving on the highway when he had his most recent seizure and of course he woke up in hospital with fractures and bruises (and luckily for him) he was still alive!  On the 19th of November (the following day) while resting on his bed, at the hospital,  he happened to be watching a report on the news stating that Aspartame had been found to cause seizures,  MS and etc.   This is when he realized that Aspartame might very well be the reason why his health had deteriorated to such a degree.  He had been a habitual user of Aspartame for easily 15 years.  He drank Diet Coke, he used Aspartame to sweeten his coffee and he also would look for foods that were prepared with artificial sweeteners to control his diet.  He drank a lot of coffee!  And he also enjoyed peanut butter sandwiches with Aspartame sprinkled on it instead of honey.

He has not had any foods with Aspartame since that day and he has been extremely careful about his food intake since January and he says he feels much better.

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Sure. I had been having headaches a lot and feeling tired a lot.

Since I have quit using the NutraSweet the headaches have pretty much gone and I have been a lot more energetic.  Also, I haven’t gained weight, even though I’ve been drinking regular pop.

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We threw out all these sugar substitutes and no longer buy “diet” drinks or “diet” anything.  My husband seems to be doing better.

For example he no longer takes Zoloft for depression.  The MD says his walking difficulty is caused by peripheral neuropathy, but as a RN I have never seen his particular type of problem before.  He has very poor balance and would fall over unless he stands holding onto something.

I think it’s caused by a combination of things.  Diabetes plus years and years of using sugar substitutes in coffee and food.

I have plastered articles on Aspartame in the hospital where I work, and have persuaded some to get off the stuff.  Thanks for your diligence in trying to get this poison off the market. Keep me posted on your progress and let me know what I can do to assist.

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I had a reaction to Aspartame in the late 80s when during that summer we decided to get off sugar and began drinking drinks with Aspartame as a sweetener. It was very hot in Louisiana that summer and I was consuming as much as a gallon of lemonade a day, made from Crystal Lite Drink mix.

I suffered 3 grand mall seizures in a month. The hospital could find nothing wrong with me physically so I was diagnosed as epileptic and told I would have to take an anti-seizure drug for the rest of my life.

I had heard about the NutraSweet danger and decided on my own that that may be the problem. I did not take the seizure medication rather stopped drinking or consuming anything with Aspartame in it and to this day have had no more problems.

I wonder how the government can let this happen.  I would like to do something about this but know of no avenues to react. I hope somehow tis product can be banned from the market before other people are hurt.

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I found, in addition to the headaches, I was swelling, ankles and other extremities, which did manage to abate after ceasing the NutraSweet, probably because of its pharmacologic similarity to MSG, which has become horrid for me, with 3 days or so recovery needed after accidental ingestion. If you’re really MSG sensitive, you might also be NutraSweet sensitive.

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I have tremors.  They are called familiar or intentional tremors.  They occur when I try to do something deliberate like drink a cup of coffee, eat, use the computer mouse to play solitaire.  Well the doctor gave me medication that didn’t seem to help much and I couldn’t drink a cup of coffee with my right hand and I couldn’t play solitaire without holding my right hand down with the left one.  When Theresa came up on 1/19 I decided to stop drinking diet soda and drink regular soda.  Within two weeks I could hold a cup in my right hand and play solitaire again.

I am a home health aide and it can be embarrassing when I shake worse than the people I am caring for.  A couple of weeks ago I was caring for a 43 year old woman recovering from surgery and had to put a band aid on her and she noticed the slight tremor and asked me if I had familiar tremors and I said yes.  She said she did too.  Then I told her about the NutraSweet and she was amazed because she was drinking a two liter of Diet Coke a day and then quit soda altogether and noticed that her tremors had gotten better.

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All of the medical jargon aside.  I know I’m allergic to NutraSweet.  If I eat the smallest amount I break out in hives, other skin rashes and have from a mild to severe case of diarrhea with severe intestinal cramping.  The severity depends upon how much I have ingested.

Funny,  I never had these reactions to saccharine, go figure it.

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I have bookmarked your page and am printing off the pages to give to my sick friends.  It is remarkable that you chose to post this information to the internet.  My story is that I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia.   I am a medical professional and have noted the exponential rise in autoimmune degenerative neurological conditions in the last 15 years.

The fibromyalgia predominantly strikes women and mine was triggered by the birth of my daughter and a surgery. I also used DayPro, but it was quite useless except to make me tired and go to sleep for the total fitful time of 4 hours per night.  Since the symptoms are primarily neurological, I back-tracked histories of myself and several of my patients.  We had all had surgery but not all had had general anesthetic and a neuro muscular blocker as I had.  We all had used NutraSweet!!

I am a heavy user and have used about 2 liters of diet soda daily since the day the stuff hit the market.  My symptoms:  screaming leg pain mostly at bedtime. The most defining pain was the intra scapular tearing pain.  There was one panic attack, heart palpitations nearly daily (no cardiac involvement, that was tested).  Joint pain (no swelling and no articular deterioration), teeth grinding and nightmares, evening-time rashes, slowed speech and forgetfulness, depression and moodiness, vomiting and coughing in the morning and loss of about 80 percent of my strength.

Previously, I had worked out at a gym and could leg press over 800 pounds. That went down to less than 50 pounds. I couldn’t get back up from the floor without climbing up my own legs. There never were any headaches.  I used Prozac for several months until I couldn’t sleep at all.  I had physical therapy also at that time.  The Prozac was great to get some neurotransmitter back in my muscles and the strength is about 60 percent better but the side effects were bad for me.  It gave me strength to train in physical therapy.  I have discontinued the Prozac due to side affected and the ever present stigma associated with the drug.

I’ve been off NutraSweet for about a week except that I had some gum 2 days ago that was laced with the stuff.  Within the first 3 days the fog has really lifted and my toes are coming back, there’s pain where there was numbness.  In order to walk some mornings, I had to soak my feet in super-hot water and then stick them on the frozen cement of the garage floor. This is called contrast therapy which shocked the feet so I could walk.

As a medical professional who can affect change, I vow to use my experience to help my patients recover their lives. I will write again to tell you of my progress.

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I can walk.  I can think.  I’m creative again.  I sleep most nights.  Wow!  What a difference without NutraSweet!

It’s great to have my life back; to be able to remember how to use my vocabulary, to not have anxiety attacks and paranoia over common events. I no longer blank out.  I’ve worked very hard to be able to walk a mile a day at a brisk pace and can do it daily now.

I have incapacitating flair ups but it’s nothing compared to how sick I was.  The turning point was at about 80 days.

Again, bless you, bless you, and bless you for posting this information to the web.

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My husband and I run our own business. It meant many long hours, especially with the onset of the recession and all its implications. My husband has always drunk coke, but for dietary reasons and in order to stay awake (often working seventeen hour days-I also worked long hours but do not drink coke) drank more and more Diet Coke. Inevitably this sleep deprivation combined with a certain amount of isolation plus a need to drink up to SIX LITRES of Diet Coke a day led to a sense of complete despair, depression and poor self-esteem. Add to this the pressures of a young family, job insecurity and little outside help or support and things were pretty bleak. I realized I could no longer continue this way and began to extend my hours of sleep. My husband still felt all the same pressures and could not be persuaded to sleep better hours, saying that it was the way he worked, and was still drinking large quantities of coke – I believe he was well and truly addicted to diet coke and was unable to help himself. With incredible determination both my husband and I managed to improve our overall lifestyle and overcome the associated problems, however having lessened the amount of coke he consumed my husband was still addicted to it. Now with other problems lessoned I could clearly see the affect Diet Coke has on him. When he is not drinking Diet Coke he is like a new person, or at least the person I once knew. BUT after abstaining for a week then drinking it these are the characteristics I see: depression, aggression (pent-up or verbal aggression not physical) a sense of hopelessness, unable to sleep, poor concentration, poor communication, trouble with eyesight, chest/lung problems. Also when he abstained from drinking coke altogether he looked healthier AND lost weight naturally.

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I get dizzy whenever I drink anything with NutraSweet in it.  Aspartame is the same as NutraSweet.

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I have sensitivity to both Aspartame and MSG. I can take Aspartame in tiny bits, like 1/2 can diet soda before I get sick. Same with MSG. I am also sensitive to saccharin 🙂 I break out in the hives with it, on top of all the other fun sickly feelings.

How it affects my PD I don’t know. I get too sick physically to care. And Aspartame makes me feel like my brain is sloshing around in my head.

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My mother has suffered from migraines since the early ’70’s and the frequency and severity has increased in the past two years. She avoids all migraine triggers she can identify, including Aspartame, but has always chewed two Clorets after each meal to help her digest. Well, only in December did she discover that Aspartame is in the ingredients of Clorets. Her migraines have diminished significantly since. Buyers beware!! Does anyone have info on Aspartame in instant coffee, i.e. Tasters Choice? Please post this so others can be aware.

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From my own personal experience (and yes I realize that a sample size of 1 is not statistically valid) I found that when I switched from Diet Coke to regular my depression reduced, and what’s more I didn’t get any fatter. It took me a while to get used to the overly sweet taste though.

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I just finished reading through an enormous list of “toxic” experiences with Aspartame. This is the first time I have heard of someone other than myself with dramatic reactions to this chemical.  I suffer from chronic migraines and get an almost immediate reaction from any product with Aspartame in it.

One sip of a Diet Coke and I immediately begin with a twitch in my temples and then. The aura and BANG! The Migraine!  I have had many instances where I have ordered soft drinks in restaurants and after taking a mere taste, knew I was doomed after sensing the taste of NutraSweet.  After one sip, there’s no turning back.   It’s amazing to me to see this chemical added to so many products!

The one that is the most unsettling is children’s vitamins.

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I had to eliminate all forms of this substance.  I DID use lots of diet products, especially diet sodas. I wish I could say that ALL my symptoms disappeared.  But some of them did. One day I decided I could drink a diet soda again and the worst exhaustion symptoms returned!

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NutraSweet does cause headaches in me. I can’t use it because every time I’ve tried it I got a bad headache. So that means there’s something in there that just isn’t right. I also have heard from many other folks who have the same problem with it.

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NutraSweet hits me, my oldest daughter, and my father like a brick wall. The horrific migraine headache is totally UNBEARABLE and it can only wear away as your body gets rid of the NutraSweet. Haven’t had any since diagnosed with FMS (fibromyalgia)/MPS. And I am not going to try it either!

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Not only do I have severe physical responses to Aspartame (the chemical name for NutraSweet) but they’re often delayed a day or two which made it tough to figure out what had happened.

At one time, I believed that I was becoming too dependent on the reaction to Aspartame (as in the theory which claims that if you crave a food item, you’re allergic to it and the craving is a way for your body to NOT have to go through the withdrawal) and that’s actually what convinced me to avoid it altogether.

I think my ob/gyn said it best when he told me that “women in China have been drinking tea and having babies for thousands of years, but no one knows what Aspartame REALLY does to the human body over long-term – and no pregnant woman should ingest Aspartame”.  So why should I take better care of myself when I’m pregnant than when I’m not?  Thank God I can still drink my tea!

Our family drinks a great deal of ‘earth juice’ (water) now, and we’re all pretty happy about it.  I’m a distilled water fan, myself.

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12 months ago I stopped using NutraSweet and my chronic headaches have been cut by over 75%.  After 6 years on Fiorinal for pain, I can treat them the occasional headache with Advil!  :o)

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Personal testimony: I stopped using artificial sweeteners when I become pregnant with my first child. I experienced horrible headaches for about two weeks while going through what I can only account to as withdrawal effects.

I irresponsibly took up being lazy about it and would have more artificial sweeteners than I should have had up until I was pregnant with my second child, whence I gave up artificial sweeteners again. Same withdrawal symptoms. It was at that time I realized that these sweeteners were the direct cause of many of the symptoms I was having and I have not had headaches per se’ since, unless accompanied by a virus 🙂

I do have multiple sclerosis and do not account that to the Aspartame sweeteners, although they did irritate my already preexisting condition tremendously.

My mother has the same reaction to these kinds of sweeteners. My father is diabetic so he does indulge in the consumption of artificial sweeteners. Not willing to change his ways, stubborn 🙂 but wonderful.

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My insomnia and the search for a graduate thesis topic have brought me to your e-mail address.  For what it’s worth, here is my stream of consciousness story.  I’m a 25-year old pharmaceutical chemist named Kathryn.  I’ve always been fairly healthy except for an inherited case of primary dysmenorrhea, and an occasional bout with hay fever.

When Aspartame first replaced saccharin as the artificial sweetener of choice, I was an oblivious junior highschooler who drank about two glasses of diet soda a day.  Two to three weeks after the switch, my mother (who also drank diet soda daily) and I started getting bad headaches, usually accompanied by nausea.  We were quickly able to isolate NutraSweet as the culprit.  After giving up diet soda cold turkey the headaches went away.  During my college years I was always able to tell if I had eaten something containing Aspartame by the tell-tale headache that would result.  For years now I’ve been warning friends and family that I don’t trust NutraSweet – but I’ve never had the time to do any research on the subject until now.  What I’m reading scares me.  I hope this can be of help to you. I realize it’s not much.

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I cannot tolerate Aspartame. The dizziness and headaches that came with Aspartame usage were very bad.  I have challenged this several times over the last 13 years with the same results.  About 10 years ago I saw a Newspaper article, with a lot of similar problems, including blindness.

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I have since detoxed from Aspartame. I now drink herbal (no caffeine) teas. My cravings for sweet foods has been curbed dramatically. Also, small mole-like areas on my neck have disappeared. If I have any more time I will send you more information on my progress.

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I just want to thank you for getting the word out on Aspartame. My husband is diabetic and started having shaking of the arms and legs and would become very ill, he would be down in bed for days at a time. We notified the doctor and he ordered a MRI.

The doctor could not give us a reason for these symptoms. We started noticing that when he ate anything with Aspartame alias NutraSweet in it, he would have these symptoms, sometimes severe.

We finally decided to no longer use anything with Aspartame in it, and he has not had an attack since, except he does still have some trembling of the hands. I just want to thank you and all others that are taking up the fight to remove this poison from our food.

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I get headaches from diet sodas with NutraSweet and from Equal.

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My partner adds that artificial sweeteners have given him headaches whenever he used them.

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I used to get a bad headache every time I drank a Diet Coke with NutraSweet.  I still have migraines, though, even though I avoid NutraSweet, but I know that caused my headaches then.

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My whole family gets migraines from NutraSweet except my dad, which is fortunate because he’s diabetic.

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When I started taking Phen/Fen last October, I also decreased my intake of NutraSweet considerably. I stopped drinking diet sodas all together. I did this on the advice of the messages I read on this board.    Now that I’m on maintenance, I’m fairly convinced that the NutraSweet was a big cause of my intense cravings. I would drink 2-3 Diet Pepsi’s in the evening, and within the hour, I’d be uncontrollably hungry. It was a vicious circle.

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Since I am also hypoglycemic, I need something with very little sweetener. (NutraSweet gives me instant diarrhea and heart palpitations.)

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I for one am glad to have read about the problems that some people have had with NutraSweet.  I have recently discovered that my borderline hypertension gets appreciably worse when I drink any quantity of diet soda, and subsides to near-normal levels when I stop drinking it.

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Anyway, I don’t go near NutraSweet because before I understood about chronic daily headaches I once complained to my ophthalmologist that I frequently woke up with a headache. Among the triggers he mentioned was NutraSweet and I realized I had gotten into the habit of drinking decaffeinated Chrystal Lite iced tea in the evenings and that I was waking up with a headache the next day.  When I stopped drinking the stuff, I stopped waking up with headaches at least for that period of my life.

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Have a problem that maybe some could handle?  Anytime I drink or eat anything with NutraSweet in it I get devastating headaches.  So I usually avoid them if possible.

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Well, I don’t know for certain what symptoms I’ve experienced (that I can attribute  specifically to Aspartame) but I can tell you something I’ve noticed this week (a whole week without Diet Coke. who would have thought?). I was anorexic at age 12, when I began drinking Diet Coke. After I recovered from anorexia, I continued drinking diet soda. In the years that followed I developed Amenorrhea – cessation of menstrual periods. My Doctors attributed this to the anorexia. Yet in the past seven years, since my recovery from anorexia, I still have had to deal w/ this problem (no menstrual periods). My Dr. tried Provera pills and when that didn’t work, a Provera shot, and when that didn’t work 2 Proivera shots plus pills. All to no avail. She couldn’t figure it out–and I became scared that I had some serious problem that would affect my ability to have children. Remarkably enough, after 1 week without Aspartame–and seven years later, I discovered my Amenorrhea was suddenly “cured.” Is this ironic timing–or is there a connection? I know what I think.

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After a lifetime of health, in April of last year, I developed an onset of fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, joint aches, burning in my upper back, neck aches, numbness in my lower legs and feet, nerve pain (legs and lumbar), mental confusion, dizziness and depression.

By the end of August, I was in such severe pain I could hardly walk, and the lumbar pain had become so extreme that I couldn’t sit in a chair very long.  I was taking 18+ Ibuprofen daily and was using a heating pad round the clock.  I didn’t sleep well or on my right side, due to the nerve impulses which had begun shooting through my right leg.

The x-rays, MRI (cervical/lumbar), and blood tests all came back “normal.” After the EMG and nerve conduction tests, the official diagnosis was “peripheral neuropathy.”   The neurologist either ignored or minimized the other symptoms of which I complained:  debilitating fatigue, headaches, mental confusion, cold hands & feet.  I felt totally lost and walked away with no concrete answers.

My sister-in-law, who many years ago was diagnosed with fibromyalgia (FMS (fibromyalgia)), kept suggesting I had the symptoms, so I kept researching that angle.  I knew I had some of the symptoms of FMS (fibromyalgia), but some of my symptoms didn’t fit – if it was fibromyalgia, then something else had to be going on, too.

In December, while researching the net, I came across a list of symptoms which contained not only my complaints to the neurologist, but also, *on the same list,* were other ailments I’d also suffered for 3-5 years, yet never thought to associate with Aspartame: cloudy vision, loss of equilibrium, tinnitus, slurring of speech, tingling of the extremities.  I was shocked.  Here was one list with all the things I’d been suffering.

It was a list of symptoms of Aspartame poisoning.  Reading further, I learned that Aspartame poisoning can worsen or mimic MS, FMS (fibromyalgia), Chronic Fatigue, Alzheimer’s and more, because it attacks the nervous system.  Now it all made sense to me for the first time.

And no wonder I got sick!!  I’d been drinking 3+ diet Pepsis daily since Aspartame was put into them – 13 years at least!  My husband also had been consuming Aspartame daily for years as well, in Equal, and in such products as yogurt and ice cream; and, unbelievably, for nearly 2 years he’d had a bizarre hip ache and hamstring pull that wouldn’t heal, no matter what he tried.  Turns out, it was Aspartame, too!!

The reason we both know this is that on Jan 1. 1997, my husband and I gave up all Aspartame-laced products, and within days most of our muscle aches and pains, and my nerve pain, subsided considerably!!!  My dizziness, cloudy vision, and “foggy thinking” have improved noticeably, too.

It’s only been 5 weeks, and my husband feels like a new person.  I feel better, too, but I still have the leg numbness, tinnitus, and some dizziness, but since it supposedly takes over 60 days for major improvements, I am hopeful.

I will never knowingly consume Aspartame again, and I tell everyone I know what happened to me and to quit consuming this poison!!

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When NutraSweet first came on the market 10 years ago, I switched to it from saccharin for my soft drinks (sodas made with sugar taste too “sticky” for me).  Shortly thereafter, my short-term memory started going.  I would be in the middle of a sentence and totally forget what I was talking about.  I would walk down the hall in my house to go to another room and forget what room I was going to, much less what I was going *for*, by the time I made it down 12 feet of hallway.

I was 29 years old and convinced that I was having advanced symptoms of Alzheimer’s, it was that bad.

But then a friend of mine said that her doctor told her to stay away from NutraSweet, as it destroyed the synapses (the little gaps in the brain that keep your memory circuits running), and after I stopped using NutraSweet, my memory came back.

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Another thing I found is that when I quit drinking soda with NutraSweet that awful foggy feeling disappeared almost instantly.

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I suffer from migraine headaches (have all my life), and NutraSweet triggers the most intense, debilitating ones for me. I don’t buy anything with that stuff in it.

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I cannot use any artificial sweeteners myself since they give me bad dizzy spells.  Not a good thing if I am flying and drinking Diet drinks.   🙂

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Aspartame   it’s not nice to fool Mother Nature. Does anyone know if Aspartame causes a higher rate of tooth decay than sugar?  I always feel a plaque coating on my teeth after I consume any. I am not even going to describe what it does to my gastro intestinal system and will spare you the gory details.

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I have to avoid all artificial sweeteners, including the “natural” NutraSweet.  I get awful, head-splitting migraines and cognitive dysfunction to the point I can’t name the street I live on.  Stay away from fake sugar; if you must eat sweets, you’re better off with a few extra pounds!

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I have had the most interesting recovery.  It isn’t complete because I am still asthmatic but the change is EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL.

I have been choking and coughing for almost three years now.  It seemed to start with a very bad cold.  And, the coughing and asthma that accompanied it stayed.  No mucous, just wheezing, coughing and asthma.

I have never been given an asthma medication that I liked.  Most of them made me feel “angry” all of the time and some of them gave me Thrush and Vaginal Candida infections.  So, I suffered along.  I couldn’t put more than 5 words together without coughing and talking because an unpleasant exercise.  I have avoided most of my allergic causing things i.e. cigarette smoke, animals, dust, mold, mildew, etc. but it stayed and staying.  Then I got stomach flu and could only take liquids for about 4 days.  During that time I was drinking Ginger ale and it got worse.  I was thinking about a hospital visit because I was having so much trouble breathing.  My first day back at work, my partner suggested that I stop drinking DIET SODA.  That’s when I realized that all I have touched for about the past four years in the way of soft drinks is DIET SODAS (root beer, ginger ale, and coke).  So I stopped drinking the stuff and within 5 days my breathing had improved immensely.  It has now been three weeks and the difference is remarkable.  Yes, I still have asthma—but now do not need any medication at all because I am no longer wheezing all the time.  It will come back when I get sick with colds.

Oh yes, it also comes back when I inadvertently eat something that contains artificial sweeteners. (Like 2 days ago I ate a dessert and as soon as I finished it, realized that it had started to affect me.) The asthma has lasted 2 days, not severe, but enough to make me cautious.

Now, I will always read labels and if I don’t know what’s in it, I won’t have it.

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I was drinking about 32 ounces of caffeine free Diet Coke every night, (during and after dinner).  Some of the symptoms that I had were as follows:

Frequency of urination through the night, (5 to 7 incidents each night).  I saw my physician about this problem.  He thought that I may have either a prostrate problem and or a thyroid problem.  All tests were negative.  He also sent me to an eye specialist because my eyes were not tearing enough.

The eye specialist had me use over the counter eye drops 4 times a day.

• Frequent headaches
• Anxiety and panic attacks through the night
• Muscle cramps in my fingers and toes
• Difficulty remembering things
• Insomnia. (The doctor prescribed a mild sleeping pill, which I refused.)

These symptoms disappeared immediately when I stopped using Aspartame.

Also, I had been off of Aspartame for about 2 weeks when one night I had a mild anxiety attack through the night.  I then remembered that I had chewed quite a bit of Freedent gum the previous day and evening.  I checked the package and found that this product contains Aspartame and phenylalanine as well as sugar.  I had never suspected this, as Freedent is not a sugarless gum.  I now check the ingredients of everything that I drink and eat.

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I can’t use aspartame/NutraSweet in any form at all. It causes me great difficulty cognitively/mentally and physically.  My daughter’s pediatric neurologist vehemently opposes the use of NutraSweet in my daughter’s diet at any means.  She has a seizure disorder.  Must mean something.

That stuff scared me 15 years ago when I read a study about it at a hospital I was working at in Calif. I’ve never felt it was “safe”.  My oldest daughter was having terrible menstrual problems and we stopped the NutraSweet and “Bingo”, guess what else stopped????

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I’d been drinking Aspartame-sweetened sodas for fifteen years, and I hadn’t realized I had a problem with them, but last year I stopped drinking sodas for a while because I thought I might be pregnant, and I noticed that my brain fog lessened quite noticeably.  Experimentally, I tried drinking sugared sodas rather than diet soda, and my brain fog continued to lessen.

The final evidence, to my mind, came one day when I ordered a Coke Classic at a fast-food restaurant and I was served a Diet Coke by mistake.  I was thirsty, and fountain sodas usually taste odd to me at the best of times, so I downed most of it without thinking.  By the end of the meal, I was having trouble making sense of my surroundings; I asked my husband for help and he had the sense to take a sip of the drink — that’s how we know it was diet soda.

It’s now been almost a year since I switched back. I still have some brain fog, but not nearly as much as I used to, and my short-term memory seems to be coming back; I can remember phone numbers again now.

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I am a twenty-seven year old female who has suffered with cluster migraines since the age of five years old.  Two years ago, on a self-betterment binge, I cut NutraSweet out of my diet after a particularly horrible cluster of migraines.  In two years, I have not let the stuff pass my lips.  I have stuck to this dietary change and not deviated, and in two years, I have had two migraines.

Cut this out of your diet.  Put the teaspoon of sugar in your coffee, the honey in your tea, and walk up an extra flight of stairs to work of the 16 extra calories.  My life has changed!

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On a personal note, my mom and two sisters began experiencing chronic feelings of anxiety, paranoia, claustrophobia, and acute episodes of panic which subsided completely when they finally stopped drinking diet pops.

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I was out cruising on the net again and ran into your info on Aspartame. I have already found an abundance of info and want to tell you what I know to be true.

In the last ten years, two different chemists at two different labs (for the plastic company that my husband works for) told him that this food was dangerous and never meant to be put into soda because it was toxic. At the time we were both drinking diet Pepsi to help us lose weight, and were experiencing many headaches. I decided to eliminate diet Pepsi from our diet and the headaches went away.

Also about the same time as this happened, I read some information from the food coop that I belong to. They always do a spread sheet on different fats, cereals, flours, sugars etc. One month they had a big article on different sugar and sugar substitutes.  The information on Aspartame was frightening; methanol, phenylalanine, and formaldehyde from its metabolism. Well, it didn’t take any more bad news about this for me to eradicate diet Pepsi from my home.

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Wow!  I used to get swollen legs at work after drinking diet pop. Stopped drinking it even though the doctor I saw then said it was PMS! Since then, I have avoided NutraSweet and I don’t have the problem.

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I have known for years now that the sweetener is “deadly” to my own body because of the severe, almost paralyzing stomach cramping, gas etc. that it causes.  I avoid it at all costs but am particularly distressed about one thing.  Each time I am admitted to Ben Taub Hospital here in Houston (3 times since Sept. and will be again next week for what I hope will be my final radiation implant. had a radical hysterectomy in October) I list NutraSweet as one of the things that I am allergic to.  And since I have to be on a liquid diet it really ticks me off when my tray arrives and I taste the Jell-O and it has. You guessed it. NutraSweet!  And complaining doesn’t do a thing!

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I don’t have adequate time to truly respond to your message re: the “why” of my interest – but I have n mistrustful of Aspartame for years after finding that it caused me a horrible headache whenever I knowingly or unknowingly consumed it.  Within the past few months I was diagnosed with a prolactin-secreting pituitary tumor and am furious and curious as to its origins.  Prior to that I have had other hormone/endochrine related conditions – melanoma, ovarian tumor, uterine fibroids, bone tumor, fibrocystic breast disease. All conditions of undeterminable origins.  Genetically, I come from incredibly healthy “stock,” I live a health “lifestyle,” live in a reasonably uncontaminated environment (except for farm pesticides that must be present in the waters here in Iowa), etc.

I want to know more about Aspartame and saccharin for my own sanity, and because as a parent, I want it as far away from my daughter as possible.  (I called the Tylenol makers yesterday when I had learned they put it in their chewable children’s tablets. WHY???????????)

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Since I’ve stopped using Aspartame, the numbness and tingling in my hands has stopped and so has a very slight edema around my ankle bones.

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The undesirable side-effect I get from Aspartame is numbness and tingling in my hands.

Caught on to this when my daughter who had surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome told me that after her surgery she got terrible pain and sensations in her hands when she ate something with Aspartame.

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I am still way behind in my mail reading, but wanted to comment on this thread.  I went to the web sites that have been mentioned and read “The Bad News about Aspartame” etc. and was shocked at the list of symptoms that they reported.  I had never heard anything more than people saying “It gives me a headache” which didn’t seem to be the case with me, so I thought it was ok.

However just in the past few weeks, I had noticed something that had not been apparent for me before.  I had been having problems (again) with heavy attacks of sweating, both day and night, and found that drinking even a couple of sips of Diet Coke would bring on a heavy sweating attack almost immediately.

Anyway to make a long story short, the sweating is much improved, down to just mild ones at night, and my sugar cravings also seem to be reducing dramatically.  Will let you know how I progress.

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I am prone to headaches and I have had migraines since I was 8 years old.  NutraSweet or Aspartame gives me headaches and doesn’t help with my depression.  I stick with sugar or sweet and low.

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I first wrote to you last July to tell you about how I would break out in a rash whenever I did anything heat related (e.g., sunbathing, exercising, etc.).  It was as if my body was allergic to my own sweat.  These big, usually oblong-shaped, sometimes itchy welts would form on my arms and upper legs.

You suggested that I take the NutraSweet challenge.  I did and I noticed major changes within 60 days.  I don’t seem as sluggish as I was.  Also, I’m readily losing weight on Atkins diet which worked when I was younger but seemed to be ineffective in the 80’s (after NutraSweet was introduced to the market).

But here’s the big test:  I went down to Pompano Beach, Florida over Christmas.  The weather was wonderful – 80’s and sunny.  You know how chancy the weather in Florida is over the holidays.  Anyway, the five days I was down there I sat in the sun hour after, reading and sipping rum and orange juice, just like I could in my 20s.  NO WELTS!  Three years ago, a mere four hours in the sun and I was a bumpy itchy mess.  Only one thing has changed:  I have eliminated NutraSweet from my diet.

I am now totally convinced that stuff is poison!

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For months I have seen postings here about the “evils” of NutraSweet but I really didn’t pay much attention.  I thought I had a handle on all the other things that triggered my headaches.  However, I decided to eliminate it for 2 weeks and for 2 weeks I was headache free.  Halfway through my first Diet Coke (after this test period) I started having the usual tightness in the back of my head soon followed by migraine symptoms.  Despite meds the headaches lasted 2-3 days.  So, I’m off the fake stuff forever and join the ranks of folks who say keep away from NutraSweet!

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After using Aspartame for six months, I started to get rashes and swelling on hands and face. Allergy tests showed the usual dust and mold sensitivity. Only after I stopped using Aspartame did the symptoms cease. I tested it later by taking Aspartame, and the symptoms re-occurred.

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THIS is true: Many years ago I purchased a book “How to Improve Your Memory”. I misplaced it before I had a chance to read it! I recently found it, and one day soon, I plan to read it, cover to cover! Another truism: I stopped using NutraSweet and Equal, a few weeks ago, and I DO seem to have an improved memory, more so on long-term than short term. I have been having episodes of remembering things when I was under 10 year of age, I am 53 now.  I don’t know if the brain tumor or Alzheimer’s scare is true, about the NutraSweet, but I do believe it affects memory.

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I cannot have Aspartame, when I tried it a few times years ago, I got very dizzy and almost passed out, followed by a terrible migraine! I have to read every label to make sure I stay away from it.

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I have been reading about this and am horrified to learn what I have been doing to my body by ingesting this poison.  I am now Aspartame-Free and have found that my headaches have completely stopped.

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The first time I drank something with NutraSweet, it made me feel weird. The first time I drank a lot of something with NutraSweet; it gave me a blinding headache. So I stay away from NutraSweet.

But nowadays, things with Aspartame don’t have the NutraSweet label, so I stay away from things that are artificially sweetened, no matter what! Give us back our cyclamates, damn it!!!!!!!!

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I despise any “beverage” with Aspartame in it. Makes my brain go skitzy doodle!!!! Forget lots and lots of things. Don’t know what else, but just that it’s bad and usually we don’t remember what does what to the body.

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I suffered from migraines for years. I stopped drinking Diet Coke and stopped having the migraines. It took about 6 weeks to totally flush the chemicals out of my system, but since that time, I haven’t had a migraine (headaches – yes; just not the kind that put me in bed).

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I had headaches before NutraSweet. But quickly discovered it was a trigger. (Give me back saccharin.at least I could have a diet soda once in a while). My mother and sister do not have migraines unless they have NutraSweet. It sucks. I knew it all along

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After reading on the group that Aspartame may be indicated in some types of Tinnitus, I decided to cut out my 3 glasses of it a day. After about a week the Tinnitus seems reduced. It is not gone, but it is easier to live with.

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I live in the Denver area and recently consumed Aspartame unsuspectingly. Not knowing why I kept having strange headaches all week, along with feeling being “out of it,” I read the back of the package of Alka-Seltzer Cold Medicine that I had been taking.  Guess what!?  Yes, there was Aspartame listed as an ingredient.  I stopped taking it, and the next day my headaches went away but my cold symptoms persisted as expected.  I also went to the drug store to buy some Vitamin C, and all the chewable types had Aspartame listed as the sweetener.

I have no other food or drug allergies that I am aware of.  However, I have been very sensitive to Aspartame from the 1st day it came on the market.  It triggers nasty headaches for me and sometimes migraines.

The public is being deceived by companies who use Aspartame as a sweetener in their products and not providing clear labeling indicating such.  Who has time to read the fine print listing ingredients on the back of every package?

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3 years ago (pre-MS) I stopped drinking diet drinks (except the occasional Tab which has saccharine not NutraSweet) because the NutraSweet was giving me daily headaches. I don’t know if it affects MS but I think it is bad stuff, I only use sugar or sweet and low now.

Of course, when I got MS (just this spring) I also got migraines at the same time, oh well! (At least it’s not every day!) 🙂

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I cannot tolerate NutraSweet sweetened drinks. When I drink a diet soda I get the same symptoms as when I have extremely low blood sugar-faint, sweaty, irritable, and nauseated.

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A few months ago, I saw Richard Simmons on “The Tonight Show”.  Jay mentioned to Richard that he looked thinner than the last time they had seen each other.  Richard said that he had quit drinking diet sodas and teas, and just started drinking water.  The change resulted in losing 15 pounds.  Richard described the water as getting all the “ca-ca” (Spanish for sh*t) out.  Obviously even when a drink doesn’t have calories, there’s stuff in it that isn’t doing your body any favors.

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I’m new to this so excuse me if I’m repeating earlier advice.  I’m 36 and have experienced migraines for 10-12 years (I’m thinking I started getting them about the time NutraSweet was introduced heavily into the marketplace).

I get the aura before I experience the migraine (I’m learning this is a relatively uncommon experience for migraine sufferers).  Anyway, good news for you women. When I was pregnant and/or breastfeeding, my migraines went down considerably.

However, when I weaned my daughter, they came back with a vengeance.  So I finally decided to cut out chocolate and NutraSweet. Voila. Only 2 migraines in 3 months!!!!!  PLEASE try this. I always thought my migraines were hormone induced (some of them are, I still believe).  But now, I’m certain chocolate and/or NutraSweet are my triggers. AVOID THEM.  Worked for me!

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Thank you for posting that information about the dangers of Aspartame.  I just sent the information to everyone I know.  My mother has long said that she gets hives using anything with Aspartame.  I also know some women that suffer from chronic fatigue and I’m going to give them the URL for the Aspartame commission.

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I read an article not long ago in this forum from someone who had done some research about the chemical makeup of NutraSweet & how it is altered in hot drinks like coffee. It basically produces a gas similar to methane at a certain temperature. Would you ever put methane into your body? Stay away from it if you can & use real sugar or NutraSweet. My headaches have ceased without it in my diet.

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Some time ago *someone* on the list asked me to post a report about what–if anything–changes when Peter and I stopped using Aspartame (Equal) as a sugar substitute.  It has now been several months, and the only thing I can report is something that I’m not sure is related, except that it coincided with going back on sugar for both of us:  Peter had had almost continuous swelling of feet and ankles, which is not uncommon and which had now disappeared completely.  I had developed a swelling of my left foot only, which the doc said was probably from arthritis, and that too has gone for good. Was the swelling due to Equal, of which we used a lot? Who knows???  In any case, that’s the “update” FWIW, for whoever it was who asked and whoever is interested.

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You see, I am a 31 yr. old female, with brain clots (2) and jugular (2), and subclavian vein clots on both sides.  And I have clots in my arm.  I don’t have children, and now they say I can’t, due to the clotting and damage to my veins. Anyway, the brain clots were causing a lot of pressure in my head, and the doctors called it pseudo-tumor cerebri due to the pressure from the clots in my brain.  Someone with a small inoperable brain tumor told me to get off all Aspartame products. She said it made a big difference with her pressure head pain.  I was drinking equal in my tea in the morning, Diet Coke during the day and Kool-Aid and Crystal lite sweetened with NutraSweet, all evening.  Nothing touched my lips unless it was Aspartame.  Anyway I stopped using and I am doing so much better!!  They may not even do the brain surgery now to relieve the pressure.

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Like to mention you may want to look into any relationship between heart problems and Aspartame/NutraSweet.

I’ve had several bad attacks of PVCs (Premature Ventricular Contraction), following consumption of NutraSweet products and to this day will still have a reaction if I consume the junk. I also remember one or two other people in this group posting similar reactions.

Speaking of which, did anyone see 60 Minutes a week or so ago?

Seems that many Doctors and Scientists are convinced NutraSweet is not a healthy substance. The head scratcher is it was mentioned during the segment that the then head of the FDA approved NutraSweet even though several of his colleagues suggested further study. That former head of the FDA soon left for the top position in the public relations department of the manufacturer of NutraSweet. Hmmm.

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I am a victim of Aspartame/monosodium glutamate (MSG) poisoning.  I use to develop headaches all the time.  My symptoms ranged from minor headaches to migraine headaches and vomiting.  I also have memory loss.

Once I discovered the cause, 95% of my headaches went away.  I read product labels and avoid Aspartame/MSG like the plague.  Try as I might, I still occasionally get poisoned due to the use of these drugs by restaurants and/or disguised labels.  I am very concerned about this occasional poisoning because in addition to getting a headache, I also feel as if my mind gets very cloudy.  Memory recall and concentration are definitely affected as well as vision.

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Also from personal experience, I do know that Aspartame causes me extreme confusion, stress, and general mayhem the few times I have tried to use it and this was years before I found out it was just not me. And last, just about a week ago, I heard a doctor on a local talk radio list Aspartame as the 2nd most deadly food we could possibly ingest.

With the advent of olestra (synthetic fat) that the FDA says will definitely make you sick if you eat too much, I see no problem with them approving a sweetener that can kill you.  Just my $0.02

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I personally avoid Aspartame like the plague. It makes me moody, achy & just plain yucky feeling. (How’s that for a scientific description?) I’ve gotten my mom and some of my friends to stop using it and they all said they felt better after stopping their use of it.

Drinking regular sodas instead of diet didn’t increase my weight or anything else detrimental. I wasn’t as hungry after returning to regular soda. NutraSweet seems to make me hungry (huh, how’s that for a diet food?)

I really don’t recommend anyone use it. I know that saccharin is not exactly good for you but it seems to be a hell of a lot better than Aspartame.

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I have always been allergic and/or experienced awful side effects from diet soft drinks and from NutraSweet in general. My throat swells up and I cannot breathe. I just don’t use it and thanks to this posting my suspicions have been realized.

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Thank-you very much for your advice.  I am just in the process of printing out material from your web page to give to my Doctor.  She told me that she would be very interested in reading any of the information that I had obtained, because she said that a large number of her patients complained of head-aches (that were often unexplainable).   She said that she hadn’t heard much about Aspartame, but she obviously wants to learn more (which is a good sign).

Since quitting Aspartame my health / wellbeing has undergone a significant improvement.  For me, there is no doubt that this product is dangerous.  I am very grateful that you have included information on the internet.   You have helped me enormously.

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Every day for 3 months I had throbbing earaches. I drank approximately 6 – 8 cups of coffee a day and would use 2 packets of NutraSweet for very cup.   In addition to this I would consume diet soft drinks and food products with NutraSweet.

Since reading your page on the Net I started to use sugar again.  My throbbing earaches stopped within 3 days!   After a few weeks of not using NutraSweet I drank a diet soda by mistake.  Almost immediately my ear started to throb.

I have also notice an improvement in my short term memory.

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I am going crazy keeping everyone I talk to supplied with copies from your site. Talk about reactions. It seems everyone I know is using (or was anyway) Aspartame for weight control. Now they’re questioning the use. I feel like a one-woman Paul Revere! I have been off the drug for 1 month & am having no headaches. That in itself is amazing!! I’m getting my vision checked 12/31/96 and we’ll know if that has gotten any worse.

I can’t thank you enough for what you are doing. I’ll try to stay in touch.

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After reading your article I stopped drinking 4 cans of Diet Coke each day, and the bad headaches I have been experiencing several times a week are just about gone after two weeks. Also the pain and stiffness in my neck and shoulders is getting much better.

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Wow!  I have found others with the same trigger!!!  Most of the folks act like I’m some kind of freak!  When I started reading labels and avoiding Aspartame, not only did the headaches ease off, but the hives, and ‘thick’ throat and all did too.

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I am finally off Aspartame (knowingly ingested) for ONE (1) WEEK now. My daily splitting headaches have 90+% reduced in frequency and severity.

The first three days it felt like my body was going through some sort of withdrawal. It was THAT foggy and disoriented and unwell feeling. The fog is clearing.

Am not discounting the “wishful thinking” factor. BUT I think we can add another anecdotal account to the file. Actually add two. Husband has been off Aspartame as well for the same short period and is reporting a reduction in headaches also.

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I have found that cutting NutraSweet from my diet has stopped my migraines by about 90%

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For what it’s worth, NutraSweet definitely seems to contribute to my various types of headaches, (migraine, tension, sinus) so I just stay away from it.

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On the subject of migraines, I discovered the cause of mine to be NutraSweet.

I cut out all the diet drinks and sugar free food and they went away. Rarely do I have them now, which I can handle considering I was having them almost every day.

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Now, I’m ready.  And I have some thoughts about what I want to do, and do differently.  So, here is my strategy and New Year’s resolutions: Avoid NutraSweet.  Without getting into the whole debate about the nefarious nature of NutraSweet, I did find that it seemed to make me, shall we say, less than mentally alert.  Also, while I don’t think I really became addicted to the stuff, I did definitely use it as a crutch.

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The headaches seemed to be the most common side effect, but those with CFS, FMS (fibromyalgia), MCS and organ disease should be particularly careful. *we* can get horrible symptoms from things that don’t bother a healthy person. I was drinking 2 liters a day of diet soda to assuage my craving for sweets.

I would have drunk more if I could have afforded to. I was drinking a can of diet Pepsi as I was reading the data on Gold’s website. I couldn’t even finish it. I kept thinking of Monsanto and all the chemicals they make for home products and how bad they make me feel when I’m exposed to them. I also remembered a huge exhibit they had at Disneyland (telling my age here) when it first opened—indoctrinating innocent children, the ride was pretty cool though. Well, I went cold-turkey off this stuff and within 3 days, my craving for sweets stopped!!! Just like that!

I still eat them, but I don’t *crave* them the way I used to. This has made me feel the whole thing is even more insidious than I previously thought.

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I suffered with migraines for years.  After trying several drugs and stress reducing methods, I discovered I was sensitive to NutraSweet, a.k.a. Aspartame.  This artificial sweetener is made up of three chemicals one of which is methanol (wood alcohol).

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You do not have to convince me how bad NutraSweet is.  After I lost my significant other I lost my appetite for a few days.  Well I was thirsty and decided to have a Diet Coke.  I found that it was affecting my heart beat.

Since I had only had the diet soda I immediately came to the conclusion that the NutraSweet was giving me the heart palpitations.  I had only just begun to drink the diet drinks, because frankly I couldn’t stand the taste.  Luckily I found out early what affects the drug was causing and I am very careful not to eat anything which lists it as an ingredient.

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I learned a lot about stevia, but nothing about an antidote to NutraSweet.  I was accidentally given NutraSweet (someone had earlier mixed Coke and Diet Coke into a Coke bottle) and had a major reaction to it (headaches, hot flashes, sensitivity to light and noise, etc.).

A can of Coke will only add weight.  A can of NutraSweet-sweetened soda will knock me out of commission for days.

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I can’t use NutraSweet as it makes me sick to my stomach.

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HI there – I am a 22 year old college student at the University of Maine.  I spent approx. 10 years drinking 1-2 liters of Diet Soda a day.  This past year that finally caught up to me. I began to experience daily bouts of disequilibrium, memory loss and other adverse effects.

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I cannot tell you the difference in my disequilibrium, memory loss, etc. Wow!

I wouldn’t say it’s 100% gone or over.  But I am 75% of the way thanks to your info in both your e-mail and on the internet.  You’re doing something wonderful and necessary.  I’m spreading the word to all my friends and they’ve dropped the stuff instantly.

I know sometimes you must feel like you don’t do enough and wonder what it all means in the grand scheme of things.  But let me tell you, it means EVERYTHING to me.  You’ve done what half a dozen doctors, thousands of dollars, and months of my time and misery couldn’t do – Given me the information that gave me my life back – freed me to be a 22-year old college girl again.  Free to go out dancing instead of sitting in a bookstore pouring over medical books.  Free to spend my days in classes, not doctors’ offices.

Free to spend my time thinking about who did what with so-and-so, instead of analyzing the human neurological system and its correlation with the central balance center. Free to spend my money on a dangerous black dress that will surely get me in trouble, not a CAT scan or a blood test. Just free.

And that feeling, that freedom to just be, is absolutely priceless.

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This is truly interesting. It so happens that I care for a head trauma patient, who is severely damaged.

His Mother had caught the last few sentences of a documentary on TV, of not to use Aspartame with any neurological defects.

My patient is over 200lbs, an ex-wrestler and gave us a big fight.  He was uptight, biting on his clothes, legs outstretched, very tense. We had him on a diet; yep he got a low fat yogurt at least once a day, (contained Aspartame)

It’s been three weeks since we stopped it. And he’s 90% better.  More relaxed. Still bites but not anything like before.  I have noticed that now, however he’s got swollen feet (pitting pedal edema) I’m wondering if Aspartame has a diuretic affect also.

Has anyone heard of that?

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ASPARTAME!  NutraSweet!  How I hate those two words.  From firsthand experience, I know that this stuff is really bad for some folks.  My experience was with my Son (Autistic & has CNS damage), who, 10 years ago suffered a grand mal seizure after a few months of using diet soft drinks containing Aspartame.  Then again last year, the folks at the sheltered workshop where he is employed, didn’t read my notes, and allowed him to have sodas containing Aspartame; and again, he suffered a grand mal seizure.  He is 30 years old and those are the only 2 episodes of seizures he has EVER had.

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This Aspartame is so dangerous for some.  I can still remember how my son’s behavior steadily deteriorated during the few months that he was ingesting it, and then the seizure.  The worst part was that if my husband and I hadn’t read that article, we never would have known what caused the seizure.  And in 1986, the docs actually laughed at us when we told them about what we had read.  Sound familiar?

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NutraSweet makes me go ballistic!  My ADD symptoms–the bad ones–become severe if I get near NutraSweet.  My mind gets all fogged up, my anger/frustration level increases and my brain functions, overall, diminish.  I do think there’s a horrible connection between that toxic junk and brain functions in ADD brains!

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JUST A SHORT MESSAGE.  FOR YEARS I WAS SUFFERING FROM SEVERE HEADACHES ALMOST DAILY.  I COULD NOT BE SURE, BUT FELT IT WAS CAUSED BY A NECK PROBLEM OR POSSIBLY MIGRAINES.

EACH EVENING CARPOOLING FROM WORK, WE WOULD STOP AND GET A MUG OF DIET COKE.  THIS WOULD BE FOLLOWED BY A BOWL OF CEREAL SWEETENED BY EQUAL BEFORE BEDTIME.  THE NEXT DAY-HEADACHES.

FOUND A WARNING ON THE INTERNET ABOUT NUTRASWEET AND DECIDED TO STOP DIET COKE AND SUBSTITUTE GOOD OLD SUGAR COKE WHICH AS WE KNOW ISN’T ALL THAT GOOD FOR US EITHER.

IMMEDIATELY THE HEADACHES VANISHED AND I CAN FUNCTION WITHOUT CONSTANT PAIN.

AN INTERESTING NOTE HERE: A MORMON FRIEND STOPPED DIET COKE JUST BEFORE I HAD, THINKING IT WAS THE CAFFEINE CAUSING HIS HEADACHES.  HIS HEADACHES CEASED.  HE FOUND HOWEVER, THAT BY DRINKING REGULAR COKE HIS HEADACHES DID NOT RETURN.

WE WERE THE LUCKY ONES I FEEL, BECAUSE THE HEADACHES WERE THE WARNING THAT WE WERE BEING POISONED.  HOW ABOUT THE UNLUCKY FOLKS WHO DON’T GET THEM AND SUFFER SOMETHING MUCH WORSE DOWN THE ROAD.

ITS TOO BAD THAT IN THIS SO CALLED DEMOCRACY THERE IS APPARENTLY NOT ONE HONEST POLITICAL GROUP LET ALONE ONE POLITICIAN WHO WOULD STAND UP TO THIS CORPORATE GIANT.

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After reading here that epileptics should avoid artificial sweeteners, I threw out the Aspartame (a ten year habit). Since that time (about 10 days) my seizure activity has lessened significantly and the intensity is much milder. Based upon what I’m feeling, Aspartame may be a trigger for me. My doctor says any stimulant (caffeine, cigs, stress, etc.) will trigger seizures. While they are not the “Cause” of the seizures, stimulants aggravate the condition, so he says. I have cut back on the caffeine some, but I continue to smoke. Short of death, I have not yet figured out how to rid my life of stress. Ha!

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Members of my family have sensitivity to this artificial sweetener.  We don’t all live close by one another, so it took a few years for each of us to put together that a severe headache always followed drinking diet pop or eating something else sweetened with Aspartame.  One niece and I have the same reaction each time:  the headache is felt in the part of the skull right behind the right ear.  If we read labels and watch carefully, we don’t have problems.  But, if by mistake we get something with Aspartame, we’ll know in short order.

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I recently chewed a stick of gum that had Aspartame in it and I got an immediate headache. I couldn’t figure out why at first why my head was aching so badly. When I spit out the gum the headache subsided in about two or three minutes. I also use and like Equal sweetener in my coffee but haven’t noticed any unusual side effects although sometimes I do develop a headache shortly thereafter. I attributed this to my job but I guess that affects me too.

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My experience with Aspartame has been very negative. For months I would have reactions such as horrendous headaches accompanied by violent regurgitation. It would only happen when I traveled by van so I thought it was related to motion sickness. After months of having these reactions, I went to the doctor. What was different from my normal, everyday pattern was that I was drinking diet pop to settle my stomach when traveling (I do not drink pop normally). The doctor surmised it was an allergic reaction to Aspartame. I quit using Aspartame in any way, shape or form, and have not had a reaction since.

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Some time ago someone posted regarding Aspartame and that it could be a seizure-inducing drug.  Does anyone have any further information/proof about this theory?

I read an article a few years back [could a sworn it was in the NY Times] about this sudden onset of adult epilepsy. Article was more slanted to how-smart-scientists-figure-things-out. But the bottom line was that the summer NutraSweet overthrew saccharin, there were thousands of new cases of seizures all over the country. I personally stay away from the stuff as it does trigger seizures in me after heavy use. Well, more than 16 oz. of diet soda per day and I’ll seize.

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I had been drinking large amounts of Diet Coke for years and over that time my vision (nearsightedness) went from -.75 to -4.25.  Focus/resolution has remained good.  The worst part was (and remains) a feeling of the loss of alertness.  I find it harder to learn new things (computer programming) and reading to comprehend is really difficult.  There was a point in time just before I stopped drinking Diet Coke that I could sit for hours and read the same page and still not know what it said.  I remember thinking if I underline or highlight the words the meaning of the thought would become clear. It did not work.

After stopping, I lost 35 lbs. and started working out and eating low fat food.  I have now gained some of it back, but have not drunk a diet soda in 5 years.  I do not believe I have regained the full functioning of memory.  I can now point to other problems on the list and identify with them.  I was told I had functional Hypoglycemia’ and the mood swings (and a list of others) were a result of it.  I told the doctor that I was drinking large amounts of Diet Coke and he did not seem to think it was a problem.

I have taken your information and printed it and have been making copies for people I know that are drinking a lot of diet sodas.

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Have found one migraine trigger – Aspartame (NutraSweet) – no diet sodas for me anymore.

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NBC show today spurred me to explore the internet and write you re: my experience with NutraSweet.  I was a Diet Cokeaholic for 12 years and had the following symptoms on occasion:

1: “classic” migraines

2. panic attacks

3. irregular heart beat (I was put on medication)

4. hip pain

Then, last November, I started experiencing the following:

1. Chronic brain fog to the point of thinking I was dying

2. “classic” migraines much more than usual

3. sense of urgency from bladder with no infection

Dr. ruled out bladder infection, was willing to put me on medication (Prozac I assume)  I was so addicted to Diet Coke that I only considered seeing if getting off might help out of total desperation because I was feeling so terrible. I knew I was not crazy, but felt I was being treated as such. (The Dr. pooh-poohed me when I asked if I should get off NutraSweet).  When I did, ALL of my symptoms disappeared within a week or so.  I was thinking clearly for the first time in several months. I have had no migraines.  I think back and my first migraine was in l983.  Did it build up in my system to the point that I was having an extra strong reaction?

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Mmm. Poison. Stop ingesting this crap NOW. Anyone who thinks they are doing their bodies a favour by substituting Aspartame for sugar is foolish.

Aspartame breaks down into poisonous constituents, the most being methyl alcohol. Yes, wood alcohol. Go to the drug or hardware store and read the warning label on a jug of wood alcohol. Yes,     blindness. Read on.

Personally, I have seen the effects of persons ingesting too much Aspartame, particularly in the form of diet soft-drinks. Having researched Aspartame in my spare time, I can see one particular case of Aspartame poisoning (no, that word is NOT too harsh) in hindsight.

My Grade 13 Calculus teacher was a self-professed Diet-Coke-aholic. I dropped by his house once to help him out with his computer, and confirmed his self-confession by the cases and cases of it in his fridge. He often had one or two during class, especially in the summer.

He seemed fine in the colder months of the year since, as I suspect, he was drinking less fluids.

When, in the final months of the school year, when summer came about, he started having these terrible lapses while lecturing. He would start copying down an equation to the board, and then completely lose his train of thought and not be able to finish it. Relatively simple textbook homework questions would sometimes baffle him.

Many times he had to dismiss us, he had become either so flustered and frustrated, or just disoriented. My first thought was that it was the heat, and his slightly overweight condition. The classrooms, however, were air-conditioned.

Something else, he constantly complained about having to update his glasses prescription. Most likely, he was drinking more diet colas in the summer months, and hence, the symptoms manifested much more severely.

Go and look up some of the confirmed and most notorious effects of Aspartame. What are they?

Memory loss and vision impairment. The cases of Alzheimer’s have increased since the approval and mass usage of Aspartame as a sweetener in the late 70s. Aspartame does NOT cause Alzheimer’s syndrome, but is sure as hell produces some similar symptoms.

My own mother, for heaven’s sake, was big into those “Free and Clear” fruity sparkling drinks in a big way until I faxed her some papers on the subject of their magic ingredient.  NOW she can actually remember my phone number.  NOW she no longer complains about eyestrain and blurred vision.  She doesn’t forget where she put things minutes ago.

In other words, take heart. Her symptoms seemed to turn around when she got off the Aspartame / NutraSweet products.  The effects may not be permanent.

ASPARTAME IS NOT A DIET PRODUCT.  It was not discovered out of efforts to produce alternative sweeteners.  Some chemist just HAPPENED to taste this stuff one day, and got excited $$$ when he noticed how damned sweet it was.

If you’re already smart enough to be here, in this discussion forum, you’re smart enough to go off and research this poison for yourself. Please do it, and tell all your friends.

ASPARTAME IS POISON.  (And no, I am not at all into any conspiracy theories)

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I avoid NutraSweet most of the time–it gives me terrible headaches, and I’ve heard that it may cause neurological damage.

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In some people, Aspartame seems to irritate both kidney and bladder.  Neither my mother nor sister can use Aspartame without having a kidney or bladder infection.  While it could be related to not enough water, it seemed odd that the difficulties would disappear when they quit drinking products with Aspartame.

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Hi, I’m new to this list, and I’m sorry if this has already made the rounds, but I feel it is too important NOT to say anything.  I’m 40 y/o f, and have suffered migraines since teens.  My grandfather had them also, and a few cousins and my brother suffers also.  I started off mainly getting them (hormonal), but they’ve increased throughout the years.  I’ve been getting both classic and common for the past 12 years or so.  I’ve been on Inderal 160 x2, and Elavil 50 x1 for about the last 10 years.  I abort with Imitrex injections.  It works great for me. About 5 years ago I started waking up around 3 or 4 am with pounding throbbing pain.  Doctor of course increased my RX.  I felt like a zombie.  The last 2 months, the classic aura has become an every other day thing, sometimes twice a day.  I again called my DR. and he increased my RX again.  I was having migraine every day, and taking Imitrex injections every day.  I finally called again and got an appointment for tomorrow.  This is the kicker!  Last week, my mom told me to try ‘stopping all NutraSweet’.  Guess What!  No more migraines.  Now, it’s only been a week, but I feel soooooooooo much better.  My energy level has increased.  I really thought I was going crazy, and I deal with ADD (attention deficit disorder) also, and my short term memory is totally gone.  So, I got to looking into this NutraSweet theory, and what do I find at the top of the list. YUP, migraine.  I’m sure my hormonal headaches will still plague me.  I’m wondering why it isn’t published more that NutraSweet can be a BIG trigger of migraine.  I want to sue.  I’m so mad that I (and who else) has suffered oh so bad, for the sake of the mighty $$.  I say we get a class action lawsuit going against NutraSweet.

Oh, I cancelled my Dr. and called the nurse.  I wanted to know why they never told me about NutraSweet being a possible trigger.  The nurse was very snobby about it (like we can’t list all the possible). The nerve. (still headache-free)

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After approximately 10 years of being addicted to Diet Coke, and suffering of migraine headaches which got progressively worse, to daily migraine’s, someone suggested I stop drinking Diet Coke, and guess what!  No more daily headaches.  Since, I have found 2 other migraine triggers.  I’m so mad at the government for allowing this poison to be considered safe.

Let me know what I can do to help!

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What can you tell us about “Aspartame” and its effect on beta-sites and possibly calcium channels?  Or does it just mess with midbrain receptor sites?    My blood pressure has dropped fifteen points in the last week and a half, just from eliminating diet soda pop from my diet. It appears I’d have been better off with the sugar!

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I have a friend with panic attacks the Mayo clinic discovered thru elimination that it was NutraSweet!!! As soon as she stopped with the diet drinks and using Equal and other things made with NutraSweet. The attacks went away for good. Whatever it is accumulates in your body.

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I have to relate my experience.  I had never been bothered with very bad headaches until we had been using the product instead of sugar for several months.  I was having debilitating headaches until I stopped using Equal to sweeten tea, etc.  Didn’t consult physician, but haven’t had such bad headaches since stopping.  I you’re having headaches, I’d stop using it for a while and see what happens.

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But then there are those of us who are allergic to NutraSweet. It makes my mouth numb and therefore sends me into a hell of a PA (Panic Attack). My throat sometimes gets involved and headaches are then added on for good measure.

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I believe that I have suffered some of the effects of Aspartame after being a Diet Coke drinker for over 12 years.  It began with symptoms of insomnia and then severe joint pain.  I am currently being treated for rheumatoid arthritis, but I eliminated Aspartame completely from my diet about two weeks ago.  I have noticed a marked improvement in my joints and I have also lost about 6 pounds.  I understand that it also causes weight gain in some people.

I am very interested in more information on this subject and am prepared to help spread the word.

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As promised, I have enclosed my case history about Aspartame and intend to give the information about it to my rheumatologist when I see him in the new year.

In order to give a complete chronicle of my Aspartame problems I will start at the point that I began to have physical problems and continue up to today. I will follow up with more information in another sixty days.

In the fall of 1995 I began to have some problems in my right knee and left shoulder.  My family doctor treated me for migratory bursitis.  The medication seemed to work as the symptoms would go away in a couple of days

At first it would only happen every few weeks or so.

By the spring of 1996, I began to have joint pain about once or twice a week.

A couple of more months with anti-inflammatory drugs and they seemed to help mask the pain, but not deal with it effectively.  In early summer, my family doctor sent me to a rheumatologist.  I was put on a daily dose of Ibuprofen and Chloroquine in late August 1996.  The pain joint had then progressed to the point where it occurred daily and in several joints at a time.  I began to feel that I might be crippled with this disease for life.  It began to affect my physical, social and mental life.   I stopped exercising for fear that I might do more damage to my weakened joints.  After a couple of months on the program I began to feel marginally better, but then began to search the internet for a solution.

I first looked at my diet, since that can be the cause of many ailments, and realized that while not perfect, my diet was not that bad.  The only thing that I consumed too much of was Diet Coke. I had known for quite a while that I was addicted to Diet Coke, but never wanted to quit.  After all, it contained no sugar and only a 20% of the caffeine of a regular coffee and I don’t drink coffee.  On the internet I found Mission Possible who sent me information on Aspartame.  So in early October I completely quit ingesting Aspartame, almost exclusively from the consumption of Diet Coke.  I didn’t think that I would be able to do it, but it was quite easy because of the side effects of Aspartame and the potential benefits of removing it from you diet.

Since quitting Aspartame about two months ago the improvements to my life have been:

1.  My joint pain has been reduced to a manageable level.  I still get pain in my joints when I am sleeping or sitting for long period of time.  However, once I get moving the pain goes away very quickly.

2.  The biggest surprise is that I have lost 10 pounds in the 2 months that I have eliminated Aspartame from my diet.  I have not changed my diet with the exception of the fact that I drink a lot more water and have the or regular coke.  It is way too sweet and rarely finish a full can.

3.  I have begun to exercise on a regular basis again and feel much better when I am exercising than when I am resting.  I even have the ability to play squash.

4.  My short term memory seems to improve, but that one is a bit harder to put a finger on.

5.  I have much more energy at the end of the day than before I quit Aspartame.

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My mother had complained for some time about aches in her joints or muscles when she would exert herself at all.  After she read that email, she quit Aspartame, and her problem disappeared.  My friend also had problems, with vision and skin, which went away when he quit using NutraSweet—after reading your warnings.  On behalf of them, and all the others who benefit from your work, thank you.

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Back in 92 I was on a diet, and consuming sugar free bubblegum, a lot, and my vision started going out, I mean completely to black for about 2 minutes at a time.  It was extremely scary, and my people get horrible migraines as well.  My twelve year old son is allergic to it as well with disabling headaches.   Secondly, could you tell me other names that Aspartame commonly disguises itself under, such as other AKA’s?  Oh well that’s probably coming in when I send my request to you.

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I read in great detail the postings on the warnings against consuming Aspartame, or “Equal”.  I just didn’t understand why I was putting on weight.  I was blaming it on the Seattle winters, it was the large consumptions of equal packages and diet Aspartame teas daily.  Aspartame does mess with your serotonin levels.  I was craving carbohydrates excessively.  I would eat a whole bag of rice cakes at one setting and a 1/2 bag of fat free corn chips, etc.  Now it’s been 4 months that I don’t consume that product and I have lost the 8 lbs. I had gained during the last two years.

I still watched my weight, but my unusual cravings were anathema to me.  I’m so glad I read the warnings and postings against this unnatural product.  I hope it helps someone else to see the cause of those cursed and unwanted carbohydrate cravings.

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I’m amazed that there aren’t more posts regarding NutraSweet. I drank a lot of the stuff plus all the extras (gum, puddings, ice, etc.) thinking that it was safe. WRONG! I had vision problems, neuropathy, and pains in my shoulders, headaches, ringing in my ears etc. All symptoms but the pain were gone within two weeks after I stopped. Aspartame triggers fibromyalgia which I now have and it doesn’t seem to be going away. When you are diabetic there is a tendency to blame all the little aches and pains on that. But it’s not always diabetes. I’ve told non-diabetic friends who have stopped drinking diet drinks and lost their migraines. They are always surprised – and grateful. One of the most disturbing symptoms is a mental clouding and lack of concentration.

It’s nice to have my brain back and be able to read a book.

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I am a type II diabetic diagnosed less than three years.  Yesterday, suddenly, I am having trouble with my right eye.  I cannot imagine how anything comes on so fast.  Yes, I do use NutraSweet, and I would like some information.

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My right eye is much better, although there are still floaters.  They are somewhat faded.  The flashes are gone.   Of course, no more NutraSweet headaches.  Did you know that at the initial diabetes classes at the hospital, Aspartame is encouraged, pushed for your sugar substitute?  You can sign up and see for yourself, actually.

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I too used to consume sodas with NutraSweet.  I used to get headaches, severe mood swings, etc.  I finally figured out where it was coming from: NutraSweet.  Then I researched and information made me believe even more so this was the case.

My wife received a liver transplant 4 years ago and the hospital suggested that she stay away from dark colas, and one person suggested staying away from NutraSweet.  Neither of us touches anything with this substance.  It is definitely bad stuff.  We bought Vita Mix mixer/juicer and what we made blows anything a soda could ever taste like.  And it is way cheaper too when you handle fruits right.

NutraSweet.  Bad stuff.  Very bad.

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I’ve been staying away from Aspartame for a while now, ever since I found myself experiencing incredible periods of depression for absolutely no reason (other than the fact that I was constantly drinking Diet Coke!).

Fortunately, my grandmother gave me a bit of Old-World advice when she told me to stay away from any of that “synthetic junk.” Now, I can’t even look at the stuff.  Please send me any information you have on

Aspartame–you’re right, it is *POISON*.

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I got diagnosed with FM (Fibromyalgia) about 2 years ago after I was in a bad auto accident.  I’d love advice on how to deal with the chronic fatigue and sleep disturbances, and achiness in the morning.  I’ve already read enough to realize I need to give up caffeine. I already gave up diet coke and NutraSweet which helped a lot with the hip pain.

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I also suffered from Aspartame poisoning From June of 1995 to June of 1996 I was using about 3 1/2 pkgs of Equal per day.  During this year I suffered from diarrhea (all the time), painful sore eyes, two blackouts similar to those suffered by xxxxxxx, painful upper arms, painful neck, sharp pains of unknown origin, bleeding stomach, disorientation, and constant intestinal problems.  I too found the answer on the internet.  I immediately quit using Aspartame.  Two days later almost all my problems disappeared!  The pain in my upper arms is almost gone and my neck pains are greatly diminished.  There is no question that Aspartame caused my health problems.

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Aspartame Anti-Testimonials© #530 – Vision Problems

Dr. Roberts just wrote a paper on Aspartame and the Eye that I have available on email

Could you please forward this article to me? I need it to forward to my ophthalmologist. Several years ago I was diagnosed with Anterior Membrane Corneal Dystrophy and have had one surgery because of it and was told to expect more.   A few months ago I learned of the connection between Aspartame and eye conditions and gave up drinking diet drinks and any known product with Aspartame.  I stopped having corneal tears and my vision stabilized (my vision would change as the day progressed).  I still had my doubts and wondered how much was psychological.  After a complete eye examination yesterday it was confirmed that my eyes have improved!

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I know people who have no reactions to the above products whatsoever; however, if I ingest anything that contains these products, I get violently ill, ranging (depending on the quantity ingested) from hives and headaches to anaphylactic shock. I, for one, MUST AVOID ALL USE of these products in any form and any product. Believe me, I read labels VERY carefully.

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My daughter got a seizure when she had diet orange soda.  It was a grand mal one. I now do not allow her to have NutraSweet, or MSG. Is there a chemical test that can be performed on food to test it for this poison?

I am afraid of giving my daughter this poison if it is included in foods and not so labeled.  When I think of all the children out there that could be poisoned I feel I should do something about it.

Our “government” now seems to be involved in dealing crack.  Somehow, this does not surprise me since they allow this poison in the supermarket.

Where do these FDA criminals by their food?  Or don’t they care?  It seems that the government’s top priority is reducing the population, by whatever means.

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It has been noted that there have been some studies to suggest that large amounts of NutraSweet can possibly increase your appetite.

Usually I’m in the sack and sawing wood by 8:00, but last night I stayed up till 11 p.m. reading email notes that were posted by several people who belong to various lists.  A lot of people said they had started using NutraSweet/Aspartame as part of their diet to lose weight. Instead of losing, they gained, as their appetite increased.  Some people have even experienced tingling and/or numbness in their extremities and once they removed N/A from their diet their symptoms decreased and even went away.  I’ve noticed that with myself.  HOWEVER, YMMV.  I’ve been w/out any N/A for over 24 hours now and this is the first morning I’ve been able to get ready for work and not feel like I was going to throw up.

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First, it’s my opinion that considering the FDA’s track record of late, that you not rely heavily upon their judgment, for now at least. I’m sure you read the same article many of us have that exists on the internet.

Anyway, I’ve been w/out any Aspartame or NutraSweet in my diet for a year now and I can tell you my life’s been a lot less complicated physically.

Each person reacts or doesn’t react differently to NutraSweet. For me, it was gastric upset after gastric upset. No dx of gastro paresis was made after expensive tests for it. Only until I cut out the Aspartame/ in my diet did my gastric problems go away. I also lost 7 pounds after discontinuing the “embalming” ingredient. My two sisters and my niece get severe headaches from ingesting it, so they avoid it like the plague, as well.

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I’ll add my 2 cents here:  I personally know one woman who was hospitalized with a severe headache that wouldn’t go away.  After all the testing to rule out tumors, etc., he doctors finally discovered that her problem was caused by NutraSweet.  She stopped consuming the stuff and had an amazing recovery.  Is this an isolated case?  I don’t think so.

Personally, I avoid all products that have the NutraSweet logo like the plague because I think they taste disgusting.  Do people actually *enjoy* the taste of diet sodas???  It seems that our foolish desire to think we are consuming something that keeps us from getting fat prevents us from listening to our own bodies telling us what is good and what isn’t.

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I only add to this thread because I blame NutraSweet for a symptom haven’t seen mentioned yet.  NutraSweet makes me stupid.  I’ll try to remember something that I know I know – and I know is there in my head but I can’t get at it.  Anyhow, haven’t had NutraSweet in 2+ years and I’m back to my normal stupid self.

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I have avoided NutraSweet for nine years now. My symptoms were not as dramatic as some mentioned, merely headaches. Sort of sore eye/thudding headaches every second day or so. Since I was 16 and taking a lot of exams. I didn’t think much of it I had been having headaches at this frequency since I was about 9 year old.

My headaches got a lot less frequent when I stopped the NutraSweet, despite the fact that it was three weeks before my O’levels. I would have expected the stress to increase.

I don’t think I changed anything else in my life, although another explanation may be that it was a placebo effect: I believed the headaches would go and they did. However I think this is unlikely, as like other people I have had headaches having unwittingly eaten NutraSweet.

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Any time I eat or drink anything which contains Aspartame, I get an instant, violent migraine which will last for up to 12 hours despite medication.

My neurologist says that this is not uncommon.

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NutraSweet gives me nasty cramps, so I don’t use it at all.

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I am a nutritionist who has had physical problems due to consumption of Aspartame.  In 1989 I made the connection between the consumption of Aspartame and gastro-intestinal symptoms, including pain, gas and bloating.  This was discovered by a diary of food consumption and associated symptoms.  I confirmed this assumption by way of multiple trials and abstentions.

Upon realizing the connection I contacted the manufacturer, the Searle Company.  I was informed that the company would not take complaints. Since that time I have read articles which tell of the dangers of Aspartame. In counseling patients/clients I always warn them of the dangers of the use of this product.

Thank you for helping to spread the truth about Aspartame.

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I used to be in the same boat. I started drinking Diet Coke since it first came out with NutraSweet. I liked the Taste (that kind of burning, lots of carbonation taste). In the past few years, I was drinking about 6 1-litre bottles a Day! Geez. It seemed that I would start to develop a headache, and when I drank anything with NutraSweet, it would go away. After years, my headaches just would not leave. It was the kind of Dull Pain headache, all over. I started to read some stuff on NutraSweet, and was horrified. I decided 2 years ago to quit cold turkey!

I Quit, and for the next 3 days was bed-ridden with the most intense Migraine’s I have had ever had! The pain was so intolerable. It was like Ice Picks and C-Clamps going into my head from all over.

After 3 days of torture, they just suddenly stopped. I have had only 2 headaches since that last day. One was attributed to my Aunt making some Jell-O for Thanksgiving later that same year, and she is diabetic. I didn’t know she used NutraSweet, but about 30-45 Minutes after finishing dinner; I started to get a Migraine again. It lasted for about 3 hours and then subsided. The Other Headache was attributed to Beer (Super Bowl Party).

I have been NutraSweet free for 2 years now, and I now dream!

Since I can remember, I never had dreams while drinking Diet Coke. After quitting NutraSweet, I really dream vividly. I don’t remember ANY dreams until I quit.

In any case, it’s bad stuff. Stay away from it.

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The NutraSweet/epilepsy connection is not nonsense — it has been well documented both scientifically and anecdotally. If I consumed over 16oz/day of anything containing NutraSweet, my normally, controlled grand mal seizures return with a vengeance.

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I am the Director of the Children’s Health and Nutritional Aid Foundation. Our goal is to teach parents and children as well as schools to make correct food choices as well as nutritional awareness.

Yes, the rumor is correct.  NutraSweet as well as other sweeteners have harmful effects on the human body. That starts with bad eye sight, blurry vision, upset stomach, loose stool, hair loss, urinal tract infections and much more.

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It’s easy to ignore reality, if that is what you choose to do, Bill.  I have been a research chemist for 40+ years, and have been working in the position of a senior principal research scientist for many years.  I feel that I have the qualifications to make intelligent decisions regarding the subject of NutraSweet.  I have suffered from food allergies for years, and I, and many of my friends have presented markedly alleviated symptoms upon the elimination of Aspartame from our diets.  If even 1% or less of the claims made against the use and political manipulation of Aspartame are true, it would still be something to seriously consider for further scientific investigation.

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I have also found drinking things with NutraSweet increases the chance I will suffer chest pain and headaches. This really sucks because I, not unlike models and lab rats, have developed a taste for the stuff.

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Would you like my doctor bills? I loved my caffeine-free Diet Cokes – had to have 3 or 4 every day. Then one day, I ended up in the emergency room (Caffeine-Free Diet Coke in hand) with major heart disturbances. PVCs (Premature Ventricular Contraction), they called it.  Said to get the heck off of NutraSweet, but beware – it would take a while.  After a couple of weeks, there was a significant difference. After a year, the PVCs were *almost* a memory.  Now after 17 months, I KNOW that my PVCs are the result of NutraSweet. I still have them, but I am hopeful that in five years’ time, they will be completely gone.

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I used to drink Diet Coke by the gallon, and would suffer these monster migraine-type headaches lasting for days at a time. My boss mentioned reading that there can be a connection between such headaches and NutraSweet. I was grasping at straws, but stopped all NutraSweet immediately and — as if by magic: no more headaches. My lupus symptoms were pretty bad at that time, but have lessened over time. Remission finally came with a combination of three factors: an aggressively positive attitude change about my health; carefully moderating everything from stress to diet; and (I give the prize to this) the two drugs Plaquenil and Zoloft. Needless to say, I strictly avoid NutraSweet and its sisters, because hey – what else might it be doing?

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Several winters ago my wife was having headaches, and she didn’t know what was causing them.  Then we got a cold spell, and she stopped drinking iced tea – it’s popular down here even in the winter – but during this cold snap she switched to warm beverages – and the headaches suddenly stopped.  She had been using an iced tea mix that contained Aspartame, and so she postulated that it was the Aspartame that caused the headaches – so she abandoned it, but was afraid to share her experience for fear of being ridiculed.

One Sunday morning that spring we were sort of listening to television – you have it on the channel that you had last listened to, but you’re not paying attention – until we heard them talking about Aspartame – and then we both listened to the show and learned how bad it could be.

Well, I am blessed with not having headaches, so I agreed with her staying away from it, but I kept on with my diet drinks.  She had suggested that I try stopping them for a while.  I’m hard headed, Nancy, but no so much so that I didn’t jump on your article to try to learn more.  The URL suggested by Kathrynne Holden was particularly damning.  To be fair, I’d like to see some defense, but I doubt that there could be much.

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I am growing to believe the Aspartame critics are right.  In whole or in part I can’t say, but my own personal experience, and stories I’m hearing from others, is getting too hard to ignore.

My wife and I both had frequent mild headaches for years.  We never attributed this to Aspartame.  They headaches were mild enough (a couple of aspirin or Tylenols would fix them usually) we just thought they were normal, or that they were allergy-related.

Within days of giving up NutraSweet we both noticed a drop in the frequency of our headaches.  The longer we were off the more it helped; it’s been about a month now and headaches are starting to seem unusual rather than a part of everyday life.

More compellingly, we started noticing only a week after quitting that our cravings for sweets dropped dramatically.

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In reading : Aspartame: :”What you don’t know can hurt you”, I remembered an experience with this substance a few years ago, It really wasn’t until this year I through independent research, I could link my own medical problems and those of my colleagues to Aspartame poisoning. The case history I will relate is frightening, and I hope serves as a Warning to others that are obese to avoid Aspartame in their diets.

It was summer of 1992, after loading my aircraft the load master told me if I didn’t lose weight, they would have to get a new pilot; Is that motivation? I went to the Aeromedical examiner; was put on a 1000 calorie diet which included, diet soda, inclusive in my instructions were: “you can have as much diet soda, tea or coffee you desire”. So my Coca-Cola’s became those sweetened with NutraSweet, and I started using it in baking etc. to reduce the calorie content of my meals anyway I could.

Within six months I stated to experience joint aches, difficulty remembering, mostly number strings and so did my aged father; a diabetic, The symptoms were insidious in onset and to be honest it started with difficulty copying instrument clearances, so I installed a computer to do that; then it was vertigo-, time for a inner ear check?; then the joint pain, dismissing the vertigo to weight loss and an increase my exercise bringing on the joint  pain, then it was irritability; outburst of temper over the smallest incident. I then developed skin lesions, on my scalp, and arms, which required surgical exorcism. By accident while, I was cruising the net, that I found information about Aspartame, I then computed the amount of the toxic substance I had received; and discontinued using any product that contained Aspartame.

My symptoms are  reversing; the Ironic thing is, I did lose my job,  and the  Company had to get a new pilot it wasn’t because of my weight; it was due to the fact I couldn’t function at my job. The FAA sent me a letter wishing to review my qualification to hold an airman’s medical — saying I may not be qualified, due to a known medical problem. Were they was really saying; “you’ve been using Aspartame and because of that you are sick”!

I’m glad to get the heads up on this, at least it afforded me the opportunity to do something for myself, and I do feel a lot better, and my mental confusion, is no longer present, my ability to remember number strings is improved, along with my ability to transfer objects to long term memory. My skin lesions are healing; and any intestinal problems I experienced are diminishing. Even my weight loss is improved, in that I no longer battle a craving for chocolate.

My symptoms have reversed, I don’t know if I’ll be able to ever get a medical; both my father and I feel, we’ve been made part of a beta test in humans without our knowledge and consent, and as a result of Aspartame, have lost our health to some degree. Now like any other medical illness it’s time to heal– if that is possible!

I intend to pursue any legal remedy, in that I have lost my ability to be employed, and fully believe that it was due to Aspartame poisoning!

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NutraSweet breaks down into BAD things in your body!! In my case, it breaks down into migraines.

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My mother, a faithful PD’er, tells me you have info on Aspartame (NutraSweet). Since I stopped using it, I have not had a single migraine headache, which I have had since I was 13 years old.  Will you share your info with me, please?

(P.S.  A friend told me earlier today that Equal was the only thing he’d ever heard of that even roaches wouldn’t eat!)  Thanks so much.

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You certainly have permission to use my “story”, although I don’t know how much of a story it really is. I stopped using NutraSweet and products containing Aspartame about 2 months ago. I have hypoglycemia and ADD and also have many food allergies: yeast, wheat, sugar, etc.  Since I stopped using NutraSweet and drinking diet sodas (I used to use about 1 to 2 packets a day, and drink about 1 diet soda a day) I feel 100% better. My blood sugar level is now under control, and I no longer crave sugar or unhealthy foods. I no longer have that “dieter’s” mentality. I simply eat whole, natural foods when I’m hungry.

The reason that I say I do not have much of a story is that I am not sure whether to attribute this to getting off of Aspartame, or just adopting a more healthy diet overall and eating lots of Sunrider stuff. However, I have no doubt that getting off of the NutraSweet and diet soda helped. In addition, I used to suffer from short term memory loss and have other symptoms which I attributed to candida. After reading a lot of your testimonials, now I believe that it was probably because of the Aspartame in part, if not entirely.

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I am doing much better now that I am off of NutraSweet (which has been about 6 months).  The one or two times that I have had NutraSweet in that period (such as in a non-sugar latte), I have experienced detectable “brain fog” and confusion.  I just wish that stevia tasted better in coffee, but I’m really getting quite used to herbal tea.

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Yes, I got it to work and downloaded several reports.  Thanks to your effort, my family is now Aspartame free.  We have noticed numerous benefits including better memory and less fatigue.

Two weeks ago, I accidentally got a can of pop with Aspartame, and decided to go ahead and drink it. Never again.  It actually gave me stomach cramps and nausea.

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I am not related to the sugar industry in anyway, but I am definitely anti-NutraSweet.  Now if a person has diabetes then fine, it is an okay substitute, but it causes migraines, gas, diarrhea, uncontrollable shaking and weakness in me if I even accidentally ingest some (sometimes idiots assume that I want Diet Coke instead of regular coke, because I am overweight).  My husband also gets headaches from it, but his are minor.

I know a few people who have problems with it, so I would suggest that if a person can have a healthier alternative that they try to find it.

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Most definitely, Aspartame in anything triggers my worst headaches, especially at certain time of month.  MSG is second worst culprit, followed by pickled or brine-packed foods.

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Two cans of Diet Pepsi raised my BG (blood glucose) from 121 to 309, and held it there for 7 hours. Weirdest thing that was the only time I’ve had 4 widely spaced tests come out at EXACTLY the same figure!

I must mention here that I AM ALLERGIC to NutraSweet. YMWACV (Your Mileage Will Almost Certainly Vary)!!!! Oh well, heck of a reason to be harassed for 5 years then laid off by AT&T and become active online.

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I know in my case, NutraSweet has been known to cause migraines.  I have always tried to stay away from the stuff myself, but with getting under control, there is not a whole lot out there anymore.

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I can’t have anything diet without a migraine attack lasting several days. The last time was a piece of gum with NutraSweet.  I was in bed 2 days.  I’d say there’s a link, but that’s based only on my own experience.

I know that I can’t take much NutraSweet.  It gives me headaches big time!  There has been research on it and I know for a fact that pilots are strongly advised NOT to drink/eat any NutraSweet before a flight.

I don’t think it is good stuff for a lot of people.

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If that’s the case, remind not to make a banana milkshake, because I’m allergic to the stuff.  I get the nastiest migraine from it in any quantities over that contained in a stick of gum.  Might as well put me in a black, soundproof, padded room until it’s out of my system.

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Yeah, I’ve heard that NutraSweet has long been considered a cause of headaches as well as other things. I also have the suspicion that MSG makes me headache prone too. Could this be possible?

Both are major triggers for me.  I really find that Chinese food is a killer, and I will not drink diet drinks no matter what, if you do, follow up with as much water as you can, it seems to help flush your system.

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I can play ‘psychic’ now with people who use lots of it by describing their symptoms to them without asking. I stopped using it because I needed to remember my home phone number.  But that’s just another blip on the list of things people experience with this wonderful product! The whole story is such a classic example of Americans and the world being hosed by some truly evil pinheads, it almost reminds me of my other favorite food.  Olestra! 😉

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It was difficult to get him to initially quit.  But he finally decided to stop drinking diet soft drinks (and all other Aspartame tainted stuff) after his symptoms worsened.  His doctor was about to prescribe him all sorts of wonderful anti-inflammatories, however, I pleaded with him. After a couple of weeks, he called me up thanking me.  Apparently his achy joints, fatigue all disappeared.  My sister said he’s a new man now.  They came up last weekend, and he was definitely looking better.  We talked about it, and he now realizes that the Aspartame was responsible.

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I’ve been interested in the Aspartame thing since its introduction. While I’m not the person who brought the subject up, I did respond (stroke, blindness, etc.). I recognized the problem the first time (only time) I ingested it – I had the worst blinding migraine, veins bulging in forehead, etc. This was within the first month that it was on the market, and I had been given a diet Coke when I ordered a regular one. I had only had one really bad headache in my life prior to this episode.

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You should watch the Aspartame in the DIET drinks.  Since giving up Diet Pepsi, my chronic UTI (bladder infections) are gone!!!  I do drink regular Pepsi now with no problems.

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Being off Aspartame has made me feel so much better. Now when I am shopping I actually take the time to read the contents / ingredients labels. If it’s Aspartame it’s back on the shelf – soft drinks and squashes are virtually non-consumable because nearly all contain Aspartame.

Most of my friends are steering clear of those products that contain it. They even make sure there is no Aspartame in anything they give me to drink or eat – and that’s without me reminding them! I am actually feeling a lot healthier, eye-sight much better (apart from having to use a PC for my work Excel / PowerPoint trainer and application developer).

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I was diagnosed about two years ago. In that time my most persistent and consistent symptom has been muscle spasms. These got to be so bad that I couldn’t sleep at all and could barely walk. In my search for relief, I met an osteopathic doctor who told me to cut out diet soft drinks. Now I am somewhat overweight having been drinking Diet Coke as a way of life for years. Within five days of stopping, my spasms disappeared. Shortly after that I had a small glass of Diet Coke to see if I could at least have a little. The spasms returned immediately.

The reason I called this “my wonderful daughter” is we were given a report by my doctor about Aspartame as a neurotoxin. My daughter posted that report here hoping to save some of you from the same kind of agony that I experienced.

I know that some of you have heard more than enough about the dangers of NutraSweet, but please read just this one more piece. I know from personal experience just how nasty this stuff can be.

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I, too, have strong reactions — blazing headache, dizziness, irritability after consuming Aspartame (NutraSweet).  Best reason I know of to remain a sucrose abuser!

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A colleague of mine gave me a paper prepared by you which discussed the effects of Aspartame. It was a real eye-opener, and really highlighted just how ignorant the mass of the general public is about the toxins we readily consume as part of our everyday diet.

I am quite careful about what I eat, but being British I had a strong taste for tea (and the sugar that goes with it). To cut down on the sugar I had been taking Aspartame based sweeteners. I am someone who drinks something like 15 cups of tea a day, two sweeteners in each cup.

Fortunately, I had only been taking these for a few months – and came off them a week or so ago. I recollect feeling a little ‘sticky’ visually, but put that down to general wear and tear. Yes, I had been having headaches, unusual for me, but again put that down to stress.

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I have a spastic colon. I find that fruit juice or cider irritates it. Also recently I’ve been drinking diet 7up with NutraSweet and it seems it gives me a lot of gas and diarrhea after I drink it.

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NutraSweet is horrible!!  After drinking it for years, I finally realized it was the cause of intense migraine headaches and short term memory loss.

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Thanks for asking.  My wife and I both quit drinking diet anything and actually threw out some cooking stuff that had Aspartame in it, and now after 8 weeks+, we both feel much better, have more energy and memory has returned to even better than before, but that’s hard to comprehend since I never knew it was going.  Ha-ha

But, I have since made several copies of the information that you sent me, plus others, and distributed to my entire family and as many friends as I can find that will listen to me about this killer.

Every time I see someone at work drinking a diet soda, I give them a copy of the original thing you sent me, and so far, most have complied to see if it does make a difference in them or their family members.

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A few years ago I decided to lose a few pounds. So I watched my fat and cut out the sugar.  I bought diet Jell-O, soda, etc. and it all contained Aspartame. Within a week I started having headaches, my head felt stuffed up and generally not feeling like myself. I made an appointment for a physical. A couple of days before my appointment, my mother saw on our local news a story about Aspartame and the side effects.

My mother said to me you have all the side effects. Let’s cut out all the Aspartame and see what happens. So I stopped all the Aspartame and within a few days I started to feel like my old self. I know it was the Aspartame because about a month later I accidentally had a piece of gum with Aspartame in it and within 15 min. had a splitting headache. I know avoid Aspartame all together.

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I was recently very pleased to find that I could purchase DHEA troches here in Sydney Australia. What I need to know is- what do they make the actual troche from. Mine is very green and has a very strong mint flavour as well as being quite sweet.

The Pharmacist trained in the USA so I presume he follows the same recipe.

I am concerned that the troche may contain Aspartame (NutraSweet) and artificial coloring. The day after a use a troche I have a migraine and visual disturbances much the same as if I inadvertently ingest either of the above mentioned substances.

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I stay away from diet soda due to the fact I react negatively to the aspartame and/or NutraSweet. (Are they the same)?  Anyway, those give me a headache so I stay away from it in all products.

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I have totally eliminated my migraine headaches by eliminating Aspartame from my diet.

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I remember when NutraSweet first came out.  I liked it and started using it. I drank diet sodas (a couple each day) and used it in my coffee.  After a year I became mysteriously ill.  I had headaches and was nauseous most of the time.  I would have dizzy spells. The doctors could find anything wrong.  I became desperate after being so sick for so long and eliminated everything that contained chemicals from my life–I even quit smoking I was so desperate to find some relief.  I only ate food I made myself from fresh ingredients–no prepared mixes.  I finally felt well again.  In time, I added things back into my diet.  (I even went back to smoking–oh well) but the one thing that turned out to be a trigger was the NutraSweet.  A year after I quit using it I wondered if maybe I had just been consuming too much so I tried 1 diet soda.  I had the worst reaction I had ever had.  I had the airplane spins and was sick as though I’d been drinking lots of alcohol (I hadn’t had any alcohol).  I’ve avoided it religiously since.  Sometimes sodas get mixed up in a restaurant.  Even a small amount makes me sick to my stomach.

I am concerned because my reaction and others seem to be neurologically related.

I am very concerned because they now use it in children’s food.  Everyone is so worried about Joe Camel appealing to children–what about NutraSweet!

It’s scary to think the affects it could have on children as they are developing.  Yet it’s put in foods that are specifically targeted to children.  I don’t get it.  I cringe every time I note a new children’s product with it.

And now that it’s going off patent people can’t rely on seeing the NutraSweet trademark prominently displayed.  Now people like me will have to read ingredients labels carefully.  Most won’t even notice.  People will be less likely to suspect they are having a reaction to it when it becomes an ordinary food additive like riboflavin so reactions to it will be less likely to be diagnosed.

At least get it out of children’s food!

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I recently stopped using anything with caffeine and NutraSweet (Aspartame) in it.  I am happy to tell you I HAVE noticed a difference in my anxiety levels. It took a few days for the effects to start, and perhaps for my body to detoxify itself. But I now believe I will avoid these altogether.

I was a diet soda Junky and now am drinking regular (non-caffeine) Pop and lots of flavored water. The results have been worth it for me.  Just thought it might help someone else out there.

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I missed the original post, but this is an interesting subject.  For a long time while “dieting” I used to get really bad headaches and just passed it off to stress, hunger, whatever.  I finally came to realize that they were being caused by NutraSweet.  It never fails, every time I imbibe the stuff I get a raging headache, and I don’t normally suffer from headaches.  It’s happened to me accidentally, too, so it’s not just “in my head”.  Since I started bringing it up to people, I’ve found out that I’m far from being the only one to suffer such side effects.  Anyone else notice anything similar?

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My son loves popsicles.  His favorite was orange until I moved him to sugar free and then he got hooked on Dole!  We finally had to take them away all together — between the NutraSweet and the food coloring, he was out of control.

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I had a problem with dry eyes, very thick mucous tears, etc. for quite some time.  My doctor (and my eye doctor) mentioned allergies and getting older, but didn’t really help.  Then I read in some holistic publication that Aspartame contains something like 10% wood alcohol, and excess use can cause eye problems.  Since I was drinking about 6 diet sodas/day, I took note of this and decided to quit.  My eye problems cleared up immediately.  I don’t use Aspartame (Equal) any more, and find that cold water is just as satisfying to me as the diet sodas used to be.  Hope this is of some help.

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Back in the early ’80s I was a bit of a Diet Pepsi fiend – probably consuming 4 to 6 cans a day at work.  One day I was in the John reading the newspaper when I noticed a odd flickering.  The flickering became so bad that I couldn’t read any more.  Aside from flickering, everything had rainbow fringes around it.

Now I suppose 10 years earlier, I might have paid good money for a drug that did that, but the accompanying headache – and the need to be able to read – made this an unpleasant and frightening experience.   I drove home (foolish youth!) and in about 2 hours of lying in a dark room the headache disappeared.  My ophthalmologist said I had a classic migraine headache.  Maybe, although I never heard anyone describe symptoms like that to their migraines.

I don’t remember how many additional episodes it took before I decided to heed a co-workers earlier advice that I stop drinking that poison. Aside from an additional episode when I drank some Crystal Lite at a picnic, I’ve never had those migraines again.

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Is there a link between diet soft drinks and migraines?

I have definitely found a relationship between Aspartame and my headaches. I have eliminated diet sodas, etc. from my diet and found some improvement.

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NutraSweet is murder for me!  I tried to start drinking diet/caffeine free cokes, and developed terrible headaches almost on a daily basis. I can use saccharine in my ice tea w/o any problems, but NutraSweet is a major trigger.

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I also stopped drinking diet soda and anything with NutraSweet in it a few years back.  Within a few weeks there was a noticeable difference. I stopped feeling shaky and sick all of the time and the panic and anxiety symptoms didn’t disappear (I am still dealing with it) but they did get better.  I hope this can help someone else!

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I can’t help with the aggression, but as far as the itchy back goes, several members of my family had this and a medical friend suggested the removal of NutraSweet and other artificial sweeteners. And it worked!   No more itchy back; sounds crazy but you might want to try it, I doubt you’re letting him drink diet soft drinks 🙂 but, you’d be amazed at what NutraSweet is in (i.e. like children’s vitamins).  I could swear I’ve also read about it in relation to aggravating eczema, maybe someone else can comment.

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I am feeling better; in fact I haven’t felt this good in years! Thanks for the concern.  I ended up going in the hospital for 2 weeks.  The week before I went into the hospital I weighed 378 lbs on a very broad but only 5’6″ frame.  When I got out I weighed 315 lbs and I now weigh 310 lbs.  I was so full of fluid that I could hardly move.

I am still Aspartame free.  The joint pain in my hands and fingers, though still there, is not debilitating.  I suspect what I am feeling is probably arthritic.  I am going to paste the diary I never finished here and then notate the complaints:

May 12, 1996

I have been free of Aspartame now for 2 weeks. Today I received all the articles from Betty, and printed them out. I noticed that dry mouth is a symptom of Aspartame poisoning (what I choose to call this situation) and that I have not experienced this for over a week now.

I also started noticing yesterday that I am getting some more feeling in my legs and feet. It is in short periods like a light switch being turned on and off but mostly off. But it’s there.

I need to list the problems that I am experiencing:

1. Dry mouth [* mostly gone I am on a ton of diuretics]
2. Loss of feeling in my legs, feet, hands, and to some degree my forearms [* diminished but some probably due to fluid expulsion].
3. Joint pain in all the joints of my 10 fingers, wrists(mostly), elbows and shoulders(frequently) [* 90% gone]
4. Insomnia [* better but I have sleep apnea]
5. Vision – Blurred ( snaps in and out ), floaters(occas.), “fogginess” both vision and mentally occasionally) [* about gone but I need to have eye exam because of diabetes]
6. Depression – Dr. has given me an Rx for Paxil
7. Fatigue – always tired [* great except when sugars get too high]
8. Palpitations [* gone]
9. Sudden apprehensions [* gone]
10. Vertigo, different degrees (occasionally) [* very, very rarely]
11. Locomotion–unsteady gait, loss of balance [* not even close to the degree I experienced in the past]

* Indicates 8/29/96 notation

_____________________________________________________________________________

May 13, 1996

Today I am having a terrible time with joint pain in my fingers, but worst of all in my shoulders.  It’s rainy today. I have been disoriented most of the day and have had to really think hard to accomplish mundane tasks in the lab. My vision is foggy and at times blurred. Today is day 18 without Aspartame.

_____________________________________________________________________________

May 14, 1996

Ditto fingers and shoulders. Vision ok

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May 15,1996

Fingers are much better even though it’s rainy! Rt. shoulder is still painful.

————————————end of diary—————————-

I hope this is of some help to you.  I’m sorry I didn’t keep it up but I was already getting sick at this time.  I’m sure there was a profound withdrawal reaction that I experienced, and it was really bad for a time.  If you can use this info or any of my e-mails you have my permission to use it to help others.  I am carrying on the crusade but people are difficult to convince, or they are playing ostrich with their heads in the sand. Thank you!

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I broke my hip in 1975 and the doctor told me to expect the onset of arthritis.  Four years later I had severe neck pains that became a stifling dull ache.  The VA hospital diagnosed me with osteoarthritis in the neck.

About that time along came Aspartame and because my six-foot frame was carrying 195 pounds I decided to use it, four spoons of sugar in my 12 ounce mug of coffee.  For upwards of fifteen years I consumed Aspartame in the product Equal, approximately 32 packets a day.

Since around 1982 I have experienced long periods of time with strong arthritis-like (very limiting) pain and over the years I tried just about every arthritis medication brought to market.  Only one, Daypro, did much of anything positive.  When it first came out I got a prescription for it and it made me feel ten years younger (pain-level and limitations wise).  But only two and a half months later it quit!  I have since learned that many doctors prescribe it for its painkilling capabilities, and that a large percentage who take it for an extended time discover that it stops working.

Since 1979 I have visited approximately twenty different doctors, and NONE of them ever told me that my problem was NOT arthritis.

By 1989 my pain had become so bothersome and limiting I spent $17,000 borrowed dollars to build a home addition, in which to house a heavy-duty two-seater medical-grade Jacuzzi that cost $5700.  Two to four soaks a day kept me suitable for work (not much else) until 1995, when I had progressed to the point where getting in and out of the tub was becoming dangerous (tinnitus and a balance mechanism I could no longer trust) and more significantly, a fifteen to twenty minute soak at 105-108 degree water only benefited me until I cooled down.  This very expensive aid was no longer worth the effort.

Over the years I did have some very significant mood changes, all negative, and dark.  My ability to recall events, people and even electronic procedures (things I have done often during my 41 years in the business!) became severely degraded, and often this was a source of embarrassment.  My eyesight also changed for the worse, almost as if though on a schedule. I saw a specialist on the tinnitus and he could find no cause.

A little over three years ago I was diagnosed with prostate cancer.  No history of it on either side of my family.  At 83 my grandfather Firring had a grossly enlarged prostate that made him stop working (self-employed) and finally made him bedridden until he had an operation but no cancer.

Eight years ago, my father who had complained of severely limiting arthritis pains expired from his decision to not treat a urinary problem but no cancer.  I seriously entertain the idea that Aspartame had a role in my cancer, which has destroyed all capacity for completely enjoying my wife of thirty-five years, cost thousands of dollars to treat, and continues to cost around $800.00 a MONTH to contain!

Sometime after radiation treatments for cancer my left hand slowly became numb.  Later, in early 1996, it began in my right hand.  The muscles and joints on my right arm between the elbow and shoulder became a serious limitation to dressing, work, and everything else.  Starting around early 1995 I began to experience very severe shooting-stabbing pains.  Anywhere and anytime.  Pains bad enough to stop me from whatever I was doing, cause me to wince, grimace, and sometimes cramp up and almost always embarrassing.  The heels of both feet had long bouts of what I called burning heels, very painful and limiting.     I had not slept well in years and purposely stayed up very late (one to three in the morning) so I would be tired enough to overcome the pain.  (Over the counter pain products such as Motrin, Advil, and the like were out of the question because in order to be effective I had to take far too many of them, and I had already been told I had liver damage.)  Of course, this compounded the problem, and during the last three years the lack of decent rest has also affected my work.  Between diminished mental powers, ever increasing pain, and falling asleep on the job things were going downhill very fast.  Like the proverbial snowball going down the hill!  The only thing that made my desk job palatable was several years ago I purchased an expensive executive-style high-back (on casters) chair that minimized the discomfort.

About the beginning of this year I began occupying in an identical chair I have in my home-office, all day long and often slept in it as well.

Around 1994 I stopped taking baths (I used to enjoy sitting and soaking in very hot water because it helped reduce the pain) because getting in and out of the tub.  Even changing positions, became too much of a painful problem.

My lovely wife is less than half my size (100 pounds vice 245, four foot eight versus six foot) and she was not able to help much.  So despite my onetime insistence on looking sharp, my appearance and hygiene suffered, as well.  Around the beginning of 1996 I settled for what the hospital calls “sponge baths”.

On several occasions during 1995 I started to walk down four steps from the kitchen to my home office.  Steps I had used for 22 years, and without warning I found myself at the bottom, sprawled on the floor, wondering what had happened.  I am still wondering, but now that I have discovered the SOLE cause of my most major affliction.  Aspartame, I wonder a lot less.  During 1995, realizing my condition seemed to be getting worse at an accelerating rate; I installed a heavy-duty bannister going up those four steps. Where once I was an excellent mechanically-inclined handyman, installing it was no longer an easy task.  For the first half of this year the bannister was essential to my entering and leaving my house.  I often used a cane.  Once, at dusk, I stumbled while in the middle of the street, lost my balance, and wound up spraining my foot and had to use crutches.   On one occasion I felt so bad I had to use a motorized cart to do the shopping with my wife.  (I used to do all the shopping, without any problems!)  After that I contented myself with driving my wife to and from the store.  Until I stopped doing even that around the end of May.

In essence, I was not unlike a large ship with a significant leak that had taken on the critical mass of water, just to the point of beginning to plunge to the bottom.

In the words of my wife.  Over the past two years, in particular, she could only sit by and pray, and watch me rapidly degenerate on all fronts: mood, capabilities, attitude, and memory.  You name it.  She confessed to my daughter how frustrated she was that she could only watch, and brace herself for the day that I would no longer be around.  There were several crushing episodes of me crying like a baby on her shoulder, in total agony at my loss of control and worsening condition.  Those episodes reinforced her feelings that my days were numbered.  After her tragic childhood in Spain, losing her mother to cancer, and many of her family to other tragedies.  She didn’t deserve to have her primary reason for living die!

Yet, after seeing the rheumatologist, spending lots of money on tests and exotic drugs to perhaps counter some equally exotic disease, all to no avail, I actually wondered to myself if Kevorkian had a full dance card!

The ONLY thing good that came out of seeing this specialist was his assurance that my pain should NOT be from arthritis.  So when all his remedies failed, I knew to keep looking for something else.

Then, around the fifteenth of June, shortly after writing that specialist off as yet another waste of time and money, I chanced to discover the real cause of my affliction while surfing the Internet.  One of the few things I could still do and do well.  The cause of years of worsening pain, ever-greater physical limitation, negative and marriage threatening mood and attitude changes, failing memory, failing eyesight, and perhaps even the cancer and tinnitus was a US GOVERNMENT APPROVED POISON called ASPARTAME!

Now, going on ten weeks after stopping all use of Aspartame, I have no more shooting-stabbing pains or burning heels, no more use for the bannister, greatly reduced pain, almost no numbness in either hand, a fluctuating visual condition that makes me believe my body is trying to repair the damage, and now that I can see the light at the end of that proverbial tunnel, my mood and attitudes have improved dramatically.

I am once again shopping with my wife, working around the yard, picking up after myself (mainly because I can bend or kneel and get UP again!).

Only time will tell how much of the damage is permanent.  Of course, the prostate cancer can’t be erased.  Likewise, the years of lost participation in family life, and the significant income wasted on non-cures, can never be undone.  The knowledge that this was allowed to happen by my own government, and further condoned by a powerful senator through inaction, sickens me at heart.  With all my being I wish for them all the hottest spot in hell!

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I took the “no Aspartame test” some ten years ago now after hearing that it caused headaches and depression.  I was in the middle of a major depressive episode, and had been drinking some 6-8 Diet Cokes per day (I was in college; it was available at meals and I was trying to watch my weight).  After a couple of months off of the soda, I was at a speaking competition and doing very well, so in a good mood and functioning well.

I purchased a can of diet soda and drank it; within minutes I felt teary and was shaking.  I’ve not had so much as a stick of NutraSweet gum since that time and have had no more depressive episodes.  I attribute this to staying off of NutraSweet.

Thanks for spreading around the information–I’ve passed it on to friends and family too.

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I agree with you 🙂 I am one who gets seizures from Aspartame and I am also chemically injured from formaldehyde. I cannot use this artificial sweetener as per my medical situation and Drs orders.

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For years I have been wary of NutraSweet and products containing Aspartame. Me and my father managed to convince my mother that NutraSweet was responsible for her aching legs and migraines. Since she quit, the aching in her legs has gone away, and she has had only one migraine since she quit, and it has been at least three years.  I also had a friend at college who had crippling menstrual cramps, and convinced her to quit NutraSweet as well.  The cramps all but disappeared.

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I don’t mean to be an information pig, but could you please send me all of the articles you mentioned in your message board posting?  I am new to this board, and I was just passing through on my way from the Lyme Disease board and it caught my eye.  I have noticed for three years, ever since I got Lyme disease, that I have had strange reactions to diet drinks.  I get very shaky before meals, especially if I’ve had a Diet Coke.  I also cannot drink more than two per day or I get shaky.  I used to drink Cokes by the two-liter bottle.  I’ve noticed that sometimes my stomach gets very upset just by drinking a small amount of Aspartame or from chewing gum.  I’ve had bad migraine headaches also.  I’ve blamed all these problems on Lyme disease, but now you all have me wondering if Aspartame could be a contributor.  Thanks for the info!  (I’ve also noticed that I feel better on weekends, at home.  I don’t drink this stuff on weekends!)

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I quit using Aspartame about a month ago because I was experiencing fuzzy headaches, memory loss, and word poverty in my speech, along with chronic fatigue. Some of the symptoms occurred immediately after drinking diet cola. I am feeling much better with my energy level much improved and words are coming to me much more fluently in my conversation. I haven’t had any more of those fuzzy headaches that make it difficult to concentrate or even read. The most noticeable improvement is the disappearance of chronic depression and anxiety. Where can I get more information on the documentation of Aspartame health affects? The newsgroup called ? “nutrapoison” was responsible for leading me to believe that Aspartame could be the root of some of my problems. Let me know what I can do to help spread the truth about Aspartame. I’m a registered critical care nurse so I need to be able to back up my assertions with good research.

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NutraSweet is anything BUT natural.  In addition to potentially causing headaches it can also induce asthma attacks along with a host of other problems.  Also, it really hasn’t been studied for “long term” effects.  I was having headaches which ceased once I stopped using it.

There is a natural herbal sweetener that is not derived from sugar called Stevia.  It has zero calories and no chemicals.  Stevia is under scrutiny by the FDA for safety although it has been used in Europe for many years.

From the articles I’ve read it would appear that NutraSweet was very expensive to develop.  As you know, you cannot patent an herb and so Stevia is a huge threat to the makers of NutraSweet and they will do anything and everything to prevent the product from being developed into an over-the-counter sweetener (including lobbying the FDA to disallow the distribution of the herb).  Right now in the USA you can buy Stevia at the health food store but the label may not contain any information of product use as a sweetener.

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I sometimes get headaches from Aspartame and therefore will avoid it, but also it tastes absolutely terrible (bitter) to my mouth.  I am 56.

My younger sister actually becomes ill from ingesting this chemical.  She is 46.

I don’t know how accurate all of your posting is, but there is definitely something wrong with Aspartame!

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I also found that I was fairly severely affected by Aspartame. However, this would send me into a depressed sleep, impossible to overcome.

I gave up NutraSweet rather easily.  It always gave me a disgusting aftertaste, and I’d drink it only if there was nothing else available.   A few months ago I found that someone had given me a “diet” drink despite my request for the straight variety.  I waited for the inevitable collapse, but none came.  Therefore I assume that it is in the type of allergy that can be controlled by rotation diets or other means of avoiding frequent use.

I’m not going to experiment with caffeine.  I’ve been in great shape without it for at least ten years.

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At the urging of a fellow addict, I gave up NutraSweet, cold turkey. That       was just this Tuesday. The first few days were rough. Would you believe that I no longer crave carbohydrates?

I no longer crave really sweet things?? I used to drink 2+ liters daily. Now I drink at least a gallon of water, sometimes with some natural fruit juice.

Do you know the worst thing about NutraSweet? Since I started drinking a lot of it, I gained 100+ lbs. Some people’s bodies store NutraSweet just as they would sugar. What does stored sugar turn into??? FAT.

As a result of going cold turkey this past Tuesday. I stepped on the dreaded scale. I LOST 5 LBS. in only four days.

Give up NutraSweet. You will find your cravings less. Drink that water.

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I break out in an itchy rash and get a headache when I eat MSG or NutraSweet, so I stay far away from those additives.

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I have for some time now been suffering strong burning feelings and numbness of the toes. (And yes, I *KNOW* I should have seen my doctor. I just hadn’t got that far yet.) The burning feelings have been mostly felt in the late afternoon and evenings.  This largely coincides with the times spent at my computer desk (a necessity as I earn my living at the computer),  and had not been experienced while away from the desk, as for example, out for the evening with my wife,  Along with the burning, I have also had some numbness of my toes.    I had come to the conclusion that the condition as such was something to be expected as a not-as-controlled-as-I-should-be type 2 diabetic, and that possibly my chair at the desk was aggravating it by interfering with circulation.  I was getting to the stage where I was going to buy a new chair to see what happened.

Then I spotted John’s posting, and I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if I stopped drinking Tab, and its Aspartame content.  The way I saw it, it couldn’t harm me, and if there was anything in the postings, it might even help.

The results were, to me, amazing. Up to Thursday, the burning feelings were strong, long lasting to being almost continuous, and bordering on downright painful.

I stopped drinking Tab on Friday afternoon.   This was the only change I have made in the past 3 days.    Friday evening, the burning feelings   were drastically reduced.   Saturday they were practically non-existent, and what few there were, were very mild, and went away very quickly.

As I write this, Sunday morning, the numbness has definitely eased, although it is, I admit, difficult to quantify. The feet just feel somehow “better” this morning.

I realize that 3 days is hardly a definitive test, and it seems impossible, but all I can say is that my feet are feeling MUCH better in that period, and the only change I’ve made is to stop drinking Tab.   If that’s what giving up Tab can do, I can live without the Tab, thank you very much.

After a month I tried it again and within a day I was getting uncomfortable feelings in my legs again which again vanished on ceasing ingestion of this drink.

Obviously I haven’t got this far yet, but assuming that I have no recurrences within a week, I fully intend to try this test as well.

The bottom line, as far as I’m concerned, is that one should at least TRY before de-crying, and getting hot under the collar about the qualifications or otherwise of those opposing Aspartame.

Certainly most, if not all, of the problems Aspartame is being blamed for are very likely things that will be experienced anyway, but as far as I can see, they can be aggravated or advanced by Aspartame, and that’s an unacceptable price to pay.    It’s bad enough that these “nasties” are in the future without advancing them.

From what I’ve seen in various postings, and from information I have received yesterday, one of the problems with Aspartame is that it breaks down into methanol/wood-alcohol (which nobody seems to be disputing).

I think we all know what consuming methanol does to humans.

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I was shocked to read all the negative information on NutraSweet.  I have used it for years and recently stopped, for the most part.  I don’t add it to foods usually, but do buy products that contain it.  Since not adding it to coffee etc. my daily headaches have stopped.  I must admit to have felt fuzzy headed for a while now, without any real reasons why.  I assumed it to be allergies.

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I may have posted this before, but feel it applies here especially.  I have a patient who came to me with a four-year-old medical diagnosis of Crohn’s disease (a severe form of irritable bowel syndrome).  One single chiropractic adjustment and immediate total abstinence from Aspartame/NutraSweet products resulted in immediate and total remission of her symptoms.  She is now telling all her friends about the doctor who made it possible for her to be stomach cramp free and diarrhea free for the first time in years.

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My wife has rather violent reaction to NutraSweet.  Manifestation is nightmares.  She can tell you that real Coke has NutraSweet in it even though they claim not to.  Must still be enough in their pipes from the Diet Coke run.  It’s kind of like the princess and the pea.  I never notice but she does.

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With reference to your request for information on how I reached the conclusion that Aspartame was responsible for the pain in my legs, I established this very simply.

I was guzzling between 1 and 2 litres (I live in Canada 1 litre is approximately 1 US Quart) of a pleasant tasting Key Lime flavoured “low calorie sparkling water beverage”.  The ingredient list is as follows: Carbonated water, citric acid, natural flavour, potassium citrate, Aspartame (on the label it states in brackets “contains phenylalanine”), potassium benzoate.

Listed under Nutritional Information per 250 mL serving (1 Cup) Energy 4 calories or 20 KJ, protein 0.1g, fat 0.0g, carbohydrate 0.0g,Aspartame 132 mg, sodium 12 mg, potassium 82 mg.

At the rate of 2 litres/day and therefore 8 cups/day I was ingesting 1056 mg or a little over 1 gram per day of Aspartame.

I stopped all ingestion of this product completely with NO OTHER changes in my diet.  Within a week the pain had almost entirely gone and feeling was returning in my feet.  After a month I tried it again and within a day I was getting uncomfortable feelings in my legs again which again vanished on ceasing ingestion of this drink.

I believe that this in itself is adequate evidence that the problem was caused by the product and since the body does require levels of potassium and sodium they were unlikely the causative factor especially since my diet contains considerable quantities of sodium.

As a trained investigator I am well aware of procedures for establishing causative factors and have a lot more than a passing acquaintance with chemistry and physics and other scientific fields.  I am not an ill-informed or uneducated adolescent, being 68 years old with many diverse fields of interest and have travelled widely.

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Lastly, about NutraSweet. I have been drinking several cans of diet drinks a day for the last six months. The first thing that was noticed was the drop in visual acuity from 20/20 to 20/25. Since there was no history of any eye problems from heredity, I was perplexed why the change had taken place. My eyes were checked again after four weeks and still the change was there.

I accidentally saw a NutraSweet warning on usenet. I immediately stopped all sugar substitutes including drinking diet drinks which all contain NutraSweet. When talking to a friend of mine, I was told bilberry is very good for diabetics with vision problems.

Bilberry tablets and capsules are available in most health food and vitamin stores. Lo and behold. My vision has improved. The slight haze or blurriness is gone. The colors are more vibrant. In the past my eyes could not tolerate the glare in bright sunlight. I notice that it is also gone.

I am *fully* convinced that NutraSweet in the diet drinks was the cause of all my eye troubles. Bless xxxxxx for bringing NutraSweet Danger to every ones attention. But for her message, I would still be consuming NutraSweet and be losing my vision irreversibly.

Moral of the story is very simple:  DIABETICS SHOULD KEEP OFF NUTRASWEET COMPLETELY.

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Couple of days ago I visited my ophthalmologist who checked my vision and told me that my vision has become crisper than when he saw me last time about a year ago. I am still keeping off of Aspartame and all other sugar substitutes. I am terrified to think what would have happened if I had not found your messages on Internet and stopped Aspartame.

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For what it’s worth, when my prostate was acting up diet soda irritated it quite a bit. The same soda with sugar didn’t bother it at all.

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Quite interestingly, I had absolutely no problem w/ NutraSweet or MSG ’till I consciously went w/o them for 8 months or so.  I did it because NutraSweet can cause intestinal spasms (amongst other things)–the last thing I needed when my gut hurt all the time anyway.  Also, I found all carbonation (even Perrier) to be irritating when I was in die-off.  MSG was giving me headaches so I decided to hold off on it for a while too.  I looked at it as an experiment.  As my above Diet Coke episode indicates, I recently tried to have NutraSweet and I reacted.  And I react worse to MSG than ever before.

My naturopath says that the body’s immune system can get worn down so much that it doesn’t send off red flags for some harmful things. Once we give the body a rest and heal the immune system, then it has the energy to set off red flags for harmful substances.  I think this is what happened for me.

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It provokes nausea and headaches faster than ANYTHING.  If I drink a can of diet soda.  (IF I can drink the whole thing), I’ll feel terrible for hours.  Not only does it taste terrible, it makes me sick.

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Personally, I have experienced NutraSweet side effects.  I can get a headache from eating something as small as a Cert candy.  Diet drinks may me very sluggish and headachy.  Once I fell in love with a banana Gelato ice cream and ate a bowl full, the next morning I awoke to a severe case of morning sickness (I’m sure this was not for some other reason.) and a migraine.  This lasted for a couple of days, until I realized that the ice cream had Aspartame in it and I gave it to my roommate.  I am positive that the Aspartame was the reason for my illness.

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I’m positive that Diet Coke creates great problems for me. Lots of stomach cramps, etc.  I have also found that anything with sorbitol (often found in sugar free chocolates) sends me running for the bathroom.

Works better than prunes!  Good luck.

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The same thing happened to me.  Blinding headaches (never had headache before) appeared.  It took me about a week to figure out it was the yogurt.  It had Aspartame in it.  Headaches disappeared.

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I have fibrocystic breast disease but have had no effects since I stopped drinking caffeine (over 15 years now).  However, recently I started eating a high fiber cereal and all of a sudden my breasts started to hurt.  All of the ingredients were benign except Aspartame.

I asked my doctor if that could be causing my problems; she said no. However, I stopped eating the cereal and no more pain.  I never eat anything with Aspartame and have never had pain again.

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Me, too! If I drink too much Diet Coke, I get addicted in a big way. And it isn’t the caffeine, because regular coke doesn’t do it.  I got very irritated and annoyed in the morning before I got the Diet Coke, then I had to have one in the afternoon. And nothing but Diet Coke would do.  I quit drinking them and felt better. I imagine if I cut out caffeine, also, I would feel even better, but that’s a huge hurdle.  I had a friend who was a Diet Coke fanatic. She would leave parties to go to the convenience store to get a Diet Coke.  And movies, and your house, and whatever. It was weird. I don’t think it is psychological, either. I think it is truly addicting.  It’s a plot (insert sarcasm) against women by Coca-Cola.  🙂

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I am a former diet-soda drinker.  Approximately six months ago I discovered (on my own with NO help from the 3 Family Physicians, 2 Psychiatrists, or the 3 Psychologists) that this was what was responsible for my five years of anxiety/panic attacks, insomnia, heart palpitations, and the list goes on and on.

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I suffered from panic/anxiety attacks, insomnia, heart palpitations, tachycardia, shaking, numbness and tingling in toes and hands and arm, nausea, dizziness, memory loss, muscle spasms, breathing problems, depression, slurred speech, and a constant feeling of uneasiness.  Somewhere around December of 1995 I quit drinking diet drinks.  Two weeks later I noticed I was feeling somewhat better.  About two months later I was feeling and doing so much better I decided to start drinking diet 7Up.  Even though I had stopped using caffeine several times in the past without noticing any change I thought maybe that was what had made the difference this time.  Within two days of starting back drinking the diet 7Up I started having symptoms again.

That’s when I decided to take a good look at the ingredients in diet drinks.  I had never heard anything negative about NutraSweet but I decided to try to find out what it was.  I went to a public library and found something that said it could cause several different symptoms including panic attacks.  I didn’t have very much time so I wasn’t able to read the whole thing.  So, I wasn’t aware until June of 1996, when we bought a new computer and started using the internet, what the real scoop was on Aspartame.  I now tell almost everyone I see, and it is unbelievable how many people have or either known someone that’s had bad reactions to Aspartame.  I can’t believe I lived five years of my life frightened and constantly feeling bad because of a diet drink.  I’M FURIOUS!

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Thanks for your concern about the withdrawal symptoms.  My headaches are over and I am feeling much calmer still.  I am sure that the aspartame was affecting my serotonin levels.  When I was drinking the diet drinks I must have been constantly “buzzed”.  I can breathe through my nose for the first time in years and my sinus infections have stopped.  I am however still experiencing nervous system/hormonal problems.  I seem to have developed hypersensitivities to some foods, food additives, medicines, birth control pills, and airborne particles.

Even though I eat a pretty good diet, I am having problems with constant low blood sugar.  Your release with the clip about pancreatic tumors concerns me.

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I am severely allergic to Aspartame and I have to look at the ingredients of everything to be sure it isn’t there.

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I, too, am a former Diet Coke addict. Aside – when I had to give up caffeine, I discovered just how toxic    Aspartame can be. It gave me horrible headaches. I guess having it in    Diet Coke and in my coffee had been cancelling out the headache due to the caffeine.

When I feel the need for flavor, I drink fruit juice. Watch the calorie content, but juices are more filling than either water or Diet Coke, and so I find I don’t overdo on them (which it is possible to do    because of the natural sugars they contain). Keep an eye out for added sugar.

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I don’t come onto this board too often. So I was surprised by some of what I read on this topic further down the page. Someone actually thinks NutraSweet/Aspartame is safe? (All right, it can ONLY cause blindness.)

I can’t believe I actually used to ingest this stuff! It was definitely responsible for (or at least contributed to) my chronic headaches (which subsided drastically when I stopped ingesting the tuff), and may be responsible for my memory loss problems.

I’ll take bee barf in my tea, thank you. Dump the Equal.

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I really believe the medical community doesn’t have a clue as to its real nature. Eight years ago when pregnant they told me they didn’t *think* it would be bad.  Five years ago they told me they weren’t sure and to avoid it if I thought best. “Fortunately” for me, I’m one of those who get terrible headaches if I use it, so I never took any anyway. This time, my caregiver, in telling me what definitely to avoid, included NutraSweet on the same list as cigarettes, drugs and alcohol.

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Aspartame has been implicated as one the probable aggravating factors in clinical depression in a number of people.  When I was suffering that lovely affliction last year my doctor suggested that I avoid Aspartame absolutely.  He said that in his experience he had found that almost 75% if his patients that were suffering from depression they were regular drinkers of Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi.  It apparently affects the levels of serotonin in your brain.

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I got flamed for saying that a person should do a word search on NutraSweet on the web. There are a lot of NASTIES out there. God Bless you. Keep up the good work. My legs used to hurt so bad I couldn’t sleep at night but when I suspected what it was and stopped using NutraSweet the pain went away. That stuff is POISON. I know because I’ve experienced it!  Thank You!!!

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Having worked for government for 30 years I know that the prime directive is self-preservation of government i.e. (FDA).  I wouldn’t trust any government bureau any farther than I can throw my car!  Why?  Because I saw it from the inside.  I know what I know! Now as far as Aspartame is concerned in that search I found plenty of evidence that many health problems that I had could be explained with my heavy Aspartame intake for 12 years.  The final blow came when some time ago I heard, long before I came to the internet that there was a chance that Aspartame was causing the severe pains in my legs at night. They hurt so bad I could not sleep in bed but had to sleep in a recliner.  I quit Aspartame for a while and sure enough my leg pains subsided and I could stand to wash my legs without pain.  All was well, I thought, but you see I was hooked on the stuff and being diabetic with high insulin resistance I couldn’t resist going back on it.  Well I don’t have to draw you a picture what happened all too soon.  Severe pain in legs again and back in the recliner. Now entered the internet.  I did my due diligence and again concluded if there was any truth in what I had learned it could stand the test the second time.  I again quit ingesting Aspartame and again within a week or two the pain was gone.  I started being civil to my family.  I could think more clearly again and in general I felt better. Now you tell me, with everything else being equal and having gone through this fiasco twice, would I want to do it again?

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Are you drinking or eating anything with Aspartame in it or anything else that might be constipating?  The reason I ask is that I gave Aspartame up about a week and a half ago (thanks to this news group) and my daughter seems to go more frequently now.  Sometimes she would go every other day and now she goes at least twice a day.

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I always felt slightly ill when I switched to Aspartame/NutraSweet in my morning coffee.  No headaches, just “queasy”.  My father also had odd symptoms from long-term use of NutraSweet.  He had tingling and numbness in his extremities, and also had trouble losing unwanted pounds.  He stopped using it about two months ago and the tingling & numbness went away immediately, and he’s lost weight as well.  He hasn’t looked so good in 25 years!  Just because the AMA hasn’t documented something, doesn’t mean that it won’t in the future.  Better safe than sorry, ESPECIALLY when you are pregnant!

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After reading about the dangers of NutraSweet on the Web, this list, and in the library I gave up NutraSweet earlier this year.

Oddly enough, I’ve lost about 10 pounds (no, I haven’t been on a diet or changed my eating habits at all, nor have I taken up extra exercising).  And I’ve noticed that I don’t get as many headaches as I used to.  Those are the only changes I’ve noticed, but they’re enough for me to believe that NutraSweet isn’t very good for humans. 😉

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You are not far off.  It is estimated that 25% of the population is sensitive to NutraSweet (Aspartame).  A small percentage of these being potentially fatal reactions (stroke, anaphylaxis).  You will find plenty of people to sign up for your new group.  Many of the people won’t even know that they are sensitive either from mild symptoms or blaming it on something else.  I discovered that I was sensitive after not having NutraSweet for about 6 weeks then drinking a diet soda water.  I developed a raging headache.  One can build up a tolerance to anything when under constant exposure.

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I wrote to you some time ago about my motor control problems (in my arms) which I suspected were related to my use of Equal (6 or more packets a day for nearly 15 years!). You gave me some good suggestions. I stopped using Equal in April and now, 3 months later, I can say that the motor control problems are completely gone. I have also changed my diet. I am now following the regime of the “Zone” diet by Dr.  Robert Sears. In any event, I no longer have unexplained headaches, I sleep like a baby and my arms play guitar just fine!!

Thanks for your advice.

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I have always been of the opinion that NutraSweet (as well as saccharin) has been allowed to stay on the market because the companies that make all this diet, sugar-free crapola (oops!) did not want to lose their business, nor do inveterate dieters and those on sugar-restricted diets want to lose their “easy” way to satisfy their sweet tooth.

Now, for the personal story. I was a Diet Coke fiend for many years.  I could drink 2 liters a day, easy, never mind all the other stuff – diet pops, puddings, cookies, etc.  When I was 26, I started having seizures, and was diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy.  No evidence of head trauma, and the doctors could never give me an answer of where it came from. Medication helped, although the enormous amount of it I had to take was debilitating (every time I had another seizure, the neurologist upped my dosage).  I was pretty much a potted plant at that point.  I read an article (sorry, kids, I lost it years ago) and read in a book (Jane Brody’s Nutrition Book) about Aspartame’s connection to seizure activity.

I gave up Diet Coke and all other forms of NutraSweet then and there. Gradually my seizures decreased, and I weaned myself down from 1000 mgs a day to 400 of my medication, without my doctor’s okay (I know, I know, but the doctors dismissed  my questions about Aspartame as silly, and I simply could not live the poor excuse for a life that 1000 mgs of Tegretol a day afforded me).

Coincidence? Maybe.  But from 1000 mgs a day and at least one seizure a month, I take 400 and haven’t had a seizure in a year and a half (and it had been a year and a half, at least, before that one).  I was frightened when I became pregnant about what the medication could do to the baby, but a seizure could have hurt him worse than the amount of medication. Luckily, he was perfect.

So that is the story of why I think Aspartame is bad for you.  I’m not trying to run anyone’s life, just relating what happened to me.  And yes, I gained some weight when I ditched NutraSweet.  But for me, better that than seizures.

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Wow, I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who is allergic to NutraSweet!  I have the same reaction – debilitating migraines. Me too!! Big old mother headaches after having Aspartame in any quantity. We’re not alone!

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What is all the fuss about NutraSweet?  I would be VERY curious to find out because I, my sister, and my Father have a reaction to it.  I even suspect it was a contributing factor in my mother’s stroke.

It gives me and my sister almost migraine headaches.  With my father, after he eats Aspartame, he gets an upset stomach- very upset!!

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I avoid it at all costs – it gives me a terrible headache.  It is especially pronounced if I chew it in gum.  It is behind my eyes, almost like a sinus headache, but sharper and there’s no way to get rid of it, it eventually goes away.

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I don’t use NutraSweet or other Aspartame products.  They simply affect me like nothing else does.  They make me feel shaky and week.  They also kind of wire me up in a way I don’t like.  I stopped using them long ago and haven’t gone back.

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Wow, I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who is allergic to NutraSweet!  I have the same reaction – debilitating migraines.

Anyway, I’m wondering if you are on a diabetic diet, or just trying to cut down on sugar.  I don’t use saccharine (lab rats and all, plus I don’t like the aftertaste), so I just reduce sugar in recipes as much as I possibly can.  I sometimes substitute fruit puree in recipes.

If you can’t use sugar, and must use saccharine as a sweetener, I would try your public library for cookbooks using saccharine.

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Recently I had a problem with bad water.  My “false hunger” became almost constant and turned into heartburn.  I went to distilled water and quit drinking Diet Coke with Aspartame – my stomach improved almost immediately.

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I’m looking for the individual who gave me advice about 3 months ago regarding Aspartame and a burning tongue. I wish to thank this person, since stopping the use of Aspartame has cured the problem. This burning tongue has been ongoing for years and after a week of eliminating Aspartame the burning is gone. If you see this – thanks again -and send e-mail.

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ASPARTAIME!  If by chance, you’re using NutraSweet on foods, drinking diet soda, coffee, etc. you may be taking in too much!  It’s known to promote headaches. Lasting much of the day for me.  It may also inhibit the production of serotonin, which I understand is an appetite suppressant.  Be careful out there!

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I read what you wrote about the plant that Japan uses to sweeten, and about NutraSweet.  I find it odd that people have not come together to ban NutraSweet.  There are many other people, other than myself, who have told me that they too are finding that using NutraSweet causes there heart to skip beats, or stop as in my case.  At first the suspect was coffee.  Then colas.  I drank 7-up and tea.  It still happened.

The only thing in common was the NutraSweet.  When I quit drinking diet colas and went back to Sweet ‘n Low, I quit having the problem.  And so did everyone else.  I can’t get a medical practitioner to pay attention, but I would think that the news would be out by now.

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NutraSweet is the worst thing in the world for me and gas, and subsequently even bouts of IBS.  I think it is probably one of the world’s worst poisons.  I too have no problem with garlic, but the minor spices like Parsley or oregano, I might as well take an entire box of ex-lax because it would be less painful.

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Same for me!  Migraine within an hour or two, exacerbation of most other symptoms during the next 24 hours.  I avoid the stuff like the poison it is!

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I’m not lactose intolerant but we have other similarities.  Artificial sweeteners are the worst.  In high school, I used to chew a lot of gum that had NutraSweet in it and my doc and I discovered that that was even giving me horrible gas!!  Gotta watch out for those weird ones.

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Since my family is allergic to NutraSweet/Aspartame so we avoid all products that are labeled as containing them.  However, recently we bought some Maxwell House Swiss Mocha Coffee.   After the second cup I started having problems with my breathing and my eyes.    My husband checked the can and found that the coffee contained Aspartame.   Everyone thinks to check products that are to come presweetened but we would never have thought to check out a can of coffee.

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I started using equal in coffee.  I usually don’t use it.  I got terrible headaches after that.  I stopped using it and the headaches quit coming.  I know someone who has an incontinence problem when he uses Equal.

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I have been off Aspartame for some time now.  I don’t know what (if any) effects it would have on my headaches, but I’m definitely allergic to it.  I get violently ill if I eat any:  nausea, light-headed, dizzy . . .

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Has anyone had similar experience with NutraSweet (Aspartame)? Absolutely!  I can chew a stick of gum with it in it, but any more than that, and I get violently ill . . . and it’s supposed to be good stuff . . . yeah, right . . . 🙁

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I’ve also heard that there’s a connection between MSG sensitive people and people who are Aspartame (NutraSweet) intolerant. When NutraSweet first hit the market, I tried diet soda sweetened with it, and every time I did, I’d end up with a splitting headache. After the fourth time or so, I gave up on the artificially sweetened beverages and stayed with sugared ones.

Several years later, I read an article that made the MSG/NutraSweet connection.

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Just wanted you to know I’ve been NutraSweet free for the last several months and CUT MY MIGRAINES  by about 90%.   I assume it’s an allergy to the stuff.

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Diet soda has Aspartame/NutraSweet. 30 minutes after consuming such I would have a migraine headache.  Now I drink regular soda or diet tonic made with saccharine which doesn’t make me ill.

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It appears xxxx was warning you and xxxxxx about the dangers of NutraSweet.

Unfortunately, xxx’s dead right. I know from my own experience, the levels of devastation this product are real. I have lesions on the left temporal lobe of my brain and a series of seizures to prove it.

Forgive me for being personal and while I am no longer enraged about the subject.  I am cognizant of the problem, and believe it needs to be looked at rationally. (Well, as rationally as using methanol (wood alcohol), aspartic acid, and phenylalanine in a FOOD source can be.) I drank Diet Coke for YEARS.  loved the stuff. and  though everyone told me (vaguely) that Aspartame was bad for me. Did I listen??  Noooooo. (smile)

And I paid the price. Albeit I was already in a spiral into MCS as well as Candida undercurrents. But the Aspartame on its own did serious harm. Permit me one small clip here.

“NutraSweet, a.k.a. Aspartame, is a compound of the following chemicals: methanol (wood alcohol); aspartic acid; and phenylalanine. Aspartame readily breaks down into its component parts, and this decomposition is hastened by heat.  Methanol breaks down further into formaldehyde and formic acid (ant sting poison). ” (from an article written by a former FDA investigator- I will post it to anyone who’s interested in its entirety)

That “breakdown” occurs at 86 degrees F. pretty low level when you consider the summer temps we have in North America. Not to mention the internal temperature of a transport truck sitting in the sun.

You wrote:

You sure have a vendetta against NutraSweet.  I don’t have a problem with the stuff.  I think people that can’t handle it shouldn’t consume it, but they shouldn’t freak out and try to insist everyone else can’t have it either.  I also consume MSG.  It doesn’t bother me, either.  I have   that do bother me that I don’t have to overreact to those that don’t Hmmm.  Oh can I EVER appreciate that sentiment. However, at the time, I never realized that chemical additives like MSG and Aspartame, that I didn’t think bothered me or didn’t “manifest” an immediate reaction, were adding to the total “toxic load” that eventually took my immune down. If you’re on this list for Yeast-related problems your immune system is already in serious trouble.

When those people familiar with the Aspartame issue try to warn others against it.  It’s not because we can’t have it. (Would you REALLY drink wood alcohol or formaldehyde by choice????).  It’s because the people on this list and other truly care about the welfare of our list mates. After all, none of us would be here if we were in perfect health would we?

Do I still miss Diet-coke? You BET I do. Would I pick up a can? No. not for all the tea (herbal of course.  grin) in China.

I noted at the end of your post you mention “bi-polar” disorder”. I’m very familiar with that issue having flirted dangerously around the edges of it myself and have a dear friend who has suffered with it for years. It’s a hell in its own right.

The psycho-neurological reactions to this product are equally as frightening as the physiological ones, and in my opinion bordering on criminally negligent. I have always wanted to ask the “boys” at Monsanto and Searle. If they allow their children to consume this stuff.

So xxxxx, with all respect to you, (having been there and not listened myself). Whether symptoms are “presenting” or not.  Believe me.  This little toxic cocktail is not doing you any good and in all probability, is exacerbating problems that do exist. Please reconsider the info we share here is because we do care and in most cases have “been there”.

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I began having migraines in the late 1980’s, some so severe I wound up in the emergency room.  I have sought the cause for years.

I had read about the possible relation to food allergies, but I had never tested it.  My headaches grew worse, for the last 2 years I’ve had daily headaches.

About 3 months ago I decided to try the elimination test.  When I eliminated Aspartame from my diet, the severe migraines began to disappear.  I am mostly migraine-free now, with headaches attacking only about 1-2 times per month.  I believe Aspartame is the cause.

I used Aspartame almost religiously once it became available in my town.  I’ve used large quantities of it, replacing every bit of sugar I could with it.

I just hope that my system has a chance to recover completely.

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I want to thank you for the information that you have been posting in the sci.med.nutrition news group. I must admit that at first I thought you to be a little fanatical about the subject of NutraSweet being bad for you.  But trust me; I don’t feel that way now. My mother (70 this year) is diabetic and has been consuming NutraSweet for quite some time.

She enjoys her sugar-free Jell-O, gum, Swiss Miss hot chocolate, Equal on a bowl of cereal, and many other things. After reading the information by you (and xxxx) I approached my mom with the idea that she should stop using NutraSweet for two weeks and see how she felt. She was not happy to say the least. After some nice, convincing prodding (and her reading the information on the web) she decided to give it a try.

To make a long story short, after only two days of not consuming Aspartame she called to tell me that she had packed up everything in the house containing it and threw it in the trash. SHE FELT THAT SUCH BETTER! No more waking up in the middle of the night with burning, stiff neck muscles.  She walks easier and with less limping (she has phlebitis)). I think that this is absolutely wonderful. I am very proud of her for biting the bullet and giving it a try. I know that it was very hard for her, and will continue to be until we get her something like Stevia.

Thank you so much for sticking to your beliefs in spite of the negative feedback being generated by your posts. You are saving people’s lives by sharing this information. And if this extends my mother’s life, even just a couple of days, then it is most surely worth it.

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I have a strange reaction to Aspartame, saccharine and sorbitol.  After consuming a 12 oz artificially sweetened soda, I experience significant dizziness, blurred vision and a severe headache.  Is this common?

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I have been off Aspartame for two weeks and I can see a definite difference in how I feel. The general all around achiness is pretty much disappeared. I know I will be more careful about what is in my food and drink from now on.

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I am sorry that you have had so much negative thoughts on your NutraSweet posting. I took my family off the stuff around 3 months ago. My daughter apparently had multiple allergies, intolerances and sensitivities. My husband has recently been diagnosed as type 2 diabetes and I have fibromyalgia. I didn’t want the family to ingest anything that might compromise our health in any way; we already suffered enough problems!  Since then my daughter’s problems have cleared up almost entirely. She can now eat wheat, dairy products, sugar; her asthma has improved and shoes no longer make her feet crack and bleed. She still has a little eczema and is grossly overweight which I now believe is due to NutraSweet; I only hope it is reversible.

I still have FMS (fibromyalgia) but my overall health has improved. Nothing would induce me to ingest NutraSweet any more, and you have to be so careful to read food labels to exclude it. Even regular soda drinks contain the stuff, and yesterday I found some frankfurters which contained Aspartame.

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Hi everyone. I was not very specific when I tried to summarize the diet Pepsi responses so if you’re interested let me try again.

The majority of the responses, over 20, said they react to artificial sweeteners, sorbitol, NutraSweet, sweet and low with gluten like reactions ranging from diarrhea and cramps to headaches and dizziness. No one has info that these sweeteners contain gluten.

I think that sums it up. I have not decided what I think caused the problem. The majority of respondents feel strongly that artificial sweeteners are bad so I plan to avoid them.

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At the very least, gum with NutraSweet makes me bloat terribly, gives me a headache and gas. I guess Aspartame is Aspartame.

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I don’t want to belabor the Aspartame issue–I know other things can be causing at least some of my symptoms. But after the ice cream with Aspartame last night, feel pretty bad today. Headache, a trillion hot flashes, tight chest, exhausted–yecch!

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Seriously, joint aches are a menopause symptom and also we have talked about too much NutraSweet causing joint aches.  Do you happen to use a lot of it?  I have reduced my consumption of it to only my am coffee and *swear* I can tell difference!

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I can’t take NutraSweet because it gives me migraines.

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I, too, gave up most of my Equal and diet sodas.  My reasons were due to my stomach problems.  Had to give up carbonated drinks – which I knew I was addicted to (I love the “feel” of carbonation – anyone else?)

When I did that, I lost 8 lbs. in 4 weeks.  I was amazed and puzzled, since I hadn’t done anything else except start drinking more fruit juice and Gatorade, etc., which contain fructose.  However, the posts to this list about aspartame came at the same time, and I read about people losing weight after cutting out aspartame from their diets.  That must be it.

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Just wanted to drop you a note and let you know that I have finally gotten off of Aspartame. Got 100% off about 2 weeks ago. One thing that I have really noticed is a greatly diminished craving for carbohydrates. When I was on Aspartame my cravings for junk food were almost uncontrollable. I try to stay on a very healthy diet and now that I am off of the Aspartame I find it much easier to eat the right foods. Also, I have lost about 10 lbs. in 2 weeks.

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Actually, I stopped drinking and eating artificial sweeteners in 1989 (2 years before my skin problems began).  I found that Aspartame especially gave me headaches, made me feel slightly dizzy, and actually seemed to make me crave real sugar even more than usual.

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(A pilot friend refuses to drink diet drinks with the stuff in it, and says that many European countries forbid pilots to drink it, because the stuff has a negative effect on IQ and reaction times. )

I was on anti-seizure medication from the ages of 2 to 12, and I was told to avoid large amounts of drinks containing NutraSweet because in high doses it could trigger seizures in susceptible persons. — Joe

Anecdotal 2 cents, when NutraSweet first came out, my family swiftly discovered that it gave us all headaches at varying degrees. I haven’t had it in ten years, since once you get a reaction three or four times, you don’t keep checking to see if it still happens, but it was icky to me way back when.

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I too have found that Aspartame in foods can trigger Migraines. Foods and drinks containing this “sweetener” cause me to experience Migraines and severe mood swings.  Eliminating Aspartame and foods containing this additive has greatly decreased the number of migraines, I am experiencing.

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I have never used Aspartame; hate the stuff, always made me feel sick. But I thought you might be interested in this:  my psychiatrist told me 2 years ago, to stay away from Aspartame.  He said he was getting information through his psychiatric journals that people were having bad effects from Aspartame.  He also said the Aspartame business was making billions, so the public wouldn’t be hearing about these bad effects for a while.  This was two years ago!

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I, like Lona, am testing eliminating Aspartame from my diet, and the migraine situation is better, as well as less irritability, depression, mental confusion. I’m beginning to consider Aspartame a poison, at least for me.

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I have suffered from migraines for years. As soon as I gave up NutraSweet my migraines disappeared. All those Cat Scans, MRI’s. For nothing. I know a few people who have experienced the same result. “Not tonight, honey. I just had a diet soda”

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Can anyone give me any information on the above referenced ingredient?  It is found in diet soda.  I think it has something to do with NutraSweet.  I have been drinking diet soda lately and find myself depressed and paranoid.  Someone told me it was this Phenylketonurics ingredient in my soda that might be causing it. I have since stopped drinking diet soda and I feel great.  Somehow this ingredient was causing this reaction in my body and the next day effects, after drinking the soda, seemed to mimic a hangover.  Has anyone any information on this.  My friend said it is a common reaction in some people.  You can’t imagine how much better I feel since I have stopped putting it into my body.

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I have discovered that NutraSweet is definitely one (of many) of my triggers for headache.  Another friend started drinking diet drinks to lose weight and had a constant 3 month headache until I told her of my experience.  Her headaches vanished when she stopped the NutraSweet.

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I haven’t had a diet soda in years. I found it much easier to control my weight by just drinking a real Coke when I want one (about 2-3 week)—and avoiding diet sodas.

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I’m a medical research scientist with doctorate credential from polytechnic university, etc., and 25 years of experience. We were able to cure 75% of people in the migraine clinic at Mount Sinai medical center in NYC by simply taking them off Aspartame. Of course nutrition is far more than just staying away from Aspartame.

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I just went down 2 sizes in a little less that 2 weeks by doing nothing more than avoiding Aspartame.  Anybody know why?

Just did it as an experiment and was *not* expecting this!!  I’ve been using it to avoid weight gain. I’ve done nothing else new – drank water and some sodas with (gulp!) *sugar* in them to substitute for the Aspartame drinks.

Bingo!  My guess is this will only go on for so long but. It’s still happening for now.  Love it. Friends say its water weight.  Anybody have ideas?

So to heck with brain lesions in rats, and wood alcohol effects – here’s the important news!

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I just wanted to say that I appreciated finding out about the problems with Aspartame. I stopped using “diet” foods and drinks and my depression alleviated.

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I am one of those people–I used to drink a lot of diet soda in high school, then read the book “Diet for a Poisoned Planet” (sorry, don’t remember the author)  in which the author described the type of headaches I was experiencing and relating them to intake of Aspartame.  So I cut out the diet pop, and cut out about 1/2 off my headaches.

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My experience with Aspartame is that I get a very clear headache from it within a short time from taking it.  So, I don’t use anything with Aspartame, but I still have allergies and asthma due to other substances.

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I think I can say that I am healthy yet I break out in a rash whenever I ingest Aspartame.  I think I’m lucky that I’m sensitive.  I believe that the cumulative effects for those who are not so sensitive will become evident. But, the person will not draw the connection.

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Anyway, the increase in my migraines began about a year ago-about at the time when my Aspartame consumption increased.  I thought of it as a possible trigger but lived in denial that it could be because it was such a great substitute for sugar, and as an athlete I was constantly watching my weight.  Anyway, after having very little help from doctors and becoming very, very ill while at University, I decided to try to find a solution myself.  I was being greatly affected and had about 2-3 bad migraines a week.  Something that was becoming impossible to deal with and be at University at the same time.

Thanks to this news group and a friend, I became aware that Aspartame could be a trigger for me, and decided to eliminate it from my diet. I am very pleased to say that for the last 2 months or so, my migraine frequency drastically reduced from 2-3 migraines a week, to 2-3 a month.

Some of you may be thinking that it was due to stress, but they began decreasing shortly before finals, and continued to do so during finals, and even now when I am taking very difficult courses.

I just wanted to let people know that Aspartame is powerful and can affect your life.  Be careful and don’t be too quick to eliminate it as a possible migraine trigger.

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I had not heard anything bad about Aspartame until a couple years ago when I was an intern at Continental Airlines.  I met a captain who lost his medical certification and his job because of a reaction he had to consuming the sweetener.  He went into a seizure shortly after consuming a diet cola.  The doctors confirmed that it was caused by NutraSweet.  His medical was taken away because of the seizure and now he is some sort of consultant.  Since my talk with him, I’ve tried to avoid consuming anything with Aspartame.

Obviously this reaction occurs in very few individuals; otherwise we would hear a lot more about it. But I just don’t want to take that chance.

Just another point of view.

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As far as cravings go, I’ve found that both Aspartame and caffeine trigger my cravings.  The longer I go without these two substances, the fewer cravings I experience.

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My mom IS addicted to diet sodas – but fortunately not the caffeinated ones. First she was “Hooked” on Diet Orange Slice, now it’s Diet Raspberry Ginger Ale.  She is now experiencing numerous symptoms which seem to match Aspartame Toxicity.  I have been trying to convince her into drinking Seltzer at least and someone suggest that she mix the Seltzer with unsweetened fruit juices such as Apple & Eve.  I cannot believe that the FDA refuses to place a warning label on NutraSweet products.  I myself won’t use it because I know for a fact that it triggers my Migraines.

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Thanks for the quick reply on my questions about Aspartame (NutraSweet).  I have been using NutraSweet for the past six months and lately I’ve been having twitches and numbness, especially in the hands, legs and lips.  I am going to my neurologist on Wednesday for a follow-up.  I had an MRI done last September that showed everything normal (or so they say).  I’m just wondering if the NutraSweet is causing most of my symptoms.  I really don’t use that much, but I use it every day on cereal.

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I do notice that after I have a Diet Coke I get some muscle twitches and after a few days they’re gone.

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I think that I may have had an adverse response to Aspartame. I used it for about 15 years. I am experiencing some problems with motor control, specifically in my arms. I obviously don’t use it anymore! I have been off the Aspartame for two weeks now. I no longer have unexplained headaches and I sleep much better but the motor control is still a problem.

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I didn’t notice the other symptoms, but I used to get the headaches.

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Thanks for putting some perspective into this debate. I personally have zero tolerance for Aspartame- nausea and headaches being the most obvious symptoms, even from one piece of sugarless gum. Since I avoid it at all times, I have no idea whether it affects my ADD symptoms as well, but anything that is capable of making me throw up is not something I want to ingest anyways!!

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Yes, I have gotten all the information on Aspartame and haven’t touched it since the day I first read your e-mail.

I do notice a significant difference in the way I feel lately.  I am less fatigued, have more energy, my headaches seem to be less frequent, and even though I have replaced the NutraSweet I used to consume with good old fashioned sugar, I’ve even lost some weight! (I attribute this to my higher energy level).

While I doubt that the eyesight I have already lost will be regained, hopefully staying away from Aspartame will slow the progression. I will keep you posted.

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Although NutraSweet doesn’t affect my asthma, it DOES give me a weird feeling in the back of my jaw like I’ve been biting Styrofoam.  Yuk.

My husband gets headaches from it.

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I am not sure about the other symptoms, but I started having terrible headaches with mild nausea from diet sodas a few years ago, and stopped using them. I have forbidden anyone to give my son diet sodas. The real problem for us now is medicines; many antacids and chewables have Aspartame.

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I have had panic attacks on and off for 10 years. In regards to your question on food and drink. Yes, I believe there are many. One in particular I’m sure about is NutraSweet. Sugar to me does not make you hyper, and I have converted to that for the last 5yrs. If you read Jean Carpers Food Pharmacy (you can find this book at any bookstore) you will find that sugar is actually has a calming effect. If you have any further info on this subject I would be happy to hear from you or anyone else.

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Just a week and a half ago I quit drinking diet drinks and chewing sugarless gum after reading about the dangers of it on here. I have all the symptoms you wrote about and can’t wait for them to disappear. The main things I have noticed so far is that I no longer crave sweets and I no longer feel famished. I used to “have” to eat when I was hungry or I’d experience terrible symptoms. Now I can wait (and not be obsessed) to eat if necessary and don’t have to inhale my food when I do get it.

Sometimes I’d eat so fast to fill myself up to relieve the symptoms that I’d stuff myself and before I knew it and would feel sick afterwards. I now eat slower and am satisfied with smaller amounts of food. I thought my headaches might diminish but I never expected this.

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I think the secret for me was that I stopped drinking diet (NutraSweet) sodas at the beginning of the diet.  I have read somewhere that many problems can be traced to Aspartame.  It was certainly so for me.  The way the Aspartame ‘addiction’ affected me was to make me continually hungry for ‘taste’, or more accurately ‘flavor’. I would eat or drink way past I was hungry for ‘bulk’, often until I was in pain.

I started drinking sugar-sweetened soda or tea and a single can or less satisfied my desire for flavor, as opposed to the 2-liters or more per day that I drank before the diet.

If anyone knows about amino acid metabolism and the effect of Aspartame on diet, I would love to hear from you.  I think there is a connection there which is of significance.  I can’t prove anything, but I know in my heart that it is real.  Oh, another thing, my continual sinus headaches with migraines have ceased.  What a blessing.  I can now eat blue mold cheeses without going into a day of migraine headache recovery.

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In a message about ‘Re: Aspartame/NutraSweet warning’, someone wrote:

1. Headaches, 2. Dizziness, 3. Forgetfulness, 4. Irritation, 5. Motor skill impairment, 6. Word selection problems

Classic signs of Aspartame intolerance.  My wife also has experienced this problem.  We were married 10 years ago.  I have always been a person an above average size 😉 and was trying to let some of it off.  So everything that could be purchased in a ‘diet’ version was in our kitchen.  The change was so dramatic that I knew she was having a problem but did not know what.  Very shortly after this started,  the 700 Club aired a program about this problem.  They gave the above list of symptoms and warned people with these signs should discontinue use of Aspartame containing products to see if the problems would go away.  We did and it cleared up and she was back to herself.  The most noticeable with her were the headache and irritation because she was a normal quiet and kind person it really stood out.

Take this set of symptoms and compare them to BPD (borderline personality disorder) and think about it.  Am a sure that BPD is a real problem I am somewhat that way myself.  It might be a good idea for person with BPD to check out the Aspartame content in the food they eat.

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Since I am new to this forum, please forgive me if I am dredging up a topic that has been talked to death.  However, I would like to share some observations and warnings about the effects of Aspartame (NutraSweet and Equal).

Over the past 10 years I have read quite a lot from people complaining about various harmful effects of Aspartame, but I have not heard any reports of a particular set of symptoms that my wife has been observing in her clients.

My wife is a clinical psychologist.  About 10 years ago she began to drink NutraSweet sweetened soft drinks herself.  One day she was talking to her secretary and the secretary commented that since she (the secretary) had started drinking diet drinks she noticed that she was making more typing errors and had become more forgetful.  This immediately rang a bell with my wife, because she had observed some of the same effects in herself but had not related it to the diet drinks.

Recognizing that her secretary was a very observant person, my wife carefully interviewed her and compared her complaints with what she was observing in herself.  The following are the primary symptoms:

1. Headaches — Usually described as a dull throbbing.  Over the counter pain relievers seem to have little effect.
2. Dizziness — Especially when standing up rapidly.
3. Forgetfulness — This only affects short- to moderate-term memory, not long term.  For example, you are not going to forget your mother’s maiden name, but you are more likely to forget that I just told you we have a meeting scheduled at 10:00.  Basically, it seems to affect the transference of information from the immediate holding memory area into the medium term holding area.
4. Irritation — This is usually not a dramatic effect, but the Aspartame seems to make some people more irritable and short tempered. Some people report that they can observe themselves becoming irritated and realize that they shouldn’t, but they can’t stop it.
5. Motor skill impairment — This is the effect her secretary observed regarding the deterioration of her typing skills.  A smaller number of people report clumsiness such as bumping themselves and dropping things.
6. Word selection problems — It is difficult to find the right words to express a thought.

When my wife and her secretary compared symptoms, they found that they had these in common.  Naturally, they both stopped drinking diet drinks immediately to see if the effects were due to the drinks.  What they both found is that the symptoms _gradually_ went away.  However, it took two to four weeks without Aspartame for all of the effects to cease.

Since observing this, my wife has begun to look for it in her clients and has been able to help a good number over the years by urging them to give up Aspartame sweetened drinks.  She identifies Aspartame symptoms in 5% to 10% of her clients.

My wife and I suspect that a fair number of people who drink Aspartame sweetened drinks suffer from some or all of these symptoms.  However, it is likely that individual susceptibility varies greatly.  The symptoms are fairly subtle and come on gradually, making it difficult to connect with the diet drink.  Also, the symptoms persist for several weeks after an individual stops the intake, so a brief test would not necessarily demonstrate an improvement.

What is really scary to us is how these symptoms would affect children. Imagine what memory transference problems would do to a child in school. Imagine what increased irritability would do to a child who is already having problems coping with difficult situations.  And NutraSweet is getting hard to avoid.  Not only is it in diet drinks, but it is now in breakfast cereal, ice cream, and chewing gum.  I was in a restaurant a day ago that had NutraSweet sweetened pies!

Anyone who is experiencing any of these symptoms is urged to totally cease consuming Aspartame for a minimum of four weeks to see if the symptoms are Aspartame related.

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I was diagnosed in Jan 96.  I have used Aspartame for years with no ill effects until recently.  All of a sudden the ‘fog’ set in.  Drove me nuts trying to figure out what was wrong.  Also the ringing in the ears.

About 3 weeks ago I decreased the amount of Aspartame I was ingesting by about 1/2.  So long fog and ear ringing (for the most part).  Feeling much much better.  I, for one, was glad to see the articles and connection.

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For what it’s worth, I have experienced side effects from this “sweetener”.  I go into a stupor that makes fibro fog feel like a high.

I have not found any “diet” foods or drinks that give you a choice of sweetener so I stay with the sugar or water.  I do not feel like my Fibromyalgia is caused by it but it does greatly enhance the symptoms.

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I don’t know about brain tumors, but I cannot eat anything containing Aspartame as I quickly start to lose muscle control and tremble so that I can’t even reliably hold a cup. My mother becomes extremely forgetful for several hours. You couldn’t force me to eat that s*. What IS so wrong with sugar? That’s all I eat and I am a nice 115. I feel comfortable in the thought that cane sugar isn’t going to rot out my nervous system. My teeth? Well, you can’t buy a false brain.

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Diet Coke gives me fits — I think it might be the artificial sweetener that is used.  Regular Coke causes me no problems.

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I react within 2-5 minutes to NutraSweet.  It makes me dizzy, unable to concentrate, a little bit flushed and a little bit euphoric.  Kind of fun but I probably shouldn’t by driving “under the influence.”

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I am 38. Twenty-two years ago (gulp – I must be old!)  I was apprenticing to a ballet company, when the ballet master was harassing everyone to lose more weight, one point driven home was, “If you want to lose weight, DO NOT drink diet sodas. Drink water or unsweetend ice tea or hot tea.”) Therefore, for my entire life, I’ve never voluntarily consumed artificially sweetened beverages or products. Besides, they all taste foul.

Over the years I’ve become a working actress and a fitness trainer. Six weeks ago I booked a Crystal Light commercial. During the day’s shooting I had to drink a total of about three glasses of the beverage – the shots were such that it was impossible to ‘fake drink’ or drink and spit. The following morning I woke up with an abdomen swollen to three or four month’s pregnancy in appearance. I thought I had put on some weight, having been married the week before and eaten to my heart’s content. However, my entire intestinal system was upset: gas, tenderness, constipation. Nothing for three days would relieve the bloating, and believe me, I reverted to all the instant weight loss secrets I’ve learned over the years. On the fourth day, I woke up, urinated for what seemed an hour, and my system was fine. Obviously, these sweetened actually make one RETAIN water rather than simply running the system as water does. The only really abnormal thing I’d consumed for three weeks was the Crystal Light – everything else was “real” food. I counsel all my clients to reject all foods containing not only artificial sweeteners, but also – and I dread to learn in a few years what they’ll reveal about the artificial fats – artificial fats.

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About five years ago a nutritionist (assigned by my physician) asked me to switch to Diet Coke instead of regular.  So I did.  It took a long time to realize where my problems were coming from.  I just never linked it to Aspartame because I was told it was safe.  I had violent headaches, trouble focusing my eyes, and severe menstrual cramping and bleeding, memory loss and trouble remembering simple things.  I saw a neurologist, my gynecologist, plus my own personal physician.  Not one time did anyone ever ask me about diet soda or what medicine I was taking for the problems.  I think I was alerted to the problem by something I saw on TV.  I stopped the diet soda.  The problems were all gone within a short period of time, dramatically. Several years later I was experiencing back pain and took ibuprofen for it.   A day later I had a violent headache which was quite noticeable because I hadn’t had one for a long time. After following the same process several more times it finally dawned on me that I was experiencing the same scenario as with the Aspartame.  Something in the chemical combination was causing headaches.  Since then I have been careful to not take anything with ibuprofen.  I have been able to share this information with many people who are having trouble with awful and frequent headaches.  To the letter, each one has stopped the ibuprofen and the headaches have disappeared.

This cannot possibly be a coincidence.  Two years ago a friend who works in the same hospital I use to be in told me that she was getting a bad headache every day at nine in the morning. She blamed it on the stress of the job.  I simply asked her what she was taking and of course it was two ibuprofen pills at nine every day.  After encouraging her to stop taking ibuprofen on her two week vacation with us and riding out the headache (that would surely follow) without any meds, she was delighted to find that the headaches were gone for good.  Why in the
world don’t medical people ask simply questions like “what are you ingesting?’ when the problems may be easily diagnosed without expensive tests, etc.  At least it is a good place to start on a history workup.  Every time I have an annual checkup, I remind my physicians about this simple diagnosis (sometimes) for patient complaints of headaches and menstrual cramping. I know it is easy to forget something so seemingly mundane.  It may not always be this simplistic. But it is vital to rule these chemicals out first.  Why do a costly brain scan when the answer may be removing Aspartame from the diet.  This is a lethal product!!!  Or ibuprofen which is a wonderful medication for spasms, joint pain, etc., but it can cause severe corneal edema (blurred vision) and violent headaches in many people.  Something to think about if these are problems for you.

It probably is better to be anonymous.  Sooner or later I am going to have the strong arms of these companies at my front door.  The story is actually much more dramatic than I have given it. Too many details, but this is the gist of it.

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Now I have a little question. Until recently (2 weeks ago) I’ve been able to consume foods with NutraSweet (like chewing gum, an occasional soda, and puddings) with no apparent problems.  Two weeks ago I popped a piece of Trident sugarless gum into my mouth and about a half-hour later began to get my aura, signaling a migraine attack.  Got that under control with no problem and didn’t make the connection to the NutraSweet until several days later when I had a sugar-free soda.  Same thing happened to me. About a half-hour later I began experiencing aura.  I keep a food diary because so many foods seem to set me off, so I got suspicious and looked at it.  I’m wondering if NutraSweet is now a trigger for me.  My questions are:  Is it common to suddenly develop an allergy (if that’s indeed what it is) to something that hasn’t previously been a problem, especially when it’s only ever been consumed occasionally, and in small quantities?  Could this just be coincidence?  Has anyone else had problems with NutraSweet?

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I think anything that can cause a physical sensation might trigger panic for some sensitized people.  I used to drink a lot of diet coke — if I drank more than 2 cans worth, I’d get a headache which is a common occurrence.  Thank God I don’t drink that garbage anymore.

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Many people are allergic to Aspartame AND amino acids.  I know someone who becomes very ill. Goes into an extreme asthma attack with Aspartame. Needs to be hospitalized.

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The key here is to eat what I like along with other items that will fill me and are not fattening. I don’t like diet foods of any type. Tried NutraSweet. It gives me headaches.

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I don’t need a scientist to tell me this, I know from personal experience.  Aspartame and MSG: Perfect Migraine inducers. Not to mention they give me the shakes, vision problems and stomach aches.

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I have Lupus and Fibromyalgia.  I recently read another article on NutraSweet where it named Lupus and Parkinson’s being affected by the NutraSweet.

My husband was just diagnosed with Parkinson’s’ although none runs in his family.  On 4-1-96 I decided to give it a try and went off anything that had NutraSweet in it.  I was a very heavy pop drinker and since I’m very overweight, I always drank the diet products. From 2-8 a day, depending on what I was doing.  The reason I tried going off it was because on a scale of 1-10, my pain from the Fibromyalgia was a 44.  I was in awful pain.  Had even had an epidural to try for some relief from the pain.  Later I read this article on Vicodin, the pain pill I was taking.

The pain was so bad I was taking them closer and closer together. But the pain just kept getting worse and worse.  The article said that for short term, Vicodin was ok, but for long term, it would make the Fibromyalgia worse. And I’d been taking it for over 3 years.  So, on 4-4-96, I took myself off all the Vicodin too.

Yesterday I did something I haven’t been able to do in ages. If you’ve never had a lot of pain, you might laugh at this.  But, I was able to walk around the hallways of my building 4 times. Something I haven’t been able to do in over a year.  My pain was so great that I had to grit my teeth and count. Its 54 steps to our restroom. Then last night, I planted flowers out in my yard. Something I couldn’t do without a lot of pain medicine and a TENS unit and then the lower back pain would cause me to have to sit down every 4-5 minutes.  Last night, I planted without pain pills or the TENS unit.  Now, I was slow and I did rest a few times, but the horrible pain wasn’t there.  What a blessing!!

I know it is still early to really say if it is the NutraSweet and the Vicodin, but boy, it certainly is nice to have the relief from the pain.

Now that I look back, I was having a lot of things/symptoms happening to me. Such as:

• small continuous headache
• my feet hurt all the time
• every muscle in my body hurts
• blurry vision-especially early in the morning
• dizzy spells-

a)      some heavy like the big inner ear infections that spin you out of control.  You never knew when one would hit you.  I even had one while driving in the car, but luckily got the car stopped.

b)      light spells-somewhere like 1-4 seconds. Everything goes black and you get very dizzy.  These came and went in spells. Some days I had 20-40 of them.

• unexplained earaches.  I would have the earache, but the Dr. said he could find nothing except a little pressure once in a while.

I went to a Neurosurgeon, A Heart Specialist, and An Ear Specialist. All to no avail. They could not find anything causing these symptoms.

Since I went off the NutraSweet and the Vicodin, I have had -0- of the big ones and only -1- of the little ones.  A coincidence?  Certainly makes you wonder, doesn’t it?

Oh, forgot some symptoms:

• confusion. Know what I wanted to say, but something else came out. Go to say something and my mind would just go blank and not be able    to do anything.
• nerves on the very edge most of the time.  I would think I’m going to start screaming and never be able to stop.  Or, I’m going to start crying and never be able to stop.  And what did I do to calm these
• fears????
• fatigue – I am always as tired with I go to bed as when I get up.  I have to fight going to sleep at the desk. Which on occasion I have done.

And what did I do to combat the fatigue?  Go to the candy room of course. Buy a candy bar for a 20 minute shot of energy, and a diet pop.  I didn’t buy a real pop, I always bought a diet pop. after all I am fat and don’t need that extra sugar!!

Now that I can see all this and look back. Is it just a coincidence???

I’ll let you know as I progress.  But for today, I’m basking in the relief of pain. Such a pleasure.  If I find that something as simple as a few cans of pop have caused me all this pain and torment. I will be a most unhappy person to think that they deliberately produced something that could be the root of all my problems.

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First, before I forget. My husband, John, retired at age 63, in 1993. Soon after retirement he began to show sign that we thought were arthritis.

He was slumping forward, shuffling his feet, holding his arms funny as he walked.  The Rheumatologists kept saying it was arthritis in his back.  He just kept getting worse and worse.  Then he couldn’t button his shirt, turn his collar down in the back, and pull his pants up in the back.  Went to the Dr., had MRI’s and brain scans run.  We were told he was having small strokes and nothing could be done.  Well, I just couldn’t stand that. So I insisted we see a Neurologist.  The Neurologist took one look at him and told us he had Parkinson’s disease.  We have known this since Feb. 27, 1996.

At that time he was drinking diet pop.  After finding out about my encounter with NutraSweet, he went off it too.  Probably sometime in June. (He wanted to drink the rest we had in the refrigerator.)  But, anyhow, he’s off it.

About a month ago he went to having problems with his stomach.  He was sick and just laid on the couch for a week.  I took him off his medicine for two days and he seemed to get better.  Then, back on the regular dosage.  Then sick again.  This time I checked with the Dr. and again cut his dosage in half.  We have been doing this since Sept. 10.  He says he is feeling much better than he has in a long time.  I wonder if the Parkinson’s was caused by the aspartame and now he only needs 1/2 the medicine because the aspartame is out of his body??  I will keep you updated as to his progress.

Now for my update.

I had a wonderful summer.  My pain (which was a 44) ran at about a 6 all summer.  It was so great to be able to do things I hadn’t done in years. We worked in a small garden, worked in our flower beds, walked and walked and walked. And all without pain pills, TENS units, cane, anything like that.  One day we figured that we had walked probably 6 miles.  Me who had cried after 53 steps from my office to the restroom.

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It DOES give me a headache.  I actually call it NutraBraindead myself. This doesn’t mean I don’t use it, but, when given a choice, I don’t use it.

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I am no whiz kid about Aspartame and FM but I went off all artificial sweeteners and my IBS got better. Not cured but better. These days an inch is as good as a mile.  I don’t blindly trust everything I hear in this support group but if it sounded reasonable, I give it a try.  Let’s face it once CFS and FM was dismissed by the medical field for years and those who continue to seek help was given placebos and told us it was all in our heads.  In fact migraine suffers were once thought to be drug addicts by ER doctors. We were called GOMER’s (Get Out of My Emergency Room)  (One doctor even hit me with the pillow  I was using to block out the light, (pretty hard in fact) yup, I reported his ass.) So while I won’t sleep on top of magnets I will give up Aspartame.

Tasted funny anyway.

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Have had FM (fibromyalgia) about 15yrs. Never associated many symptoms (fog, dizziness, bookstore runs, and numbness) with it until reading this group and new Dr.info.  I know I cannot eat artificial sweeteners but never associated it with FM. Primarily I notice lightheadedness and agitation and tingling arms.

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I’m a little too busy to write up my “60 days without Aspartame” experience fully right now, but I’ll do it soon. In summary, after getting & reading your info on Feb 14, I cut Aspartame out completely (I’d been taking it in coffee, diet drinks, etc. for years). The results were startling. Normally, in the past 60 days I’d have expected to suffer 2 or 3 severe, incapacitating migraine headaches, and 12 to 15 days with other low-grade, persistent headaches. (Each one could last 1-2 days, being generally unresponsive to analgesics. Over the years, I’d just got used to getting on with my life despite these annoying headaches.) In fact, I had ONE minor headache in the 60 days, due I’m sure, to a specific food I ate! Just ONE!

I haven’t had 2 months like this for about 17 years!

As a scientist (a former pharmaceutical chemist — yes, I SHOULD have known better, but I guess I was looking for headache causes in other directions!), I realize one has to consider ALL possible explanations for a phenomenon like this; but the difference here was so striking, and the timing coincided so perfectly, that I cannot attribute this relief to anything else in my lifestyle other than giving up Aspartame. I’m eating, exercising, worrying & working just as before. Your information has made a major change in my life.

Thanks SO MUCH!

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Thank You for sending me information about Aspartame.  No wonder I feel awful after a week of taking diet pops.  I get terrible headaches. .   It is scary out there isn’t it?  Soon we will have to go and live in an Island and eat bananas if we want to avoid all the Poison that we are exposed to.

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I’ll add my two cents worth, for what it’s worth.

There is something wrong with NutraSweet. If I drink a diet soft drink or iced tea sweetened with it today, sometime before tomorrow morning I will have a dull thud head ache.

Two drinks with it and the head ache will last all day tomorrow. Well, guess what? It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure this out. I refuse to use it.

For those of you who don’t believe me, keep killing those brain cells.

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How true it is!   xxxx is THE expert on Aspartame and her recommendations have improved my FMS (fibromyalgia) symptoms to a point that I have very little pain anymore.  It’s so sad that we all think we know everything about FMS (fibromyalgia) and sometimes aren’t willing to try new things.  I’m so glad that I listened to her warnings and was willing to experiment with removing artificial sweeteners from my life.  However, it was nearly as difficult as giving up cigarettes after 25 years!

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My husband and I both experience problems with beverages containing NutraSweet.  It actually takes my husband’s breath away as well as causing a sore throat sensation.  I have never heard of others having an allergy to it but I’m sure it is possible.  We avoid it when possible until further studies are done to prove its safety.  Good luck.

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At least half a dozen of my patients have reported back with positive feedback after discontinuing Aspartame. To give a few examples-

1.) A 60 year old, non-diabetic, obese lady was on Equal (regularly in her tea & coffee) for the last 1-2 years to lose weight. She had c/o breathlessness and chronic fatigue. Within 2 weeks of discontinuing Equal, above symptoms disappeared and in her own words, she feels quite fit now.

2.) A 54 year old diabetic male with cataracts & severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy was on daily Equal for about a year. He had c/o of severe fatigue, mood swings with irritability & short temper (according to his wife).

His retinopathy has been worsening fairly rapidly. I just saw him again 5 days back after he had discontinued Equal for about a month. Except for his visual problems he feels well. His fatigue has gone & he has become ‘calm like before’ according to his wife.

3.) A 34 year old lady was on Equal for the last 3-4 years to keep slim. Her daily consumption was limited to about 2 pills with 2 cups of tea. Since 2 months, as she was preparing for some exams, her consumption of tea had gone up to 5-6 cups per day with corresponding rise in Equal intake.

She is related to me & I immediately got her off it about 10 days ago. She rang me up last Sunday to thank me because she felt well. Moreover she noticed that the hunger she felt in between meals was gone.

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Great topic!  I get a “sore throat” type of feeling (although a little different than a raw feeling) when I drink a diet soda.  If it not were for the taste difference, I could tell a diet drink from a regular drink just from the feeling in my throat.  I thought I was nuts until a friend of mine told me that he gets the same thing.

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I too have a problem with NutraSweet. I have been mistakenly given drinks with Aspartame and believe me, in a short length of time, I know that I was not given what I had ordered.  Although I do not get a sore throat, I get an upset stomach and light-headed.

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I get a migraine headache almost instantly when I drink a diet soda. I may only have a couple of sips too! It seems to be mainly the sodas, though I remember getting a headache after eating diet yogurt. Thanks to NutraSweet for putting their logo prominently on products, it’s easy to spot!

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A few years ago my uncle Ed had a mild heart attack. It scared him enough to change a life of alcohol over-use, and eating habits. He decided to drink Diet pop, heavy with NutraSweet. Within 3 months he started to have blurry vision. The doctors thought it might be related to his medication, and changed it. Later he developed double-vision. Another medication change. Finally, when he could almost not see at all, he self-diagnosed himself and quit the soda. Within a month, all vision returned. He told everyone about it at a family reunion and I’ve not touched a drop since.

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DO NOT USE IT.  It IS BAD STUFF!  I get completely out of control when I use it and I have talked to many who have the same symptoms.  Dizzy, even when lying down, vision problems, stomach cramps etc.  Thank goodness they are finally doing research on this product; hopefully it will soon be off the market.  It is hidden sometimes in food so I still get it even though I try to be very careful.  Do not use it, who knows what harm it is causing that does not show visible symptoms.

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O.K. you chemists out there, this question might be a little off the subject, but it is something I have always wondered.  We know excesses of caffeine can decrease fertility, but what about this Aspartame?  One of the posters to this thread said it was made up of naturally occurring amino acids, but it always gives me a migraine headache when I eat something with it in it.  The only other thing that has ever given me a migraine was inhaling formaldehyde. (In a herbarium- they used to use it to preserve pressed plant specimens).  Does Aspartame break down into the two amino acids it is made of or does the process of digestion break it into some other compound (like an aldehyde?)?   Does anyone have an idea where I might find this information?  I suspect it does, and the last thing I want in my system is formaldehyde whether I am trying to get PG or not!

 

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Let’s add one more story about NutraSweet:  This one is fresh, happened last week.  A friend of mine (not a patient) suffers from Epilepsy due to an automobile accident two years ago, resulting in a brain injury. She is homebound and unable to work due to the frequency of her seizures.  At times she finds it very difficult to concentrate, communicate and remember things that are common place to you or me.  (The word refrigerator = That box with the food in it; File cabinet = That thing where I keep my papers; etc.)

Last month I was visiting and she offered me Iced Tea, sweetened with NutraSweet.  I declined and informed her that I had my doubts about this product and would just assume avoid it.  Many friends feel it’s a “depressant”.  Although I had not researched it, I just had a gut feeling to avoid it.  I then mentioned that with her condition, I doubt that it can be helping matters any.  She consumes Diet products exclusively.

This was last month.  Last week I got a very large hug and a kiss on the cheek!  She took my advice and her seizures had almost completely disappeared.  She can go for days now without one at all as opposed to ONE every Half-Hour!  Her concentration and memory were like having a “New Brain” (as she described it)

I will not spew out a lot of techno-biological-chemical babble on this subject or this product because, again, I have not done the research, nor do I plan to.  I’ll just continue to use my gut instincts and avoid things that just don’t sound like they can possibly be good for you.

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I am allergic to NutraSweet (Aspartame) and it is common knowledge in the diet drink manufacturer that this causes severe headaches.  It gives me debilitating migraines which last for 3 days.  Joanie I have some info on it somewhere, I look for it and give it to you when I find it.

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The type of headaches I (and several friends of mine) get from Aspartame consumption are indeed worthy of worry. They are excruciating and unrelenting and require approximately 12-16 hours of detoxing before they resolve.

Aspartame is no worry-free product. It should be consumed with great caution.

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This is known as “restless leg” and has proved to be pretty refractory. I have had it myself off and on. I had the worst time with it when I was using tons of Aspartame, and it seems to have abated now that I’m losing far less.

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We took the advice not to use NutraSweet (here in NZ the trade name is Equal), (Equal to Poison!) and immediately, and I mean immediately, my daughter’s shaking lessened.  It didn’t cure her, but she noticed a sizable difference in her condition.  She has chronic progressive MS.

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People have legitimate MS, and in this case Aspartame makes their problems worse.   Methanol toxicity from Aspartame IS NOT MS it just mimics it because it destroys the nervous system.

I too have a definite diagnosis of MS but reading all the talk about equal sweetener led me to just try sugar instead.  I felt better, more energy although I do still take my Symmetrel, still use my cane.   I know that Equal did not “give me MS” but I do know that I feel as though a fog has been lifted from my thinking pattern.  I go my mom and my sister to switch to sugar and they think they are better in general.  My mom works for the student health department of FSU and she has gotten her colleagues to stay off Equal.

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I was drinking a LOT of diet sodas. I’d say around 4 to six a day. (Well, it was summer in NYC) as well as using NutraSweet in my coffee, in my yoghurt and cereal etc.

I began to get severely depressed. I mean, to a frightening degree. It was shortly after that that I started reading some articles on the possible connection between Aspartame and depression.

I quit cold turkey!!!

I have to qualify this by saying that at the time I hated my job. So that has to be considered as a cause, but the degree to which I was depressed was something I have never experienced before.  I have had “black days” but could always pin it to a good reason and get going on doing something about it. This was disabling!!!!

However, within a couple of weeks after going back to saccharine and sugar, the whole black cloud lifted.  I don’t miss the stuff.

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Thanks again. And BTW, I cannot tolerate Aspartame.  I feel definitely ill when I drink diet soft drinks.  Strange, it’s only an amino acid isn’t it?

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I’ve been taking Bio-Rx now for a few months, but have been getting headaches from the Aspartame. Does anyone know of any comparable products (price & quality) without Aspartame? Thanks

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Within 3 days of quitting NutraPoison my eczema was greatly improved. The open weeping sores closed up and the itch went away.  If you have any sort of skin rash, get off of NutraPoison (Aspartame) immediately.

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Just wanted to add my experiences. I get deathly ill if I drink or eat anything with Aspartame in it. I get nauseated; headaches and I feel like I’m never going to get up again. My doctor said I have an allergy to it and not to let my children have any because they have more than likely inherited it.

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I remember when Diet Coke came out as one of the first products using “Aspartame” I also remember a warning on the cans that said Aspartame could cause headaches.  I have since noticed they took the warning off.  I myself found that my headaches became excruciatingly bad when I drank diet soft-drinks.  I now stick with “The Real Thing” in all soda pops.  In fact, the Diamond Headache clinic, advises staying away from all artificial sweeteners if you have bad headaches and migraines.  It’s made a big difference for me.

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I am very eager to get all the info you have, but for now do not have WEB access and only have an Internet E-Mail drop. I have personally experienced temporary blindness, panic attacks, and many other unpleasant side effects from Aspartame. I have given literature to all my family members and many of my friends, and ALL that I have given the info to have eliminated Aspartame from their diet. Is there some way that I can get all your help files by downloading them somehow?

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My last bout with NutraSweet was over a year ago now, thank goodness!

I live in fear that it will sneak into food or a drink and I check labels very carefully. The near-blindness episode combined with a panic attack and heart arrhythmia and a frightening drop in blood pressure were all triggered by *a single stick* of Trident sugarless gum! Maybe if we started suing the companies that use Aspartame in their products they’ll show a little more moral responsibility than the greed-driven Monsanto moguls.

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I agree with this wholeheartedly.  I can’t believe that the maker of NutraSweet (Monsanto, I believe) posted a large ad in the papers once, claiming that NutraSweet “does not cause headaches”!!!  That’s like telling someone that water doesn’t actually quench their thirst!  People know what causes reactions in their own bodies.  I *rarely* get headaches, but I just about always get one when I drink a diet soda.  So I avoid them now, of course!

I hope someone from Monsanto gets into this thread – I’d love to get a war going.

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But I’ve gone off diet soda now for over one week.  I used to drink about 4-5 diet sodas over the course of a day (and had been for about 6 years).  What I’ve notice so far, is that my acne cleared up and I wheeze less.  But this is hardly a scientific test.

I searched the WEB using “NutraSweet” from Alta Vista search.  There were some articles that painted a bad picture for the artificial sweetener.  But there wasn’t much scientific news there.

I figure I’m better off without the diet sodas, though.

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If you are still giving out the info on NutraSweet, I would love to receive it.  My mom and I have just discovered that it seems to trigger anxiety attacks in both of us.  Mom also had the rapid heartbeat.  We have been off of the stuff for a week, and she has had no anxiety attacks and I have only had 1.

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If you are still giving out the info on NutraSweet, I would love to receive it.  My mom and I have just discovered that it seems to trigger anxiety attacks in both of us.  Mom also had the rapid heartbeat.  We have been off of the stuff for a week, and she has had no anxiety attacks and I have only had 1.

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NutraSweet (Aspartame) give me giant hives.

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No scientific proof, but if I drink too much diet drinks with NutraSweet I get depressed.  Of course, it has to be in the amount of multiple “Big Gulp” size drinks from the local convenience store.

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After suffering terribly from Migraines for ages, I started to pay a lot of attention of what I ate and drank on the days that they hit. Well after a really, really bad one I figured it was NutraSweet. Since I gave up all diet stuffs with NutraSweet in it. NO MORE MIGRAINES!!!  It worked for me maybe it can help you or others.

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I was told by a doctor that diet soda can cause your blood sugar to drop just like you were using REAL sugar. (GASP) Especially if you have a slightly low blood sugar.

Another thing is that a LOT of people are highly allergic to Aspartame (NutraSweet) I am one of those. It put me in the hospital 2 times and the docs couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me.  I haven’t had a diet soda in a year and a half. I had quit for 6 months and tried it again and got sick again, so I knew what the problem was. Different people react to Aspartame in different ways.

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I wanted to tell you about my case with Aspartame. Since you have sent me a letter, I have been off of it for the duration, and to say the least, my vision has improved greatly. Another thing that has happened is that my health in general has improved. There is one other thing that you should be aware of. The digestive system has also improved along with the improvement of the eyes. You could say that I was building a monument to the death of my eyes and at the same time embalming the dead tissue for prosperity. Isn’t that great? The more people that I can tell about this the better.

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I didn’t know anyone else was having problems with NutraSweet, but personally the stuff gives me splitting headaches.

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Fairly small amounts of NutraSweet make me feel like I’m having an asthma attack. I.e. shortness of breath. Happens even when I don’t know that it’s in there. I’ve heard 5% of the population gets this, but the stuff is still approved.

Similarly the new super fat that your body can’t digest has the harmless side effect of causing “Anal Leakage” in ‘some people’ IE: you shit yourself!

I forget what the commercial name is Splenda? Olestra? Or something like that? It is the so called Fatless Fat. Its approved too!

Makes you wonder sometimes. What happens to me when NutraSweet gets cheaper than sugar, and shows up in everything?

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I used to drink NutraSweet’nd beverages, but no more. It made me sick -long before I knew why. If you think kids get crazy on sugar, watch them after 12 oz of pop sweetened with this junk.

No. I would personally not recommend using Aspartame in brewing.

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While I cannot say that “Aspartame” caused “narcolepsy-like” symptoms, I can say it has a “bad-effect” on me.  When drinking a lot of sodas “sweetened” by it — I had effects that made me dub it “stupid drug”.

Similar effects to “Excessive Daytime Sleepiness”.  At the time, I was not diagnosed as narcoleptic.  I cut out Aspartame from my diet years ago because I didn’t like its effect on me.   Could its effect have worsened the narcolepsy and I didn’t know it?  I am not sure.  Now, I am diagnosed as narcoleptic and I watch my diet closely — and don’t drink or eat anything “sweetened” with Aspartame.

Yes, I think it causes “bad effects” in narcoleptics.  No, I don’t think we are going to see a “scientific study” to prove anything — it’s just not economically feasible today.  My personal recommendation is to stay away from the stuff.   But that is without any scientific or medical justification.

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Although I must note that I am now five days into going cold turkey on all forms of Aspartame, and I have noticed a distinct lowering of appetite and increase of energy.

I tend to resist food crankery, but mark my words, there’s something odd about Aspartame.

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Because of your information on Aspartame, my wife has stopped using this substance and is reporting less depression!  Thank you for that.

I am also in a support group for panic and anxiety disorder and have given them this information as well.  Several of the members are taking Prozac and learning about the connection to Aspartame has been very interesting to them.  I believe that most, if not all, have either stopped using Aspartame or have cut back.  Once again, thank you!

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I was really interested to see an Aspartame ™ thread. Whenever I happen to drink by mistake or desperation a NutraSweet ™ beverage, I detect a slight light-headedness.  I had thought this might be psychosomatic due to my aversion to things dietetic, but now I see it may be real.

Sometimes I get headaches after drinking diet Pepsi, like hours long migraines.

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This is just an honest question, not a flame.  If NutraSweet is not a bad thing to be adding to your diet, why is it that the only way I seem to be able to lose weight is to replace my diet beverages with plain water?  It has to be something besides a caffeine problem, because I use products without caffeine and the problems remain.  My weight problems seem to begin at the point in time I started using artificial sweeteners because of a possible diabetic condition.

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Thanks for the information on Aspartame. I don’t use it, nor do I allow my children to have it. We sometimes feel strange insisting on real sugar. Years ago, when Aspartame was first introduced, I found that it gave me headaches. Being slightly skeptical of artificial food, I had no trouble living without it. I am not surprised to hear it is damaging.

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I am so HAPPY to have read your post about NutraSweet.  I have cystic fibrosis, which is a genetic disease (lethal) which severely affects my lungs and my ability to digest foods.  Finally, like many CF patients, I developed diabetes.  However, I was never told not to eat NutraSweet, so in my angst and depression of being told I had something ELSE wrong with me I loaded up on the products with NutraSweet–Cokes, ice cream, yogurt, etc.  I had always loved sweet things and thought the NutraSweet alternative would satisfy my craving for sugar.  I became more depressed and had all the leg cramps.  I couldn’t seem to remember anything.  I considered killing myself by flying to Greece, burning my passport and dying of exposure and lack of CF medicine on the steps of the Parthenon.

(Yeah, I was going crazy.)  I probably would have died had I not had a chance encounter with a long-time, insulin-dependent diabetic on a flight from Chicago to the East Coast, where my brother was to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy.  She told me she could not have NutraSweet because her body thought it was sugar and screwed her blood sugars up.  I was so mad that no doctor had warned me about this.  Perhaps had I never taken NutraSweet I would have been able to stay in graduate school.  In any case, I had to quit graduate school because I was too ill and could not write my papers (since I couldn’t seem to remember anything) and was hospitalized with pneumonia shortly after arriving in Dallas/Fort Worth.  I can’t even imagine what might have happened to me if I had kept imbibing NutraSweet.

I did some research in a local library on NutraSweet, and, although I could not find many articles because the library was not huge, I did find enough disturbing things about NutraSweet that I decided that it should have never been put on the market or AT LEAST there should be more warnings on NutraSweet products.  For example, warnings to diabetics, dieters, and parents.  I had no idea that each person’s body weight could sustain only so much NutraSweet before it saturated the body and became toxic.  Little kids are in particular danger because of their low body weights.

P.S.  I work on trying to eliminate environmental tobacco smoke from public accommodations through the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Just like NutraSweet CEO’s and the politicians/bureaucrats they paid off, tobacco companies insist that environmental tobacco smoke is not harmful.

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When I stopped using Aspartame, I stopped being quite so nervous but I didn’t really get better until I was hospitalized for pneumonia.  I suspect that the Aspartame and fluctuations in blood sugar left me open for rapid growth of lung bacteria (bacteria which is never completely eradicated in CF patients). However, the anxiety and intense suicidal depression left me, even though my lungs were screwed up, and I sought out other people to befriend.  (I was still depressed but not like I was.)  The leg cramps subsided.  After hospitalization, my sugar levels stabilized.  I was very weak and spent six to eight months working through the fact that I could never go back to graduate school because of my CF and working through my isolation. (I had to move back home, my parents worked, and I had no friends.)  I finally joined a health club and for months the only time I saw other people was at the health club.

Finally, I met other people and joined more clubs.  I do believe that the Aspartame permanently damaged my memory capability.  When I was on it, I could not remember the scholarly articles I had just read and it was SO frustrating because I had to write papers.  Short-term memory improved after getting off the Aspartame but I never seem to have the memory powers I once had and my attention span seems shorter.  I just remember that before Aspartame it seemed like I could focus for hours at a time on one project.  I’ve never really been able to focus like that again on one thing after Aspartame.  I think there should be a study on Aspartame-use and ADD-like behavior.  (ADD–attention deficit disorder)

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It’s simply two amino acids joined.  It’s no more dangerous than sugar. Then why do I feel tired and drained every time I drink anything with NutraSweet in it?

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Does anyone know something I may use to elevate tiredness?  I get plenty of sleep, and I cycle to work each day, and my doctor can’t find anything wrong with me – maybe something ‘alternative’ may help? Remove all NutraSweet/Aspartame from your diet. This might help. I know whenever I drink a Diet Coke with NutraSweet, I get VERY tired, and shaky, and cold, clammy, etc.

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About four years ago I started having mild bouts of depression; I guess what most folks would call “the blues”. These bouts would last about a week and then would go away, only to resurface a few months later, and each time the depression got worse. I would fight my way through it, and it would go away. I didn’t seek out help, I’m a very independent and stubborn person, and was sure that this could be beaten alone. My depression was indeed an enigma, sometimes striking at what should’ve been a very happy time. I mean, heck, this can’t be happening to me, I’ve got a great relationship, career, etc. and so forth. I never discussed this with anyone, determined to beat it on my own. Then a couple of years ago, things got so bad, I contemplated suicide. Most of what has happened between then and now shall remain a private matter. I did however, a little over a year ago seek and get treatment for my condition. The first thing my doctor did was to medicate, first with Prozac/Lithium then Zoloft. None of these were totally effective, I just felt kind of blah, existing in a never happy state, with bursts of depression every couple of weeks. Well Butrin worked a little better; the intermittent episodes more or less disappeared. But I still only felt so-so.

About 5 mos ago I sat down and did some serious brain-grinding and turned my thoughts back to when the depression episodes first started happening and asked myself “What had I started doing differently about that time?” My strongest possible link was that right around then I started on a fitness kick and started using Aspartame as my only form of sweetener. NutraSweet in my soda, NutraSweet in recipes. NutraSweet on my cereal.  On and on and on. My next step was to eliminate using it all together. I’m back to using regular sugar, but in moderate amounts and am happy 🙂 to say that my depressed feelings have more or less gone by the wayside. When my last prescription of

Well Butrin ran out in November, I didn’t bother to get it refilled.

So, this is my conclusion – it’s POSSIBLE that this was indeed the cause; it’s POSSIBLE that the anti-depression drugs have caused my level of neuro-transmitters to stabilize; it’s POSSIBLE that my form of self-treatment has caused a psychosomatic reaction. Please don’t accept this as fact without further studies. I have yet to discuss this with my doctor, as I haven’t made a follow-up visit. So far, so good. I’m hoping and praying that this was the key.

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Hello.  I wanted to share an experience I had about three years ago–one that continues to haunt me.  I worry that these debilitating symptoms will return someday.

When I was in my second year of law school I was an obsessive worker.  I was doing entirely too many activities.  I was then, and am now, addicted to caffeine.  I picked up the habit of DRINKING TWO LITERS OF DIET-SODA per DAY!

At one point of extreme stress (I was up for almost two days straight) I began to have paroxysmal attacks.  These, if you are unfamiliar, are seizure-like symptoms that are occasionally found in Multiple Sclerosis patients.

These symptoms–including temporary double vision, slurred speech and a lack of coordination on the right side of my body, worsened over a two month period.

For some strange reason, after two weeks of symptoms I stopped drinking diet soda.  I was eventually diagnosed with MS–a diagnosis my neurologist later recanted when I made a complete recovery.  I took an anti-seizure medication–Dilantin–and my symptoms went away over a two week period.

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What an impressive list of problems you give.  It makes my migraines look somewhat insignificant.

A friend of mine, also in the UK, has more severe problems I know of.  For several years she suffered from unexplained loss of consciousness.  Without warning and with no other apparent symptoms she would pass out at irregular intervals.  This happened at work, in the street and in her home.  She was tested for everything her doctor could think of, including AIDs. The source of the problem was not found until the doctor suggested she might be allergic to saccharine.  Since she was dieting, she switched to a brand of diet cola that only used Aspartame.  Result?  The episodes got worse! Eureka!  But the doctor wouldn’t believe her because ‘Aspartame is safe’.

I am appalled by the range of products that Aspartame appears in. Diet soft drinks you expect: but non-diet drinks? Chewing gum (non-diet), crisps?

I check the ingredients list of everything I buy these days since I hate my migraines.  Apart from stress – and that only under extreme circumstances – Aspartame (NutraSweet) is my only trigger.

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Sir I am reading the postings on the internet about Aspartame with great interest and anger.

I had been drinking Diet Coke for the past 12 years. This was the only form of liquid I consumed, with the very odd glass of water or even less often a glass of milk.

The quantity of consumption varied between 2 and 5 litres a day. Every day for almost 12 years.

In March of 1995 I saw part of a TV program that was about Aspartame. The interviewer was talking to a representative from the company that makes Aspartame. The representative said that the company had received 6,000 written complaints about the product, everything from strokes to liver and kidney failure to joint problems. He sat there and said that their doctors and scientists could not confirm even one of the complaints. My understanding of the American ratio of actual complaints to written complaints is in the neighborhood of 5,000 to 1 and may be as high as 10,000 to 1. This would mean that between 30,000,000 and 60,000,000 million people were having problems with this product. I quit drinking Diet Coke immediately.

Problems that I had attributed to stress of running my own business included high blood pressure, gout, kidney stones, joint problems had been with me for several years. Other problems that were present, but masked included; burn out and depression, confusion in decision making, general lack of drive and loss of feeling in my hands. The withdrawal process was not easy, but I have been off Aspartame for approximately 10 months now and many of my problems are going away. I understand that it may take a long time to purge the body of the residual toxins, but it is happening.

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In looking back over the past 5 to 7 years many problem are now clear and they affected my business and my life. These I do attribute to Aspartame.

Difficulties with decision making. This first surfaced when I went to get a new car in 1992. I had problems making a decision as to which car to buy and to lease or purchase. This was totally out of character, I have had many years running a business and mathematics was my major at university. I finally took a car because the salesman was nice. Great way to do business.

The changes were taking place very slowly and my wife just put them down to the stress of doing business. This confusion continued and came to a head when we moved our business from Cambridge to a small rural community of Holstein. During the move I could not decide what to even put on the truck and threw out or gave away items because they were too heavy or I did not know what to do with them. The items included equipment, storage pieces, shelving etc., not scrap or garbage. Again, not in keeping with my character.

I lost the feeling in most of my right hand in December of 94. I went to my chiropractor he said it was nerve damage come and see me 3 time a week. It should only take 6 months or so for the nerves to heal once the sublimation was corrected. Several months later the feeling was going in my left hand as well. 4 months after my withdrawal, a new chiropractor (because of location) and 1 visit per week, feeling returned and have been OK since.

Personality changes over the past 10 years. When I got married I was a very mellow person with a good sense of humor. I have been told that I am much less tolerant than I was and my sense of humor is just not as good as it was. I thing that I have noticed is for the past number of years my emotional state was blah, nothing much mattered and trying to get excited about anything just did not happen. From purchasing an old school to having dinner at a nice restaurant was just Ok, nothing special. Even feeling of

Frustration didn’t seem to happen. When things were not going well with renovations, or with business I could not get myself in gear to do anything about it. In the last week I had strong feeling of frustrations at my lack of progress in renovating our old school house. This is the first time in memory I have had these feelings.

One thing that I had always prided myself on was my memory. I could remember people that I had met only once many years ago. School time friends that I had not seen for 10 or 15 years, I was able to remember their names and even their grades. When I had an antique store, we bought most of our items at auctions. Driving through the country I could remember location where we had been at an auction and even most of the items we bought their and who the auctioneer was. Not bad since I went to 4 or 5 auction a week for 5 years. Not so now. It is getting better, but it still isn’t as good. I still have difficulties with people I meet. Some time I need to be introduced to the same person 3 or 4 times before I get the name right. At one time in my printing business I could recall every job, now I need to look up the docket to see if we even did it before.

My eye sight has changed dramatically over the past 8 years with new glasses coming about every 18 months. I thought it was due to working on the computer so much. I just went in for another examine because things were getting out of focus at times. No new glasses needed this time. My tear fluid isn’t keeping the front if the eyes moist enough and they are drying out causing a change in the focus. First time that I have not needed new glasses in many visits. I hope that this means the damage to my eyes has stopped.

Growths on my forehead. I was becoming quite warty, as my wife said. I had little white bumps like cysts forming on my forehead about 20 of them over the years. Over the past few months, remember it has now been 16 months since I stopped poisoning myself, these bumps have been reducing in size and some have disappeared. My current chiropractor says that it may be because the liver has become detoxified enough to start doing it’s job again. Shortness of breath due to position. I noticed this in the material you sent yesterday and am not sure if I have this problem or if what I have is the same. As I said I am over weight, but still reasonable active. I do not have shortness of breath walking, on the flat or upstairs, nor do I have shortness of breath working hard, but when I bend down I cannot breath. I thought it was my belly pushing against my diaphragm and not allowing my lungs to expand. Either way I wish it would go away.

For over a year now I have been being treated for muscle spasms in my right hip. The pain is quite awful and does keep me from doing many of the things I want to do. I do not know if Aspartame is retained in the body for a long time or if the effects it has on the muscles can last this long, but if it can and does, then a tactical nuclear devise should be sent to Searle and the FDA for Christmas.

My daughter, adopted, has Borderline Personality Disorder. She would drop off the edge every once in a while and go into almost a comatose state. We tried to find the trigger and now believe it was Aspartame. Since we have explained to her about the possible connection she no longer drinks diet pop and her bad times have almost disappeared. Again I cannot say that Aspartame was or is the only chemical that caused these problems but it sure is a strong suspect.

I am not sure that I have included everything, but this is enough. My health is getting better every day and I can notice changes for the better myself. I know that I have a long road to cover yet and I am sure that there will be disappointments when I discover damage that will not get better and will affect my life style and possibly life span. Having people like you out there to talk to sure helps.

In Canada diet drinks do not carry any warnings period. Also the Bovine growth hormone has not been approved for use here, thank God.

PS: I am making copies of the information and giving them to my member of parliament.

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October 1994 – I started to get red rashes with small lumps and very itchy in a random pattern, size, time and duration.

November  1994 – Anti-Histamine gave  relief for a few days at a time

December  1994 –  I saw my GP who sent me for blood test, which found nothing

January  1996 – I went to skin specialist who suggested stronger antihistamine

Then a friend sent me your email address about Aspartame I downloaded all your information and stopped using anything with Aspartame in it

Jan 28 – stop Aspartame

Jan 29 – rash and itch         🙁

Jan 30 – less rash and itch  🙁

Jan 31 – rash                        😎

Feb 1 – a few small rashes 🙂

Feb 2 – no rash                    🙂

Feb 3 – no rash                    🙂

Feb 4 – No rash                   🙂

Feb 5 – No rash and send this happy email 🙂

Ps I wonder what was poisoning my Body????

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I stopped all NUTRASWEET and ASPARTAME in March of 1995 due to progressively worsened headaches (migraines).  At the end I was missing 2-3 days of work as frequently as every 3 wks.  I took so much aspirin that I am now allergic to it. I’ve ruined my esophagus and gall bladder from so much pain killers for these headaches.

My bladder is also weak because of it.  I would have to get up 2-3 times in the night and urinate—- for some reason that diet pop did that.  This past month I’ve finally stopped urinating at night and can sleep through the night.  Does this perhaps mean that I am detoxified of this horrid chemical???   I’ve been hypoglycemic for many years and used this sweetener because there really wasn’t much else on the market to select from.  I used it in my baking, sugar bowl, etc.  I ate only products sweetened with it including cough drops and drinks.

My husband was consuming it with me and he didn’t get the headaches but he did get the weak bladder and was up several times at night too.  We thought this was natural for our early 50’s.

Now, to learn that you have to rid your body of this chemical by more means than just stopping its use has me worried.

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Yep, and I have been off that stuff now for over a month, and noticing the difference. It took me a year to get over all the symptoms. Your body actually becomes toxic from it.   Well, it is a chemical after all.

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Does anyone have suggestions re soft drinks that don’t contain aspartame? I get headaches from NutraSweet, etc., and it seems like everything on the market has NutraSweet. I can drink about a half a can of Tab or Diet Dr. Pepper without much impact, but any more than that generates Excedrin headache. Needless to say, I use Sweet N’ Low in my coffee, oatmeal, etc. and omit sweetener from my favorite cereal, Grape-Nut Flakes.

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Up to the time I was in the hospital in October I had no trouble with Equal or Aspartame. But since then I have had coughing spells and headaches whenever I eat Jell-O or drink soda pop with the stuff in it.  Is this normal or is it just a finicky reaction to this artificial sweetener???

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I’m certain that there is something to the NutraSweet problems. I had a most interesting happening in my business that I got to witness some eighteen months ago.  Two clients met and got into a conversation about food.  One is particularly conscientious regarding the food she takes into her body, and the other was merely participating in salon conversation.  I was quite startled to discover both women weeping and hugging, especially since neither of the ladies are prone to such, and our environment is certainly not really comfortable for outbursts of an emotional nature.

Both women had brutal migraines, false hunger, depression, and generic irritability, restlessness, and discontent that had been traced to NutraSweet consumption.  Both had spent over a year fooling with the medical establishment, and spent quite a bit of time thinking that:

a) they were nuts, and

b) they were alone.

Since this time I’ve run across about half a dozen folks that have sensitivities to something in NutraSweet with about the same responses.  (I’m a stylist, and conversations tend to go where they will.)

I’ve no idea what this might do to a child on the way, but herself has made it clear that NutraSweet is taboo for both of us until we pay off the delivery.

Most assuredly better safe than sorry.

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I had my first of two seizures 9 years ago right after losing 30 pounds in 3 months on a diet filled with NutraSweet.  The cause of my seizures was never figured out, but the neurologist said that NutraSweet can cause all kinds of neurological disturbances and to never touch the stuff again.

Once, a couple of years ago, I drank some tea with some in it, by accident and got light headed.  Afterward, someone told me there was NutraSweet in it.  So, I definitely hold stock in the NutraSweet theory.  You should read up on NutraSweet.  It basically is poison.  Lose weight some other way, i.e. watch your fat intake!

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Here is my brief Aspartame story. It doesn’t involve a 60-day break, but maybe it will be useful anyway.

I don’t drink diet colas with Aspartame because each time I did several years ago, I would get this strange tightness in my chest.

No pain, just a little knot somewhere around my heart. This was enough for me to simply stay away from these colas. I’ve had less than 10 of these colas in my life.

I had no idea then (and still don’t) if anyone else has experienced this. In other words, I didn’t drink it thinking that this was a possible symptom. It was a pure observation.

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Several people have posted that their doctors told them that NutraSweet was o.k. during pregnancy.

I just want to make sure that people know that despite what I’ve heard in articles and from doctors, some people do not react well to NutraSweet.  For example, NutraSweet gives me digestive problems at both ends, and that’s when I’m well!  I’m not the only one, either. I have several friends (and have met others) whose reactions vary from “bouncing off the walls” to hives (including at least 10 people that I’ve met with similar problems to mine).  A few others are like me in that the body’s tolerance goes down with repeated drinks. We don’t know if it builds up in our systems or what.

I don’t even like the taste of NutraSweet anymore because of these troubles.

Just in case you think that your child will be able to tolerate it just because you can, I am the *only* one in my immediate family with this trouble.  One of my friend’s children can tolerate NutraSweet, but she can’t.

Use your best judgment, but I believe in better safe than sorry.

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I am a migraine sufferer and I’ve been taking Prozac for 2 weeks.  I remember one side effect was supposed to be headaches.  But so far, I have had not one headache or migraine attack, EXCEPT when I ate some diet pudding with NutraSweet.

I recently kicked Diet Coke/Pepsi with NutraSweet.  I spent all last summer eating extra strength Excedrin like it was candy because I had so many migraines.  I have a strong feeling it was the 6-8 Diet Cokes I was drinking, I slowly weaned myself off of it a few weeks ago and have yet to have the killer migraines i used to get.  So to me, I think you can have an even worse headache from eating/drinking NutraSweet, or trying to get off of it.  But so far, Prozac has not caused any headaches, and I am usually very sensitive to migraine triggers, but as we all know, someone else may have a different reaction to it.

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I for one had lots of mood swings, migraines, anxiety etc. when I was on my 6-8 Diet Cokes a day. It’s been over 3 months since I ‘quit’, and I can’t tell you how much better I feel!  Not to mention not having to buy extra-strength Excedrin by bulk for my headaches!

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Hi everyone, I’m a new reader.  My first seizure experience (3 violent grand mal in 1 hour) came 30 minutes after I first ingested Aspartame in a Diet Coke.

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Has anyone posted the information about NutraSweet to this group?  I just found out how toxic it is and want to pass the word.  My brother just emailed me and said that a rash that he has had on his legs for years that no one could find out what it was or get it to disappear after Rx, is gone after just two weeks off NutraSweet.  NutraSweet breaks down to formaldehyde, wood alcohol and something called ant sting venom.

It also attaches to fat cells – sort of embalms them and doesn’t allow them to metabolize.  So you gain weight.  Since I have been off I am not as hungry and seem to have lost a little weight.

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Personal experience proves to me that Aspartame is dangerous.  I’ll try to be brief with my story.  I use Aspartame rarely or never.  December 1995 I stayed with my parents for 4 days and used their Equal in my coffee. I was using – conservative estimate – at least 6 packs/day in coffee.  They also served fruit salad sweetened with Equal which we ate at two meals, and I drank a 2-liter bottle of Diet Coke.

While I was there I experienced unusual and extreme irritability, which felt totally irrational and uncontrollable.  I had to lock myself in the bathroom to “get a grip”.  I could not listen to music or I felt like I would explode.  I told a friend about it, because it was so strange.

January 1996 I bought a box of Equal to try to lose weight.  Using Equal in my coffee, I immediately became depressed, then irrationally irritable, full of uncontrollable rage, trouble breathing, anxiety, shaky, panic attacks.  It only took 4 days before I realized something was definitely going on.  The feelings were as intense and uncontrollable and irrational as the ones I had at my parents’ house.  Then it clicked, and I thought of the Equal.  I don’t know why.  I immediately searched the NET for NutraSweet, found the articles about its toxicity, the symptoms, and the case histories.  Not only did it validate my symptoms, but it suddenly started sounding like my mom’s problem, too.  Of course I quit using the Equal immediately and I feel fine now.

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I’m quitting Diet Coke (after a massive addiction which grew from minor habit to out of control over the past 5 years) and noticing that I feel more centered, stable and focused than I have in a very long time.

I won’t miss the twitching eyes, memory loss (multiple causes, I’m sure) and other side effects, either. Perhaps I’ll enjoy better health, too. God knows I’ve consumed more than enough Aspartame for one human life. Hope this stuff flushes out of my system after a while.

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I do not use sugar substitutes; I just regulate the amount of sugar I use period.  I also have found that if I eat NutraSweet it affects me like a sleeping pill.  Every so often I have a craving for ice cream.  My favorite is Beyer’s, but one time, I decided to go “healthy” and get Healthy Choice.  It put me to sleep.  I thought it only affected me, so I fed it to my niece and nephew.  They knocked out cold.  Now if they ask for ice cream at my house, they always ask not to be given the “sleepy ice cream”.

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To cut a very long story short, it seems as though my persistent headaches have been primarily caused by NutraSweet.

Several years ago I was on holiday in Israel and noticed a warning on the cans of Diet Coke. The warning advised not to consume more than a given amount of NutraSweet per week.

I contacted the providers of NutraSweet in Australia when I got home, and was told there was absolutely no problem with it. I now realize (after much pain and discomfort) that this is simply not true.

I am very concerned that the medical authorities in Australia have put almost no effort into screening out potentially harmful additives such as NutraSweet.

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Since I already figured out the NutraSweet thing I’ve been off of it for almost a year.  Here is my story; you have my permission to use it.

I began experiencing migraine headaches in my early 40s.  This is quite common with “pre-menopausal” women and is definitely connected to hormone fluctuations. My migraines were what are called classic migraines, which begin with an aura that looks like flashing jagged lights in your vision.  This lasts about 20 minutes and is then usually followed by the actual headache.

At first my headaches would only last about 6 hours and although I had the accompanying photophobia and photophobia (extreme sensitivity to light and sound), I was not experiencing the nausea that usually accompanies migraines.  I began to get them about twice a month.  My diet consisted of 1 – 3 Diet Cokes or Diet Snapples daily.

After about a year my headaches got continually worse.  Instead of lasting one day they began to last for three days.  I was getting them sometimes two or three times a week and I began experiencing the nausea.  It finally got to the point where I was so incapacitated by the migraines that it started affecting my job performance, and I had to leave my job.  (Stress is a big trigger of migraines, along with food allergies, and my job was really stressing me out).

After I left my job I continued to have debilitating migraines.  I was still drinking lots of Diet Coke.  My doctor attributed this to post-traumatic stress, which I’m sure was partially correct.  I also started on a course of herbal therapy, which eventually was successful, but I still got more headaches than I was comfortable with.

Then my secretary mentioned that she and her husband had discovered that Diet Coke was giving them headaches.  She suggested I stop drinking Diet Coke, which I did.  My headaches improved dramatically, but I was away from my “job from hell” and also taking the beneficial herbs.  I never thought there was any one factor which was responsible for the improvement, but a combination of all three.

I still think this is correct, and I only have one or two headaches per month now, and usually they are not acute.  But on two occasions in the last year I have ingested NutraSweet unknowingly, and both times I developed a killer headache within about 12 hours.  This is consistent with migraines caused by food allergies.

I have absolutely no doubt that if I ingest even a small quantity of NutraSweet that I will develop a migraine within a short period of time.  I have no desire to be a human guinea pig, but I am convinced that NutraSweet played a big role in my migraines, and ingestion of NutraSweet also serves to exacerbate the other triggers which contribute to migraines.

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Thanks for writing!  I last spoke to my friend about a week ago and she said that she is doing great and feeling better than she has in years.  She says that the pains in her feet and legs disappeared very soon after she stopped drinking Diet Coke.  She also had damage to one of her optic nerves and was going blind in that eye.  We think that may be related to Aspartame as well, based on the information that you sent me.

Now, her MS symptoms are GONE!  She still has a problem with light sensitivity in one of her eyes but that is gradually improving with time.  Even during the holidays, she has continued to lose weight since giving up Aspartame.  She had been severely over weight for many years and nothing that she did to lose weight worked for her.  It is unfortunate that the diet products that she thought would help her lose weight did nothing but make her more unhealthy and obese.  I am afraid that many women fall into that same trap.

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Thank you VERY MUCH for all the articles on NutraSweet.

I have been off NutraSweet for about 2 weeks now. I am feeling much better and don’t get those pounding throbbing headaches very much anymore.

My brother (who is a D. O.) has been off of NutraSweet for 3 days now. He has a whole host of weird symptoms.

…..

Since I last wrote my brother has been off NutraSweet since then. My brother’s lupus type of symptoms completely went away. My brother has been a physician for over 10 years. His doctor (a specialist) who has been treating him has seen the significant difference and wants to write a research paper on this. My brother’s physician has now started prescribing getting off NutraSweet for his other patients. Thank you very much.

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I am only a physicist, with a private pilot’s license, among many other interests.  As such, I keep abreast of a great many publications, some of which bear directly on this topic.

Many professional pilots have permanently lost their licenses to fly due to Aspartame-induced epileptic Aspartame seizures and other severe side effects of that poison.

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I developed CHRONIC stone formation after I switched to artificial sweeteners 3 years ago. I also have spasmodic kidney pain which seems to decrease when my intake of NutraSweet is reduced.

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My dad is always riding me about staying away from NutraSweet because of these reports.  I tend not to use it anyway, but primarily because it seems to give me headaches.

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RE: NutraSweet. I was not so aware of having headaches, but when at Weight Watchers several years ago and downing colas, and WW products full of NutraSweet my heart was beating irregular and just pounding.

I experimented and got off all NutraSweet and all the heart stuff disappeared.

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During the last two months, I have been conducting an informal survey of Aspartame effects. So far, I’ve gotten twelve individuals to discontinue Aspartame intake. Six have experienced marked improvements in health.

In one case, in just the past two weeks a friend of mine has reported a lessening of annoying vision problems and the condition continues to improve. In addition, he tells me he’s sleeping much better. He’s been enthusiastically spreading the word among others he comes in contact with.

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I used to drink huge quantities of Diet Coke, probably a six-pack a day, maybe even more than that.  The only way that I found to quit was cold-turkey, and switched to drinking distilled water.  It was really hard for a few months, but I’ve found now that if I consume any quantity of NutraSweet at all I get very severely dizzy.

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Oh yea, while I do not have the seizures, my 8 year old son has them. Boy are there days when the seizures just come and come.  And there are no answers. I turn to this list, my wife and my church. Hope for answers. None have ever come.

So any way, we started the Keto diet in March and his seizures dropped from 50 per week to less than 10 per month. Antibiotics, aspartame (i.e. NutraSweet), symptomatic strep — ALL seemed to increase seizure activity. Double check and make sure you did not *introduce* new foods, over the counter meds, etc. You may also check out some of the things the Keto diet recommends you stay away from.

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I have recently had a nightmare three years from NutraSweet (Aspartame). I stopped sleeping – when I did sleep it was in 90 minute blocks, which had something to do with REM sleep intervals apparently.  I might go 3 nights without sleep, then sleep just 90 minutes the 4th night.  No matter how tired I was, I couldn’t sleep during the day either.  As well as being constantly tired, I developed tinnitus, so loud I couldn’t hear myself think, and this exacerbated the sleep problem.  I had a kind of inner shuddering all the time – like a fridge motor cycling – but this was invisible to others.  I had palpitations, hot flushes, cold shivers, I felt like all the nerves in my body jumped every 30 seconds or so.  I changed doctors, I saw heart specialists and neurologists, and I even had a CT scan.  I had weird rashes and broke out in a chicken-pox like skin condition.  I’d get loud noises in my head like when my amplifier was malfunctioning.  I had excruciating joint pains, and thought I was going down the family road of arthritis much sooner, and it amplified my back and wrist pain and wouldn’t let me lie in any position for long when trying to sleep.

I read an article about MS and got even more worried, as that sounded like me.  I stressed out even more because I began to believe that no-one I saw was competent to diagnose what was wrong with me, or would take me seriously long enough to do so.  I’d seen naturopaths – one won my respect for her iridology by telling me about my nerves jumping, without me telling her about it.  Her herbs helped a little, but nothing helped me sleep.  I tried Reiki and spiritual healing, and slept those nights.  I’ve meditated for years, but in my state it became almost impossible, so I had no way of safely reducing the stress that became worse the longer this went on.

Six weeks ago, I decided that I must have changed something vital those three years ago and began working through my memory.  Eventually I came to the time when my daughter and I went to Weight Watchers.  On WW, a measure of juice, a serving of fruit, something more solid when you’re hungry!  So instead of juice we started drinking Diet Coke or other diet soft drinks – in a family who seldom used soft drinks of any kind.  Never more than one can per day, each.  At WW, and on any weight reduction diet I’ve ever read, the “light” versions are always recommended.  I’m not blaming WW, but this was the big change I had made that lost me three years of my life.  Six weeks ago I stopped the NutraSweet and started reading labels – you wouldn’t believe how many things contain NutraSweet!  Within two weeks, my symptoms had faded.  My sleep is slowly improving – unfortunately I’d got into such a disturbed pattern it has to be a slow process.

Last week, I found the Tinnitus FAQ on Internet – I wish I’d seen it three years ago, as it mentions Aspartame/NutraSweet as one of the causes of tinnitus, which was driving me nuts, and might have given me a clue.

I don’t know what mental block stopped me seeing this glaring anomaly in an otherwise healthy diet, but I did mention it to everyone I saw and they all missed it too.  My naturopaths were happy with my diet when I described it – they must have missed my mention of a daily diet soft drink.  Coca Cola and soft drinks seem to be such an ingrained part of life these days, I think many of us have a blind spot there.

I don’t blame the doctors, I don’t blame the naturopaths – they didn’t know what they were treating as it is so weird, yet I believe it is documented for anyone who wants to search.  I’ve made sure they all know what I found out for myself, for the next time some poor, demented, sleepless, itching, palpitating, shivering and hot-flushing, jumping-nerved woman walks into their rooms!!!  I’m sure most of them thought I was a raving hypochondriac, as they couldn’t find much wrong with me.

From blood tests, it appears I am menopausal – after a hysterectomy some years ago it was difficult to tell otherwise – and my most recent doctor and naturopath were inclined to put my symptoms down to the “menopause from hell” after the tests I had were inconclusive, so I’d also spent a fair amount of time trying one type of HRT after another.  Without this, I might have woken up to the real reason – Aspartame – earlier.

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I never drink diet sodas – I’m a Mt Dew kind of gal – the one with caffeine. 🙂 Anyway, several years ago, I went down to Subway to get a soda – they were out of Mt Dew, and I thought that it would be a nice change to have lemonade – it was that Crystal Light stuff. A little while after drinking it, I got a horrible headache and upset stomach. I didn’t attribute it to the lemonade at all. But, after about 2 more times of drinking the stuff and getting a horrible headache from it, I drew the conclusion that it was the NutraSweet that was giving me the headaches. Case closed. I never drink diet stuff at all anymore. It’s not worth the headache.

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Thank you! I happily ingested diet soda for years, then whoomp! There it was in everything–Aspartame/NutraSweet. Within 1/2 hour, flaming headache, nausea, “flu”. I can now tell if McDonald’s or whomever mixes up the order with one taste, and avoid the agony. The problem? Family get-togethers–Dad and brother are Type II diabetic, and they all conveniently forget I’m allergic to NutraSweet.

Interesting correlation–Bactrum (sulfa family) does nasty drug-induced flare; even jaws lock up. Thank you again!

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And here I was thinking I had discovered something truly revolutionary all by my lonesome!! I, too, had gone through numerous tests to find the cause of increasingly severe almost daily migraines. While visiting a friend who is allergic to Aspartame I quit drinking diet sodas and the migraines stopped immediately. Why don’t doctors know this??????????? (rhetorical question)

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My wife gets severe headaches and I have heard similar reports as yours.

I personally don’t touch the stuff. It comes under the umbrella of the ‘Titanic Effect’, and its day has yet to come.

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For years I suffered from terrible, debilitating headaches that wouldn’t respond to any medication. Acetaminophen, Aspirin, and Ibuprofen were all ineffective in relieving the headaches. I’d get several of these headaches a week. The only thing I could do was to lie down and sleep it off.

Several months ago I read some of Betty’s and Mark’s stuff here on sci.med.nutrition. I decided to eliminate NutraSweet from my diet. The headaches stopped.

A couple weeks ago I was preparing a bowl of cereal and I decided to put in a couple bags of Equal. An hour or so after finishing the cereal, I got one of “those” headaches.

That was the last time I used NutraSweet. That was the last time I had one of “those” headaches (and the only time since getting off NutraSweet several months ago).

Well, that was my own personal TEST. And I’m convinced.

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I just discovered another wondrous fact about Aspartame from my immunologist.  Aspartame is processed through the same pathways as sulpha, so if you have a sulpha allergy, guess what?  Results are joint pain etc.  Needs to say I nixed the Aspartame (I get Stevens-Johnson syndrome from sulpha) and my hands and feet are feeling and looking very different.  I don’t know how different my really affected joints will be but I have a VERY irritable bladder and all a sudden it’s behaving itself! And the FDA prides itself on warning labels?

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My own experience took place long before I ever _heard_ of Betty or the s.m.n Aspartame wrangle.

I’m an aerobics instructor.  During classes, I chew gum to keep my mouth and throat moist for cueing.  When I started out, I was using an Aspartame-sweetened chewing gum, and I chewed quite a lot of it.  Over a period of about three months, I began experiencing joint pain in my elbows mostly, but also wrists and fingers.  There didn’t seem to be any source for the pain – I don’t do heavy weights, nor am I a proponent of the use of hand weights during my classes, so overuse injury seemed out of the picture.  To make a long story short, I started examining my routines, both physical and nutritional, to determine what was causing the problem.

The only thing which I could identify as being a major change from the time prior to teaching aerobics was the gum, so I changed over to a sugar-sweetened gum just to see.  Now, this is the part which makes little sense to me – the pain stopped within a couple of days.  Mind you, it wasn’t ever severe or debilitating, just a nagging, annoying little ache, but it really did exist, and now it was gone!

I wasn’t entirely out of the Aspartame-sweetened gum, and I didn’t see any way it could really be the problem, so I took up chewing it again, and the aches came back within days.  It is well to note that I was not using a single brand-name of the gum – just grabbed whatever was near the checkout.  So, I stopped chewing the stuff again, and the pain went away again.

Now I don’t use Aspartame _anything_ anymore, and the only time I get joint pain is when there is some identifiable cause.

As I said, it’s anecdotal.  Your mileage may vary, and you may not believe it at all.  I don’t really care whether or not you do – I merely present it as my own experience – not as any sort of scientific evidence for or against Aspartame use.

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You’ve gotten my attention.  I rarely had problems with floaters until I started drinking 3 Diet Cokes daily.  I got large floaters in my left eye, flashes, as well as headaches over the bridge of my nose and some strange malady that caused me to be very sensitive to bright lights which lasted about 45 days. I figured out that the Aspartame was causing the headaches thru the process of elimination, but have not heard anything in regards to the Aspartame causing floaters.  If this is true, I’m really pissed off! How about sending me the info on Aspartame.

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Well, absent a reply from Steve, or someone more knowledgeable about psychopharmacology than I, here’s my anecdotal evidence from personal experience and chatting with other folks.  For one, I’ve noticed degradation of control in the speech center — I’m likelier to stutter, lose track of what I’m saying, experience synaptic hang-fire, when I’ve had Aspartame than not.  I’ve had others confirm experiencing speech center related anomalies.

For two, I find Aspartame puts me in a more agitated and ineffectual frame of mind, and seems to affect fine motor control so that I have trouble managing tasks like typing or operating a sewing machine without making errors at an increased rate.  A rough and ready ladies’ description of the effect would be to say that I get a mild and unpleasant buzz from Aspartame.  About two Diet Cokes in a row will do it.

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But you know about studies. One recent study cited that sugar has no affect (in regards to hyperactivity) on kids as compared to the control group given artificial sweeteners. You would be hard pressed to find one parent who would agree to this. (This statement discounts all those whose position is “they’re the experts – they must be right”)

That doesn’t surprise me at all, if I take anything with NutraSweet in it there is a very high probability that my heart will fibrillate. I am on drugs to control it and I am hypersensitive. But the speed of the reaction leads me to think that it would be a very poor control in tests of this kind.

Diet Coke could be the end of me.

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I am not sure you will find the exact truth. I used to drink a fair about of diet sodas and then I started collecting information of the effects of Aspartame (used in most diet drinks) about some of the side effects. Although I am not sure I believed everything that I read, it turned me off enough to try a diet soda free eating program. So, I stopped drinking soda and have tried (painfully I might add) to increase my water intake. Honestly, I would say that a ‘cloudy” feeling in my head boarding on a ‘headache’ disappeared. I feel a lot better. However, I do treat myself to a soda once in a while because anything in moderation is not bad for you. [Not quite!]

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Just wanted you to know that after about 4 months of no NutraSweet, my hypoglycemia symptoms have almost disappeared and I can eat dairy products without discomfort (I’m not sure whether the last benefit is due to now Aspartame or no carbonation!).

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I stopped drinking diet soda for quite some time because I suspected that it was making me feel pretty bad well I don’t know why I did this but last week I decided to try a diet drink to be more specific I had two and became extremely ill all my FMS (fibromyalgia) symptoms were in full force for a good week after that. I am one of those who just can’t tolerate it. No more experimenting for me. In fact I had the drink guy remove the diet soda from our soda machine in our shop.

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Since I last wrote my brother has been off NutraSweet since then. My brother’s lupus type of symptoms completely went away. My brother has been a physician for over 10 years . His doctor (a specialist) who has been treating him has seen the significant difference and wants to write a research paper on this. My brother’s physician has now started prescribing getting off NutraSweet for his other patients. Thank you very much.

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I would strongly urge against NutraSweet.  It is probably not too bad in very small quantities if you are not sensitive to it, but my experience when I drank it to “lose” weight had the opposite effect.  I craved more sweets instead and got whopping headaches.

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Aspartame gives me immediate cramps and diarrhea -from breath mints, ice cream, etc.  I’ve had one violent attack right after drinking a diet soda by mistake on an empty stomach.  Thought I was having a heart attack, couldn’t breathe, pulse racing. I was reaching for the phone to call 911 when I looked in the mirror. When I saw I was bright red from head to toe, I realized what was happening.

FDA August report of 92 documented symptoms from coma to death.  Aspartame is a seizure triggering drug and most of the symptoms are neurological in nature.  In lab animals it caused brain tumors, mammary tumors, and ovarian tumors.

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Gives me slight headaches, when I used to drink 16oz Diet Cokes with lunch, I would feel a slight disorientation a short while after even a light lunch,

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I discovered by accident 4 years ago that diet drinks with NutraSweet gave me migraine headaches. I haven’t intentionally touched NutraSweet since. Please send me a list of alternate sweeteners and where to get them. Thanks in advance.

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I consider myself “sensitive” to Aspartame.    When I drink more than 1 can of diet soda a day – I get headaches. Before I figured that out (took me a few years – I am a slow learner).  I had mild headaches every day, and occasional vertigo. (Guess what I thought caused those?)  Since I stopped, I would say I get maybe 1 headache a week or less – and no more vertigo.  I tested it a few times – since I didn’t really believe in it – by drinking a few cans of diet soda a day.  After about 3 cans of soda in 1 day I would ALWAYS have a headache. Now I just avoid it and feel much better in general (except for a nagging back problem).

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I have been on Dilantin for 2+1/2 years for grand mals, but was having some auras or partials (deja-vu, uneasy panic-attack type feelings, and twitches in one arm or leg in bed at night) until about a week ago when I discontinued Aspartame use.

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Thank you for the posting on Aspartame. When it first came out my endocrinologist told me to stay away from it. I have hypoglycemia and considered a sugar free diet. He noted that he still had a lot of questions about the safety of the item and was routinely warning his patients to watch for adverse reactions and to avoid this additive if possible. So I cut down my sugar intake, stayed away from diet foods containing NutraSweet and felt better.

I found out a couple of years later that I was allergic to Aspartame because I had difficulty breathing and a severe headache after consuming coffee containing it. I drank that brand of coffee regularly at that time with no problems. It only took a short amount of time to pin it down. Now I stay far away from the stuff and list it as an allergy on my medical alert card.

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I get severe headaches from consuming products with NutraSweet.  The headache doesn’t last long–a half hour or so, but it is enough that I avoid the product.  When I have mentioned this to friends, they speak of a similar problem.

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I have severe headaches due to Aspartame. I first realized what was causing it when that EXTRA gum cam on the market. We were chewing it like it was going out of style!!

I can’t even have a few Certs with the stuff in it.

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Have you walked in anyone’s shoes that have a problem with NutraSweet? I knew years ago before Betty even was in the picture that it caused problems. I was having extreme headaches and I stopped with the discontinuation of Extra gum.

I am not one to have headaches that keep me home and in bed. But at 18 I was very incapable of going to work several days during my process of finding out what it was. My parents also quit NutraSweet before I ever knew (I was 18 and never home for that kind of daily news) they had a problem with it.

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I too must say that I’m affected by NutraSweet (Aspartame), and will get very disoriented, dizzy and feel weak.  My daughter has the same reaction.

She was given a piece of gum by a classmate once, and within 20 min. has a bad reaction. I do not buy anything that has that poison in it.  Heard it turn into formaldehyde after being in your body.

Doesn’t surprise me, though, that it’s approved by the FDA, as it is making money, right?

I also heard that it can cause seizures and that there have been over 50 documented deaths due to Aspartame, which “is” NutraSweet.

 

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I’ve developed unbearably itchy hands. I think it might be from using Equal sweetener. Anybody heard of an allergic reaction to Aspartame? Help!

Actually, you can be allergic to Aspartame. It gives me headaches when I use it. What would happen if you touched it I am not sure, but the most common reaction to drinking it that I have heard is headaches.

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I got online this morning to send you a Thank You.  After reading your post on and requesting the info that you have sent me today I took my father in-law-off the Aspartame.

He is 85 and is on insulin for adult onset diabetes. He has had a horrible skin rash since the first of August and I realized that was about the same time that I started replacing his sugar with Aspartame. His doctor was trying to treat him for an allergic reaction and nothing would work. After one and 1/2 weeks of being off the Aspartame, the rash is almost totally gone. We both thank you for the information

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AsparI have been drinking Diet Pepsi every day for about 10 years (I am now 27) and pop my entire life. After reading your articles I went cold turkey on the Diet Pepsi (which my friends refer to as toxic soup),

It has only been a week now, but I am feeling a bit better. I don’t know if this is related to cutting out Aspartame, but my desire for sweets has gone down considerably.

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Hi there. It’s me after a long time. I am continuing to try to avoid NutraSweet. I am not always good about it but I try. If I drink any I can tell the next day, I am fatigued and I have trouble urinating. In fact if I stay away from Diet Coke I have no bladder problems.

I think it has helped. And to answer the gal who asked about fibromyalgia. I think that my Diet Coke habit and my fibromyalgia are directly linked.

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I noticed that I was being pretty affected by Diet Pepsi. I was drinking at least 2 liters a day. (eek, gag!!)  I noticed that burning sensation several times, but never thought anything of it. Finally, I realized that Diet Pepsi was unhealthy for me. I thought it was the caffeine. It was really difficult for me to “come down” from it, and I’ve been Diet Pepsi free for about 3 weeks! 🙂  *cheers, applause*

This article helped me to think about whether or not the caffeine was all that was making me ill. I’ve been drinking water and natural juices, and feel much better. (However, better is very relative because of the time of year/unholy days lingering over my shoulder.)

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I noticed that I was being pretty affected by Diet Pepsi. I was drinking at least 2 liters a day.

I drank Crystal Light at work for a week. I got headaches and dizziness.  Finally I realized it was the Aspartame after not being able to drive. I stopped and the headaches stopped.

My girlfriend gets migraines.  She stopped too, but the lithium weight gain is urging her to start again.

My best friend’s left ankle swells when he drinks it.  (!)

The stuff is dangerous.

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It seems that Aspartame has been implicated in aggravating both MPD and attention deficit disorder, among others.  I experienced my first uncontrolled Twitching when I was doing a lot of Aspartame.  I was also getting severe migraines and visual disorders including tunnel vision, moving shadows, and color dropouts (I would lose the green/blue range).  All of these are known side effects of Aspartame, it seems.  In some people, Aspartame is known to inhibit serotonin production.

Swell.

But what was scariest was the shaking fits (like I was having an epileptic seizure) and hypoglycemic problems so severe I was known to pass out.  (Sugar revived me.)  This last is why I stopped doing NutraSweet.  I’m borderline hypoglycemic.

When I stopped NutraSweet, the uncontrolled switching stopped, too.  It took a while for the migraines and visual disorders to work out, but they were gone within a few months, as was the switching.  (The switching was severe enough that friends thought I was “drunk” because I was acting so strange, but alcohol was not involved!)

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Well, in my personal case, I was at a party a few months back, and consumed quite a bit of punch.  Within 8 hours, I started getting a migraine headache, color dropouts in my vision, and loss of my night vision.  Realizing that these previously-experienced symptoms (for which I spent several years and doctors trying to find causes) seemed to be linked to Aspartame, I checked back and asked about artificial sweeteners.  Yup, NutraSweet in the punch.

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That’s interesting as I avoid drinks containing this substance as it rapidly makes me feel slightly nauseous and I also tremble. That’s after one can of diet drink.

Goodness how are they allowed to poison people. Strikes me sugar is quite natural and safe.

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I am normally quite skeptical about “X is the root of all evil/disease/behavior” but I’m inclined to agree with the NutraSweet warnings.  I’ve always had ADD symptoms and I’ve never used Aspartame products until about a year and a half ago when I started dieting.  One Diet Coke would leave me in a depressed fog about thirty minutes after drinking it, unless I ate a high carbohydrate food along with it.  It would leave me irritable and edgy and I was prone to spells of cold-sweats, which I attributed to low-blood sugar (see below).  I’ve quit drinking them and decided that exercise, balanced diet with smaller portions, and reducing my overall soft drink intake (got to have my caffeine) was the best answer.

Dr. Roberts explains in his book (and has done 30 years of research on Alzheimer’s) that the two amino acids in Aspartame, phenylalanine and aspartic acid without the other amino acids in protein are neurotoxic and go past the blood brain barrier and are deteriorate the neurons of the brain. This is, of course, the cause of Alzheimer’s.  He says in his opinion that Aspartame is escalating Alzheimer’s disease, a 20th century disease now the 4th leading cause of death in adults.

This is interesting.  I self-diagnosed my dizziness and weak spells this way: I have always drunk lots of soft drinks (mostly Coca-Cola).  When I drink a diet drink, my body says, “Hmm, 220 calories of sugar coming in, better step up my insulin production.”  All of this insulin gets into my system and doesn’t find any digestible sugars, so my blood sugar drops and I get foggy and weak.  I had read about the decreased neuro-transmitters from Aspartame consumption, but the study I had read had one of those, “the equivalent of twelve Diet Cokes in a one hour period” kind of doses.  If the biological theories of ADD are correct (decreased neurotransmitters in the frontal lobes) is true, then ADDers might be much more susceptible to the Aspartame reaction.

So, if you don’t want to be fat and depressed and suffer memory loss, ADD, learning disabilities – and a host of other problems – be warned – get off NutraSweet.

As I said before, I’m not drinking anymore and I do believe that Aspartame might be complicating my ADD, but I’m sure it’s not the cause of it and I don’t know if casual consumption of Aspartame by non-ADD adults is likely to cause the same symptoms.  I do know that I don’t let my kids anywhere near products containing Aspartame.

BTW, if anyone wonders about the efficacy of TV ads, my four year old daughter sat in a restaurant the other night doing the Cher NutraSweet commercial with the artificial sweetener packets at the table.  “This one is saccharine, it doesn’t taste good.  This one is NutraSweet and you can pour it in your hand and eat it, because it tastes good.”  It was a good opportunity to explain that you can’t believe everything you see on TV.

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Well, I haven’t been on the NutraSweet at all since I wrote last.  I haven’t had the panic attacks/nervousness that I had had; at least I haven’t noticed it.  I still have had some depression, but not too bad, guess it could be one of those monthly things 🙂

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I have also eliminated Aspartame (Equal(tm)) from my diet.  I usually don’t drink diet drinks, but when I need something cool to drink I would pick up a diet drink if nothing else was available.  I no longer do that. I also suggested to my wife that she quit drinking diet drinks.

She did and noticed that her joints no longer gave her pain.  She is a doctor and has to travel to about 3 hospitals and round on her patients. She has to do a lot of walking.

She also bought some vitamins for our children the other day.  I looked at the label and discovered that the number one ingredient was Aspartame!  We did *not* give this to our children.  If you are trying to eliminate Aspartame from your diet beware of anything labeled sugar free.  I have found it in gum, jelly, and cough drops.

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Well, as the years go on, and I find myself becoming more and more ‘natural’, I find that my migraines are becoming less and less frequent.  Not that they could ever be kind enough to leave forever, though. Of course not.

But anyway – First, I quit harmful substances excluding alcohol, then I stopped eating mammals and poultry, then I reduced my caffeine intake, then I quit soda, and I have drastically reduced my alcohol intake – and NEVER drink hard alcohol, wine or anything except microbrew beer, and FINALLY I have stopped using NutraSweet. AND I have definitely noticed a decrease in my headaches since I stopped using my Equal.

(Whew, all that just to say that since I stopped using Equal, I can definitely see a reduction of occurrences)

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I’ve found that I can’t tolerate anything with Aspartame in it any more.  It not only irritates an already irritable bowel, but gives me a blinding headache and makes me retain water.  Sounds like an allergy, and after all those years of being on Weight Watchers where they push anything sugar free.  I have a friend whose brother is a pediatrician in New York City and Bill says that his brother will not allow anything with NutraSweet in the house and his kids aren’t allowed to have it PERIOD!  Something to think about, eh. . .

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When it first hit the market several years ago, I was exposed to it in samples of “Crystal Light” and marketed iced tea mixes.  After two weeks I was waking up with tremors and cold sweats during the night.  Leg cramps too. That was the end of NutraSweet for me! And, I avoid it altogether.

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Greeting from New Zealand, I am a 54 year old male with Rheumatoid arthritis for 3 years and (partly because of my medicines) overweight.

So trying to cut down on sugar I used sweeteners. A couple of weeks ago an article was posted about Aspartame in NutraSweet. After Reading the post I decided to stop my intake of NutraSweet  and my Diet Coke to see what difference it would make, after two days (to my utter surprise) the aches and pains were a LOT less.

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SOME DIETARY CAUSES OF MIGRAINES I HAVE DISCOVERED

In a desperate attempt to find a cause for almost daily migraines that seemed to start not long after a meal, I decided I had to go on a fast. After fasting for two days, I began adding items back item by item so as to identify what if any item might be causing my pounding immobilizing headaches. I found major answers that have brought peace back to my life.

As soon as I added the diet sodas back to my diet, wham! Bowled over by the killer-head, banging pain. Now that I have cut them out I have had virtually no headaches for many weeks. Praise god (and I am an atheist).

The only puzzle I have yet to solve is why after using NutraSweet for many years, on and off, was it hitting me so hard this summer? Perhaps it was only mild before. I have had headaches, albeit milder, for many years. Perhaps it was building up in my system? But indeed it was the main causative agent.

I can but curse NutraSweet — A.K.A. Aspartame — to the darkest hells. The stuff was literally killing me. I spent many days in bed w/ pounding head thinking my life is over. I still get a very mild throbbing related to eating out, during which time I often eat cheese. There may also be some other factors I have yet to uncover. But the number 1 leading cause of the hell I was going through was NutraSweet. Its abolition from my diet has been a significant new lease on life for me. YES!

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I just thought that I would drop a quick note to you.  Thank you for your article regarding NutraSweet.  When NutraSweet came out with that little gumball, I had headaches all the time. When I figured out what it was (about 3 weeks later, I was shocked that a new product could do that.

I stopped taking NutraSweet immediately and do my best to avoid it, but still, Friends or restaurants will make something like Jell-O using NutraSweet and the headache will return.  I learned quickly and I hope my body is better because of it.

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I reviewed the message board on NutraSweet.  I suffer terribly from migraines.  I’m swearing off diet Pepsi.  I don’t drink coffee so I guess I’ll have to start drinking ice tea with good old fashioned sugar.  What is this product Stevia?

I am a 51 year old, white post-menopausal female on estrogen therapy.  I have high blood pressure and increasingly frequent migraines since I was 19.  Normally, my migraines arrive in the wee hours of the morning – 3 or 4 am, and by noon I have re-bounded enough to function.  For my blood pressure I take 240 mg Cardizem and 20 mg Lotensin, both of which should help to screen out migraines.  However, I frequently have to resort to Cafergot, although I do limit the amount of Cafergot that I take over the period of one week.  I do not drink any alcohol and never have,  I do not smoke.  After having read the NutraSweet messages a few minutes ago, I’m going to swear off of Diet Pepsi.  I also know that chocolate and aged cheeses can trigger migraines — but not always, so there must be a tolerance level that i exceed to trigger one.  Can anyone give me any input as to why my headaches always seem to start when I am trying to get some sleep!

Thank you, thank, and thank you.  No NutraSweet yesterday (or any soft drink for that matter) and no headache this morning!

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I find that all drinks with Aspartame give me terrible migraines.

Splenda drinks seem to be fine, but I am worried there might be side effects that I don’t know about. I am wondering why it is not available in the U.S. but is here in Canada.

I just stick to bottled water and herbal tea.

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NutraSweet gives my mother headaches

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Hello All. I have not taken any food with the Aspartame for 1 week. I don’t think it has lowered the Tinnitus but my balance seems better. Also less dizziness. I will lay off the Aspartame for another week and see what happens. I might just make it a permanent move. That will be hard.

I like my Diet Coke and Pepsi.

 

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I don’t have Meniere’s but have had Tinnitus for about 2 years. One thing I discovered that was giving me a lot of problems was Aspartame.

There was an article posted on this group back in Aug. about the problems Aspartame can cause so I decided to layoff it for a while. I have been off it since the end of Sep. and ALL of my dizziness is gone and my balance has improved 100%. I also think I have less motion sickness. I flew to FLA in Nov. and had no problems with motion sickness but the T was pretty bad.

I have laid off the caffeine and that has helped.

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NutraSweet does this to LOTS of people. Apparently they forgot to consider the possibility that an amazing percentage of the population would have at least minor side effects when consuming Aspartame. I personally get headaches and nausea.

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It has been almost 4 weeks since I have stopped using Aspartame.  It is amazing the changes that have occurred in me!  I will give you my history so that you may understand.

I have always been a diet soda/artificial sweetener user since I have had a problem with low-blood sugar as well as my father and sisters.  Using Saccharin, I never encountered any problems.  Many years ago when they started offering NutraSweet I slowly made the change over.  I have always been a slim person with my weight in the 115 to 120 range at 5 feet 4 inches.  A few years ago my weight went up a bit to 129 (god I was fat).  In July 1992, my husband and I both went to Jenny Craig and also enrolled in a health club.  In the first couple of weeks I only lost a couple of pounds.  When I switched from Diet Pepsi to Diet Rite (because of the sodium) my weight just fell off.  I didn’t drink as much Diet Rite because it just didn’t have the flavor.  I had reduced/eliminated my coffee intake because they said caffeine interferes with fat metabolism.  In no time I was 118 pounds and my body was PERFECT. I had only 16% body fat and I looked like one of those health ads.  I was wearing a size 3 and I looked and felt FANTASTIC!

Once I had achieved my goal (September 1992). I had gradually added reduced caffeine coffee to my diet and started drinking a few Diet Pepsis. I no longer did the Jenny Craig thing but was eating low-fat and had started drinking Met-RX (has Aspartame) to enhance my diet. I maintained my weight but at that time my shoulder had started aching me where it would go up into my neck.  I visited a shiatsu guy because I thought it had been a muscle strain from the gym.  I was still maintaining a 5 day a week workout with 20 minutes of aerobics and a very fast paced 45 minute weight routine.  The shiatsu helped a bit. .but then I noticed my glands were swollen on that side and my ear on that side had a burning/itching sensation. In short, my throat was inflamed and burning.  I went to my doctor who prescribed potent antibiotics which didn’t do it so I had to go for another ten day course.  He had also given me cortisone shot for the major inflammation.  This all left me so fatigued that I couldn’t even work out.  After a month (November 1992), I returned to the gym but it seemed that I could never get my old energy level back.  I still worked out hard and my weight maintained, but I seemed to have lost some strength and endurance.

I maintained this until June 1993, with some problems of my weight fluctuating and experiencing stomach bloating, puffiness in my thighs and increased sinus problems.  I had always been allergic to a couple of blooming trees but nothing major.  In June, hubby and I both decided to stop smoking.   It went well for a couple of days.

In mid-June, a few days after stopping smoking, my body bloated out real bad and my weight jumped despite not eating more and still working out as usual.  I left for a trip to the East Coast for a couple of weeks.  My bloating continued and my sinuses were puffy and burning and I started bleeding from my sinuses.  BY the time I came home from my trip I was at 135 pounds.  Since the trip from the East Coast to Hawaii is a long one. (15 to 20 hours depending on layovers) jet lag is a real problem.  When I came back I couldn’t sleep and I was horribly fatigued (worse than any jet lag I had ever experienced in my life) A trip to my doctor started rounds and rounds of antibiotics, decongestants and steroid inhalers. He eventually ordered blood tests, a full thyroid panel and CAT scan. Nothing there! The doctor acted as if I was eating things that made my weight skyrocket! The fatigue got worse and worse with my body vacillating between not being able to sleep and sleeping too much. We had returned to Jenny Craig in hopes of repeating our prior success but my weight just went up!  Hubby and I then consulted a nutritionist and a trainer at the gym.  We followed the plan but I had to drop out. I could hardly keep my head up! To say the least my job was suffering.

IN October my husband marched me down to the doctor.  He was convinced I was depressed. He had heard depression can cause some of these problems.  At that point I was! I was defeated!  The doctor prescribed Paxil.  It made me sleepy. So at least I was able to sleep.  The sinus problems continued. To the point I was sent to an ENT specialist.   He kept me on the same drugs. But said that all I was complaining of was not related to each other.  He wondered if I was under stress at work.  I was because it was ill, tired and having mood problems.  Add to it the weight. I couldn’t bear another comment about my weight! I tried various trainers to find the magic workout/diet plan. Each time my weight went up! They all thought I was cheating.

In January 1994, the ENT guy decided to do a fiber optic scope of my sinuses. The burning, bleeding, pressure continued despite all the drugs.  He found a lesion in the area behind my nose (adenoid area).   A CAT scan with contrast (they shoot iodine on your veins to light you up) revealed there was something there and 4 days later I was in surgery!   They found is what they called a “soft tissue mass”.  It wasn’t cancer!  I felt an improvement in the fatigue and pressure! BY then I had been demoted at work.  Despite the improvement, I still wasn’t myself.  By July, the company I worked for was laying everyone off (not just me, due to financial booboos).  I had a planned vacation to Italy to see friends so I extended it to 5 weeks instead of the original two.  Hubby thought the break would be good for me.

ON my return, despite still eating well and all the damn walking up and down the steps EVERYWHERE in Italy (elevators are almost unheard of). I was 158 pounds. I returned to my doctor in tears. I told him I refused to take all this medicine anymore. It didn’t help. He decided to send me to an allergist. (This is beginning of Oct. 1994)

I had over 250 allergy tests.  I am now SEVERELY allergic to cats, both kinds of dust mites and dust.  To a lesser degree, I am allergic to acacia trees, mango trees, juniper trees, eucalyptus trees, palm trees, coconut trees, mock orange bushes, cockroaches, horses and a few more I can’t even remember.  Alas I thought this was the answer. I started bi-weekly allergy shots.

After a month, I started feeling much better.  I had stopped working out entirely. It did me no good, especially looking as I did. I was embarrassed.  BY that point I had said the hell with it all. I just ate whatever. It didn’t make any difference weight wise what I ate. I had stopped eating all that diet food with the exception of drinking Diet Pepsi and using NutraSweet in my coffee and tea!  I had started a new job. It was going well!

I felt better. I thought it strange that I started to lose weight eating junk food but had attributed it to the allergy thing! My weight dropped to 148 in no time!  This was an improvement but I still felt bad!

In November, I suddenly started having migraines which coincided with my periods getting horrible.  The cramps and bleeding were horrible.  They had gotten a bit worse the year earlier but this was far worse.    Also my periods had gotten closer together. Every 3 to 3 1/2 weeks.  The migraines would be more likely to happen in the week prior to my period until my period had stopped.  I had never been a headache person before.  The doctor asked about stress.  I told him if it were stress I would had had them the year prior. Not when I was feeling better.  My stress levels had dropped.  The frequency and severity of the migraines would vary a lot.  I had a few outside of the time frame that I normally had them.  He prescribed a painkiller and a vascular dilator.  Sometime they would kick it and sometimes it didn’t even matter that I took them.  One time it was so bad I had to go in for a shot of Imitrex.

A few months back I started having back and leg pains.  I previously had intermittent lower back aches, aches in the legs and shoulders but nothing like this.  It didn’t seem to coincide with exertion or strain of any type.  Motrin used to be of help but it didn’t seem to faze it.  It bothered me every day for 3 months at least.  Sometimes sitting down my leg would have a painful spasm.

One day I was surfing the Web. I found a link to your information.  Reading your info was like reading my medical history.  I gave it a try.  Within 2 days my leg as well as my shoulders and back stopped hurting and it hasn’t returned.  I have dropped 8 pounds doing nothing but stop drinking Diet Pepsi and coffee/tea with NutraSweet and any other foods that contain it.  My energy levels have increased five-fold and my sunny disposition has awakened from hibernation.  My stomach is happier too. I used to be bloated all the time with problems of constipation.

My hubby has been wondering if I have been doing sit-ups because my tummy has gotten much flatter.  The gas I had experienced before is gone.  I don’t get as hungry as I used to and I don’t seem to crave or desire to eat any sweets.  Most people think I have lost more than 8 pounds. I wake up in the morning easily and am energetic all day.  I just had my period a week ago. I had less cramps and less bleeding.  I had only one minor flare with a migraine on the worse day of my period.  My sinuses have cleared up quite a bit.  I haven’t taken any antihistamines or decongestants in a while.  I stopped having the burning sensation in my throat and this weird pimply rash on my shoulders disappeared too.  I had been having a problem with my hair being real dry.  In about a week after stopping, my hair got softer and less dry.  And on a weird note. I had noticed that the hair on my legs seemed to grow back much faster in the last couple of years.  Since stopping NutraSweet, I can go longer without shaving. Use to have to shave every day.    To be honest I don’t want to even try and drink a Diet Pepsi right now.  I am convinced that NutraSweet is the problem.

My problems started with my increased use of it and has been the only consistent thing in my life since I have been ill.  In retrospect, I can see where my worse episodes have been when I was drinking lots of coffee in addition to the 6 to 8 diet sodas I would drink in a day.  MY weight gain started many years ago when I increased my usage of diet soda.  Prior, I was always skinny. I don’t want to feel that way anymore.

I have started back bicycling and my daughter is teaching me how to rollerblade.  It feels good like exercise should.  Before, when exercising, I would always feel more bloated and swollen after exercise.  Now, I don’t feel that way. I feel rejuvenated.

Others have noticed the change in me.  They are shocked when I tell them my story.  I have been giving your info to as many people as I can.  I printed Dr. Roberts 167 page report from Mark’s Home Page and mailed it to my sister.  She has had many problems too!  I hope that my husband the skeptic will get the message.  He loves his Diet Pepsi. I won’t buy it anymore. He has to buy his own.  I know he has reduced it but hasn’t completely eliminated it.  It is also time to show my doctor this info! This will be a tough job.  Most of my problems seemed to be serotonin related (depression/migraines etc.)  The medical profession is not much help here.   I have lost faith in the FDA to protect us and our doctors depend on them.

Sincerely and with great gratitude for your help.

PS  This morning I weighted 138. A 10 pound drop!

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Yes the NutraSweet is a trigger for me, the yogurt (anything cultured or aged) can also be a trigger for me and the frozen yogurt would probably give me an ice cream headache to boot. All three would guarantee me a real boomer.

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My doctor suggested that I not use artificial sweeteners.  He said there wasn’t much scientific evidence, but in his experience they could aggravate Lupus, which I have.  I quit immediately.  I’ve made a lot of changes, and am taking medication, but I am in considerably less pain than I was before.  So perhaps it has an effect.

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I am a new diabetic (46 years old).  I have not had diet soft drinks in several years, because they gave me headaches.  Now, with diabetes, I drink water.

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I want to thank the person who posted something about Aspartame (NutraSweet(R)) and pain last week.  Apparently they quit using this diet sweetener and certain pains subsided.

Over the past couple years, I have seen 4 doctors and a chiropractor (hey, it hurt) for increasing, chronic pain in my left big toe joint. It started out from 2 or 3 on a 10 scale, increasing to about 8 or 9 over the past few months.  As expected, there was nothing these health-care professionals could do for it.

Well, after reading that post last week, I decided to quit drinking Diet Coke(TM) (about 1 to 2 cans per day), spooning on the Equal), and using other Aspartame-based products for a while.  The results were immediate and dramatic!   Within two days the pain was down to about a 1, with only slight soreness from having it hurt so long.

Over the past couple days I’ve had virtually no pain!  In fact, I     walked/played 18 holes of golf on Sunday (in my “bad” golf shoes no less) and only the pain of playing golf poorly lingered.

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I was the one who started a small thread about this a few weeks ago.  I had reported that after a few years of increasing, chronic pain in my left foot, it started to subside within days after stopping use of Aspartame-based products.  As of last week, even the soreness of the long-term pain is now gone (although I went on a 10-plus-mile walk this past weekend and it was *slightly* sore afterward — bummer, eh?).

Since posting my previous article, I mentioned this experience to my chiropractor — a person in whose abilities I have complete confidence.

After discussing his knowledge on the topic, he gave me a VHS tape of a local (S.F. Bay Area) talk-show program from 1985 to check out.  On it was a lady who had attributed blindness to the use of Aspartame (at the time she was in a legal battle with Searle, NutraSweet’s benefactor).

Others stated that a number of other cases involving possible Aspartame related blindness were under investigation, as well as purported cases of hyperactivity in children, weight gain (although it is used in diet products, it apparently causes sugar/fat cravings), epileptic-type petit and grand mal seizures, and a number of other things.  There were *numerous* studies cited from prestigious universities (MIT, UCLA, etc.) who concluded that Aspartame should not have been allowed such wide-spread usage due to a poisoning effect of one of the two amino acids it produces.

The other amino acid is what requires the “Phenylketonurics: Contains Phenylalanine” note on NutraSweet-based diet sodas, for example.  This is a warning to people with PKU (apparently people with this affliction have difficulty “absorbing” too much of this amino acid).  Nifty, eh?

It was only after someone else posted a NutraSweet-pain experience that caused me to halt its use — what did I have to lose?  Well, I lost a great deal of pain.  By the way, to the individual who wrote me that I only lost the pain due to a placebo effect, fat chance?  If this ecstasy of foot painlessness is due to a placebo effect, perhaps I’ll stop eating altogether and get rid of all my pains.)

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Yes I used to drink diet soda all the time but it started to make me feel weird and bring on panic attacks so I don’t touch the stuff anymore. cindysch@gladstone.

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By trial and error I discovered that NutraSweet will trigger what several people described to me as a migraine. Absolute worst headaches. I’ve had the same problem.  Some people were telling me that it was all in my head and it was quite painful.

Now I avoid everything with NutraSweet in it and have not since experienced my “migraine” headaches.

I will say that I have now a complete and utter sympathy for anyone who suffers from this type of pain. I had heard about migraine headaches all my life, but had no clue as to the magnitude.  Perhaps this info will help someone else who has the same sensitivity to NutraSweet that I seem to have.

Thanks for posting it.  Unfortunately, mine aren’t only caused by the NutraSweet, but it is one thing that can cause them.

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My experience with Aspartame is this:  in the early 80’s (which is when I think it began being used heavily) on a very, very hot L.A. summer morning, I was chugging Crystal Light Lemonade.  I went to church at noon and passed out halfway through the service (very dangerous, considering those pews are spaced pretty closely together).  My mother, certain I was pregnant (I was actually a virgin) rushed me to the hospital.  They did a bazillion tests and whatnot, including a dizzying array of EKG *and* EEG tests, blood sugar levels, etc. etc.  What they concluded was that I had passed out due to the large amount of Aspartame in my system.  They told me it is really, REALLY tough to metabolize, and they had been having a number of fainting victims related to ingesting the stuff.  I don’t remember exactly why it made people faint, maybe a lot of blood goes to your stomach, trying to digest it, and there’s not enough going to your brain and boom – you’re horizontal.

A friend of mine who was a chemistry major at USC at the time told me they’d run some tests in one of his labs and determined that Aspartame turns into methyl alcohol in your stomach, but I think he was joking.

At any rate, I avoid it like the plague, now.  (Aspartame, not methyl alcohol.  Well, I don’t eat *that* either.  🙂

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I’ve got temporal lobe epilepsy that manifests as panic attacks, and there is no question in my mind that NutraSweet increases my seizure activity.  I’m off Diet Coke, but the downside is I’m back to drinking coffee.  So what’s the story on PAs and caffeine?

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I also get migraines from NutraSweet.  🙁

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By trial and error I discovered that NutraSweet will trigger what several people described to me as a migraine. Absolute worst headaches I had ever had.  Rendered me non-functional. I had never experienced anything like them before, but began to have these once or twice a month and they started to come on more regularly. A friend suggested that they could be diet related so I began to monitor what I consumed. After some time I narrowed it down to Diet Sprite and frozen yogurts with the NutraSweet brand sweetener in them. I thought at first that it might be the “coldness” of the food, but no other ice cream or cold drinks trigger an attack.

Now I avoid everything with NS in it and have not since experienced my “migraine” headaches. I had heard one person talk about an “alcohol bonding molecule” or some such in the NS that affects some people in this way. Has anyone here read or heard anything about this or had a similar experience?

I will say that I have now a complete and utter sympathy for anyone who suffers from this type of pain. I had heard about migraine headaches all my life, but had no clue as to the magnitude.  Perhaps this info will help someone else who has the same sensitivity to NS that I seem to have.

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Is it automatic? Do you get a headache every time you use NutraSweet? The reason I ask is that I’ve eradicated sugar out of my life (even though my headaches weren’t being caused by sugar, as it turns out). I eat a fair amount of NutraSweet, but my one to two headache sessions a week would be far more frequent if they were only due to NutraSweet.

For me it seems to “build up” before I got the headache. I started drinking the Diet Sprite and switched to frozen yogurt probably weeks before I had the first attack, which is why I didn’t connect the two. I don’t know whether the NutraSweet had to build up in my system first, or what, but while I was trying to find out what was causing the headaches I began to get them within a day after consuming anything with it. After dropping anything with that wicked little symbol on the package my headaches stopped, and I have been free of them for almost two years.

I do have sensitivity to NutraSweet now. I did discover that not everything has the NutraSweet symbol printed on it. I had something; don’t remember what, but after eating it I got the “weird” feeling.  And checked the ingredients: Aspartame.  Thankfully I never got the migraine, which leads me to think it must build up in my system to trigger the headache.

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Yes.  If I have anything w/ NutraSweet I am almost assured a migraine. It is a common trigger.

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When NutraSweet first came out, I used it a lot (i.e. I drank gallons of Diet Coke).

I began to get headaches, dizziness, and a buzzing in my head.  After a while, I noticed that it only happened after drinking something with NutraSweet in it.

Everyone said that it was the “most thoroughly tested product in the history of mankind” and that there were no reports of adverse effects.  However, since I gave up NutraSweet, I have never had those symptoms again (and it’s been about 9 years now).  Go figure.

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Now, I just recently tried Aspartame, against my better judgment when my husband was diagnosed with hypoglycemia.  Thought maybe I just wouldn’t be one of those people to respond negatively, but I developed a completely different form of migraine headache than I’ve ever experienced before.  Did my FMS (fibromyalgia) symptoms get worse?  No, but I wasn’t doing as well as I had been for some time.  Now that I’m off the Aspartame my symptoms remain consistent.  No magical cure.

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Yes, NutraSweet brings on severe attacks for me from as little as a single can of diet soda.  And i was working at NutraSweet as a consultant for 6 months or so (this year) so i tried it many times to be sure.  Valium seemed to stop the attack in mid-stream though.

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Has anyone experienced anxiety-panic attacks brought on or made worse by NutraSweet (Aspartame)? I read one posting on the diabetes newsgroup claiming such a connection. YES!  NutraSweet totally brings mine on!

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By the way I gave my doctor the post that you sent me. She was very impressed.  She told me that she took one of her patients off of NutraSweet for an undisclosed (to me) condition and was starting to see improvement.  She promised to be sensitive to effects of NutraSweet in all of her patients.

Anyway the post . . .

A while back, I promised to post my results of stopping Aspartame.  Now seems as good a time as any, although some things are going on that haven’t completely played out yet.

First off, I have been a diabetic, type 1, for 35 years; I take thyroid replacement hormones, and I have alopecia areata.

Well, I’m still a diabetic although my average blood sugar has gone from 155 -160 to 135 -140, and I’ve been able to maintain that for about six weeks now, somewhat of a record for me.  I’ve lowered my insulin dose, but only slightly.

I’m taking about half the amount of thyroid replacement that I was taking, although this is a bit uncertain.  Thyroid is measured with an indicator that is a 4 to 6 week average.  I was having symptoms of hyperthyroid and the doctor decided to lower my dosage.  The actual correct dose won’t be confirmed for a while.

I have seen some hair return in the alopecia areas – but only a bit; I’m still not ready to grow back my mustache (though I keep hoping).  I have been using Rogaine as the treatment for this; however, it hadn’t seemed to help until recently.

I’ve lost nine pounds; I’m not as hungry as I used to be.  The tendonitis I had in my hip has gotten considerably better; my shoulder (still recovering from surgery) seems to be opening up a bit more; and finally my sense of smell and taste are both better.  I also feel better and indeed have more energy.

Now all of these things could and frequently do happen to people with no effect from Aspartame.  My wife attributes all of this to the “halo effect,” that self-righteous glow associated with sacrifice, and that may well be the case.  Tendonitis does get better, people gain more control over their diabetes, and alopecia does go into remission.  However, I am convinced that giving up Aspartame played some role in all of this.  These effects seemed to happen at once and seemed to be related to my giving up the stuff.  At any rate I’m convinced enough to not use it again.

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I am a nutritionist working on my Master’s degree.  I’m not taking a position to argue about whether or not the government should have approved NutraSweet and don’t intend to enter that debate.  However, I know that NutraSweet gives me headaches.  This theory was confirmed when I sent my husband out one night to get some ice cream.  He prepared me a bowl of it without my seeing the container.  Within a matter of 1/2 hour I was in bed with a headache and stayed there all night and the entire day following.  When I finally got out of bed, I went to look for something to eat and noticed that the ice cream he had purchased had NutraSweet in it.  We do not purchase items that contain NutraSweet for use in our household.  My husband made a mistake.  His mistake, however, helped to verify my theory that NutraSweet gives me a major headache.  A lady I work with has the same problem.  I don’t knock anyone for using it if they feel they can with success.  I’ve always thought that NutraSweet is like a lot of other things we are exposed to every day. Someday we MAY find that what we thought was good for us really wasn’t at all.  Time and new research will tell.

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You aren’t the only one who gets headaches with Aspartame.  I get them and I also have a friend who gets them.  But, try telling your mother and sister, who live on Diet Coke, that you can’t have anything with Aspartame.  They look at you as if you are crazy which I know I am not.  At times I have my doubts about them though for not believing me when I have something to say.

 

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I don’t know about sugar cravings, but I do know that my mom, who is diabetic, has problems with low blood sugar if she drinks a soda with NutraSweet too late in the evening. It seems to be OK during the day, but not at night (probably because she can notice the low blood sugar symptoms better and do something about them when she is awake than when she is asleep). For some reason, the NutraSweet seems to fool her body into thinking she has more sugar to burn than she does.

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I can’t consume anything with NutraSweet in it because it gives me a terrible headache (relieved only by feverfew), but I don’t think it’s caused my FM (fibromyalgia) problems (could make them worse maybe due to the sheer volume of pain and its interference with sleep?).

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I recently purchased a LARGE box of Carefree gum at my local: warehouse-type-store.  After chewing it for about four days, my bad knee started giving me real fits.  After I stopped chewing the gum for about a week most of the pain went away.  This gum contains Aspartame which I suspect is the contributor to my discomfort.  As a result, I am now staying away from sugarless gums and diet soft drinks.  I was wondering if anyone out there has had a similar problem with Aspartame.

Interesting.  I had a similar experience with this ingredient in Kool-Aid and have stayed away from it since.  I wasn’t sure if it was valid or I was just paranoid.  Seems I wasn’t alone.

Well, guys – guess what?  You’re definitely not alone.  I experience the same thing with diet soft drinks.  Will check out the book mentioned in a later post.  Looks interesting.

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Well, my fiancé was doing a lot of NutraSweet (coffee, Diet Coke, etc.).  I printed out some of the posts here and she decided to cut out the NutraSweet for a couple of weeks to see what happened.  The results have been quite good.

She has been having headaches for years.  There is a noticeable reduction if not elimination of headaches.  She has problems with anxiety and panic attacks.  She has not experienced one since coming off the NutraSweet.

There are other noticeable effects, too, but suffice it to say, cutting out NutraSweet in her diet was a good move and something she plans to continue.

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I’ve discovered (the hard way) that

1) Stellazine in extremely low doses (1-2 mg/day) is effective for controlling my bipolar swings,

2) the drug has a nearly instant effect (hours, not days), and

3) that even with these very low levels of Stellazine the “NutraSweet” in a typical diet soft drink is enough to produce an intoxicated state.

Any of those statements is enough to surprise most psychiatrists. Stellazine is not a conventional treatment for bipolar mood swings, and it normally takes a much higher dose and duration to see any significant effect.

And as to an “intoxication” due to the interaction of aspartame and Stellazine, well let’s just say I might be the only person on the planet to experience this.

My doctors accept this ecause if they don’t I find another doctor. But it’s something you would never see in the PDR.  Neuropharmacology is such an black art that orgasmic yawns doesn’t surprise me at all.

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I suffered a minor heart attack in June, and felt horrible afterwards.  I’ve suffered from clinical depression for a long time, and most people have associated it with my weight, which may or may not be the case.  However, since I’ve stopped eating and drinking Aspartame products, I feel more alive than I have since I was a teenager.  My arrhythmia is beginning to lessen as well, from the feel of it.  I think from now on, I’ll stick to corn syrup, honey, molasses, and fructose as sweeteners, and partake of products having only these sugars in them.  I dislike cane-sugar’s taste.

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I had a bad experience with Aspartame, too. I got dizzy, nauseous, and faint in hot weather after drinking it. The first article explains that very well – the conversion and breakdown of Aspartame to methyl alcohol and methanol.

Thanks so much for sending these files to me!

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I’m a Diet Coke addict.  If I weighed 100 lbs., my teeth were made of titanium, and they’d found that DC was more carcinogenic than tobacco, I’d *still* be drinking Diet Coke.  I always shake my head at people who think I drink Diet Coke for health reasons.  I say to them, “Have you *looked* at Diet Coke?  Have you *tasted* Diet Coke?  Does it seem like a healthy beverage to you?”  No way it’s healthy.  It’s more like jet fuel.  I love it.

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I had a headache for eight years.  After, my mother mentioned that Aspartame gave her migraines; I stopped drinking diet Coke (I drank about 2 per day).

The headache went away.  I had always assumed that the headache was from my allergies.  The last time I had Aspartame, I unknowingly consumed it (it was at an ice cream shop) in a blizzard-like thing.  I wound up in the Dr’s office with one of the worst migraines that I have ever had.  Now, I wouldn’t go near the stuff.

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About 8 years ago I was drinking a *lot* of low-cal NutraSweet stuff (Crystal Light, tea mix, etc) and started getting Yeast infections.

Then I read an article that said that too much sugar *or* artificial sweeteners could cause this to happen. So I stopped drinking that stuff and yes the problem went away, never to return.

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Back in 1976, I had a bad reaction to the swine flu shot, which (IMHO) eventually resulted in my CFIDS.  I was able to function, and live a “semi-normal” life (working, enjoying friends and family, etc.) until 1983, when I first started drinking lots of Aspartame-loaded soft drinks, a few months after Aspartame was approved for this use, and made available on the market.

My health-status dropped as if it had fallen from a cliff; doctors knew something “neurological” was wrong, but they couldn’t find anything official.  At the time, no one suspected the Aspartame, and I continued drinking the stuff until 1989, all the while watching helplessly as I descended into bedridden-ness.  By the time a new doctor took me off Aspartame, there was already permanent damage.  But I’m not bedridden anymore, no longer have the kind of headaches that make one pray for doctor-assisted suicide, and I am gradually incorporating “normal” activities (going to movies with friends, etc.) into my life.

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After reading a lot about NutraSweet as a possible trigger for migraine on the migraine message board on AOL and on the alt.support.headaches.migraine newsgroup, I decided to give it a try — giving up diet cokes, that is.  I also gave up caffeine at the same time, so I can’t say for sure which it was (or both), but I’ve been off both for 6 days now & my migraine frequency is decreasing (it’s been a very stressful time & I would have expected to have another 2 or 3 migraines by now).

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I’m curious to see the official list. I quit using NutraSweet nearly two years ago at my doctor’s suggestion. My hair and skin have seen dramatic improvements.

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I get horrid migraines from Aspartame (NutraSweet).  I discovered it when I started to drink diet Coke.  I think there have been studies done in England on the relationship between Aspartame and headaches.  But I tested it well on myself and found, alas, I MUS T stay away from it or pay heavy consequences.  I would be interested to see what the pilots’ assn. found.

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Each time I tried Aspartame, I got a headache. When some say Aspartame may induce brain cancer my temptation is to believe it.

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I have been saying for years that NutraSweet gives me irregular heartbeats and no one would pay any attention to it.  I usually have a diet coke every afternoon.  The problem is I don’t always get the irregular beats! But I noticed people mention other little problems that I have also noticed that may or may not be coming from NutraSweet.  I wonder if memory problems are really true.  Lord knows at my age I can’t afford to have any memory loss.

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One swallow of anything containing NutraSweet gives me immediate chest pain.  So not only watch your food and beverage consumption but also check medications if you are experiencing problems.

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Well some days it just doesn’t pay to get up. After starting a lifestyle change, you know, less comfort food (except during 7+ migraines, more exercise, or should I say a more active lifestyle)  I know from personal experience that NutraSweet definitely cause migraines in me, every single time, so when Splenda came out I thought yeah great, so last week out went the sugar and now I was chewing the gum, drinking the pop and was feeling pre-migraineish (what a word) so I stopped and it cleared up.

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I enjoyed reading your article on NutraSweet. I have known of the problems with the product for years. My first experience with it left me with a very BAD headache. My father who was diabetic started drinking it. His eye sight started going bad before he died. This was attributed to the disease, and not to any other possible causes.  I first learned about the problems with NutraSweet from an article in an aviation magazine about 10 or more years ago and since then have never knowingly had it again. I have warned anyone that I know who drinks or eats NutraSweet products about the problem but I am always met with “If it was so bad they would never let it get on the market! “.  This concerns me, especially when I see an expectant mother who drinks diet pop like it was water.

What effects will this have on the child? Will there be altered brain chemistry? High risk of cancer? Learning disabilities?

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Much to my surprise, something I was sure was not Aspartame caused, disappeared in a little over a week. I have arthritis of the hip joints, probably from years of competitive swimming. So it was “normal” when I got hip pain — I’m 47. A couple of doctors have noticed the arthritis over the years in x-rays.

I’ve been drinking a lot of Diet Pepsi for years.  I was accustomed to the dull ache in both hips, which occasional got very stiff and painful. It’s gone for the first time in two years, disappeared about 10 days after stopping drinking Diet Pepsi and I have had no hip pain at all.

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Your memory is fine. I was a heavy Diet Pepsi user. I had joint pains and fuzzy vision.

However, I read all your literature and saw the memory loss issue. I was looking at myself to see what other effects I might have. I never experienced memory problems. The joint pain was the most obvious and serious. I had it for years. That is what the doctors, including orthopedic surgeons, kept attributing to my former sports and resulting arthiritis.

Within a week of stopping Diet Pepsi (about 4 liters a day), my hips felt much better. I have barely noticeable aches and only on occasion.

Before, there were days when I had difficulty moving around in the office.

I suppose the scientific thing to do would be to saturate myself with Aspartame again and see whether the hip pains recur. I am convinced that it was Diet Pepsi and don’t want the pain again.

I changed nothing else in my diet or activity and lack only the proof of causing the symptoms again. For me, experiential knowledge is enough.

The other symptom that disappeared may have been related too. In the summer when there was plenty of light from the upper window, I’d shower in the morning without switching the electric lights on. When I closed my eyes to rinse my hair, I’d see strobe-like flashes. They disappeared when I opened my eyes and did not recur in any other conditions. Those stopped with the hip pains.

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Other known problems with NutraSweet are: Severe headaches (neurological) and amenohorrea (cessation of menstrual periods in females).  I know 2 women personally who had this happen and periods returned to normal when they stopped drinking diet Coke.

I know a gal who had the same symptoms as you — starting when she took a new job where she had diet coke available and drank a lot of it.  I advised her to stop and see what happened.  Lo and behold, the “spells” went away.  To test further, she tried diet coke again, and had even worse symptoms.

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I have noticed that when I use NutraSweet on my cereals, my hands ache more and more, sometimes my legs as well.  I know it is the NutraSweet because I don’t use it every day – but when I do, they ache within 3-24 hours!!

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Anyways, I had a few panic attacks starting several years ago, and now that I think of it, the onset was roughly around the time I started consuming NutraSweet stuff.  After consulting a pharmacist friend who avoids the stuff also (mostly because of the “shady” approval process), I tried giving it up, and I’ve felt a lot better since — no panic or anything!

It could be just a coincidence, or it could be just psychological, but I thought I’d post this just in case — especially after hearing from another reader of this newsgroup who suffers from panic and who uses a large quantity of NutraSweet products.

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Thought you might like to know that I’ve been off of NutraSweet and all related products for almost a month now. I was diagnosed in late June with PVCs (Premature ventricular contraction) or irregular heartbeat. All tests (and I had a LOT of them) came back normal. The PVCs had increased to the point that they were incredibly distracting to me, 2-3 per minute. Since I stopped NutraSweet they have decreased to the point that they occur only 25% as much and they hopefully are still declining in frequency. I don’t honestly know if it’s the abstention from NutraSweet directly, but the timing of this is uncanny.

Stopping NutraSweet is literally the only change I’ve made. I haven’t even been conscious of it. I just noticed one day last week that the PVCs weren’t happening nearly as much.

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My experiences with NutraSweet, and those of my family members, have been painful.  Its use correlates to chronic headaches, sinus problems and in some instances nausea among people in my family. I know other people who’ve noticed similar symptoms.  On the other hand I know people who use it all the time and have no problems.  Maybe (I’m guessing) there is varying tolerance for the stuff depending on different genetic factors and/or environmental factors.

The idea that NutraSweet is unsafe is backed up by some research that was posted earlier in this thread, but that doesn’t mean that refined sugars are safe.  They are simply less unhealthy than Aspartame, unless you are diabetic of course.

The IDEAL thing would be for all of us to lose the sweet-tooth.

Simple sugars in the amounts most of us in the industrialized world eat are unhealthy and also environmentally irresponsible.  Try a piece of fruit or some orange juice instead.

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I too had bad experiences with Aspartame. It replaced saccharin about 10 years ago; as a marathon runner in his 30s, I consumed gallons of diet drinks daily at that time.  When I first drank soda with Aspartame, it had immediate and severe effects upon my consciousness and vision.  After a few scary incidents, soda consumption and problems seemed related.  I described symptoms and circumstances to my doctor.  He ran tests, but never seriously listened to my concern of relating soda with the effects.  He was a reasonably competent GP, but not ready to distrust, let alone blame, and FDA approved sweetener.  Eventually I quit ingesting Aspartame and have not had incidents since.

Employed in the professions and a postgraduate, I conduct research occasionally and am aware of the difficulty of matching cause and effect (and the danger of doing it improperly).  But there is no doubt in my mind that “tests” with my body proved that Aspartame is bad (at least for me).  When I spoke about this to a non-flying, weightlifting gym friend, he volunteered for a test.  After drinking one can of diet soda, his ears started ringing within minutes and he got a pulsating sensation in his brain.

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I used to drink tons of drinks with NutraSweet. I had a concentration problem, lack of focus, migraines, lightheadedness, severe mood swings, skin rashes, and giddiness to the point of manic-depression.  95% of where I got NutraSweet from was those soft drinks.  Then I got a kidney infection about four years ago, and had to go off soft drinks cold turkey.

Guess what?  I still get headaches sometimes, but migraines are rare. And the headaches don’t come every day like they used to.  I still have skin problems, but the rashes on my legs and feet are mild, not so bad I wind up on crutches like before.  All my other problems have abated or lessened to the point where they’re negligible.

The mood swings can be brought on by caffeine, but they have *never* been as bad as they were with NutraSweet.  NutraSweet is *toxic*. That’s all there is too it.  I haven’t touched it in four years, and I’ve never felt better.

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As for me personally, I get dizzy and get headaches from NutraSweet.  Plus I don’t like the flavor — it tastes nothing like sugar to me.  But I still drank diet cokes in an effort to lose weight yet stay awake at work.  Until one day my husband noted that I was particularly cranky that day and I must have had a diet drink.  That’s when I realized that the NutraSweet was also making me very irritable and for the sake of my sanity, I went back to caffeine and sugar.  Caffeine doesn’t make me near as cranky.

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To add to the anecdotal evidence: my wife is susceptible to migraine headaches. Taking Aspartame, she’ll get one every four or five days. Off Aspartame, she’ll get one every six to twelve months. Eating an unknown food containing Aspartame will usually trigger a migraine in 24 hours.

Needless to say, my wife avoids NutraSweet at all costs, and has gathered considerable research on it.

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It started about 6 years ago when I was about 43 years old. At the time that is when the now popular term “presbyopia” started to become known.

That, as you probably know, is described as the natural and predictable process whereby the flexibility of the lens in the eye begins to decrease and the eye loses its ability to focus on close items. Hence the jokes about needing longer arms to read a printed page.

My vision had been 20/15 all my life, and I was horrified that all of a sudden I needed reading glasses. Further, I spent many hours a day using a computer, and I had become privately convinced that I was developing an attention deficit because I had trouble concentrating.

My genetic predisposition to type 2 diabetes had prompted me to eliminate sugar from my diet (mainly for weight maintenance).  Of course the only widely available alternative is Equal/Sweet&Low.

The trip to the optical shop got me some reading glasses that seemed to do the job.  I even got a pair that was optimized to the computer screen distance.  However, I seemed unable to concentrate as well as I had in years past.  Also my need for the glasses seemed to vary for reasons I could not explain.  Sometimes I could read very fine print without assistance, and other times 1/8″ letters seemed to swim on the page.

At about this same time, I developed another pretty weird neurological symptom my hearing became hypersensitive to noise.  Particularly on the telephone.  When talking on a cellular, for example, a loud or distorted voice or sound would cause me to lose equilibrium and get very dizzy and disoriented.  Basically, I got the symptoms of motion sickness.

At this time I also became so clinically depressed I went on an anti-depressant.  I also have a strong genetic component of clinical depression.  I was in therapy, taking my pills and wishing I were dead.

In spite of excellent therapy and good medical help, I felt that my world was falling apart and that I was physically falling apart.

About a year later, I was interviewing a bunch of job candidates in St Louis for a sales position.  I had coffee with about 14 people during their interviews.  At that point I would use one or two Equals with each cup of coffee.  As the interviews progressed, I became very sick.

I was wearing bifocal reading glasses, and every time I looked up from the resume’s to look at the candidate, the little flickering change of perspective gave me this wave of extreme dizziness.  I got so sick that I cancelled the interviews and went to bed.  I thought I was having a stroke or a brain tumor or high blood pressure.  I called my doctor who FEDEXed me some high blood pressure meds since I had a strong familial tendency for hypertension.  I had had mild hypertension in the past, and the pills were a precaution against something worse.  I was too sick to leave the hotel until the following day and I hurried back for an exam.  I had layed off the coffee thinking that if my problem was hypertension that coffee would be bad.  I went in for the exam and confirmed that I had hypertension and was given a prescription for that which controls it very well.  The doc said to closely monitor my BP and see if caffeine was a factor.  I could demonstrate no relationship between my caffeine intake and BP levels, so I went back to a modest coffee intake.  Still, though, I found my hearing sensitivity and related disequilibrium seemed to return in the afternoons.  I also scheduled my demanding intellectual pursuits in the mornings because I was unable to focus mentally and visually in the afternoon.  I was pretty scared, since I had controlled the apparent cause of my problem, but the most obnoxious of the physical symptoms remained.  The story I have told you happened over a period of several years.

About three months ago I was sitting in my office reading in the morning (without glasses) a very small type face at the bottom of a magazine ad.  I said “hey, this can’t just be presbyopia and it is not just a fatigue issue.  Sometimes I can see and sometimes I can’t see!”  It just hit me so hard that I had to investigate.  I made an inventory of what I did all day long what I ate and drank, what I read, how much I used the computer, etc.  The only commonality I could find was that I drank coffee all morning about 36 oz) which included a total of six packets of Equal. Then, at lunch I’d have a diet coke usually 32 oz.  In the afternoon, I’d have another diet coke and maybe a coffee.  Thank God I’m not too reactive to caffeine, I’d be dead.

Anyway the reduction in cognition and in vision coupled with the disequilibrium tracked and correlated almost directly with my Aspartame intake.  Eureka!  I was trained in science, so I decided to eliminate the Aspartame from my diet to evaluate the differences, if any, that I could feel see or measure.

Interestingly, the symptoms were pretty much gone by the third day.  I still need my reading glasses, but the size print I can see unaided is much smaller than before!  I can concentrate much better, and the dizziness symptoms have disappeared.  I now drink coffee with sugar and Pepsi (sugared) in about the same schedule and volume as before.  I was thrilled with the immediate and marked improvement in how I felt and what I could do.  Note, I had never heard a single bad thing about Aspartame before, in fact I could not have told you that Aspartame is NutraSweet! By the way I decided to go back to NutraSweet to see if it triggered a return of the symptoms. After about 3 days it all came back. I then permanently quit using NutraSweet.  This is a controlled experiment with a single subject measuring what seems to be subjective data.  Nevertheless, I am completely convinced that my body and NutraSweet are incompatible.

Now, I no longer need anti-depressants, I religiously take my anti-hypertensives and I feel immeasurably better.

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I am personally convinced that high intake of some proteins concurrently with levodopa interferes with its absorption. I was in the habit of taking my levodopa and washing it down with artificially sweetened black current.

The effects on me were somewhat erratic. Sometimes all PD (Parkinson’s disease) symptoms would be diminished, at other times some would remain. I then noted that the sweetener (marketed under the name of NutraSweet) included phenylalanine which in turn has a molecular structure somewhat similar to dopamine. I switched to the sugar sweetened variety and all my PD symptoms were diminished – in some cases to the point of eradication.  I believe that other changes to my medication, diet and lifestyle (more fiber, more exercise, less feeling sorry for myself) have also helped.

I was examined by a neurologist on May 26th  and he said that he found it difficult to believe that I had Parkinson’s at all – he had not seen me before I started the levodopa + eldepryl + florinef + Vitamin E + high fibre + exercise + positive thinking.  Right now I feel “normal” for the first time in three years. Incidentally, when I first started on levodopa I felt constantly nauseous and it was several months before I could take the medication without unpleasant side effects.

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I just recently gave up Aspartame in my diet, and my headaches have completely disappeared.  Another thing that surprised me was that my eyesight is no longer blurry in the morning!  That really amazed me. I had been complaining to the last 2 eye doctors about this, and they just shrugged their shoulders not knowing what may have been causing it!

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Thanks so much for the information.  It reminded me of a summer I spent in sunny hot Florida.  I was body building regularly in heat, and drinking a TON of this new iced tea with NutraSweet.  I was having a lot of problems with muscle cramping and kidney pain.  I stopped drinking the stuff and it all got better.  But i also moved to a cooler climate.  Gradually I started up with diet cokes etc.  Today is my 2nd day without the stuff.  It really takes work now.  I could whip into a McDonalds and grab a diet coke.

Now I have to think clearly about taking water bottles with me and finding alternatives to drink.  But its ok.

My doc doesn’t think it caused my health problems, but was relieved to hear me say I was going to get off of it.   It’s just one more contribution of poison to my already weak body.  It’s funny that you mentioned that getting off may help me lose weight, because that’s why I drank the stuff!  What does our government allow to be marketed?!?

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Thanks so much for the information.  It reminded me of a summer I spent in sunny hot Florida.  I was body building regularly in heat, and drinking a TON of this new iced tea with NutraSweet.  I was having a lot of problems with muscle cramping and kidney pain.  I stopped drinking the stuff and it all got better.  But I also moved to a cooler climate.  Gradually I started up with diet cokes etc.  Today is my 2nd day without the stuff.  It really takes work now.  I could whip into a McDonalds and grab a diet coke.

Now i have to think clearly about taking water bottles with me and finding alternatives to drink.  But its ok.My doc doesn’t think it caused my health problems, but was relieved to hear me say I was going to get off of it.   It’s just one more contribution of poison to my already weak body.  It’s funny that you mentioned that getting off may help me lose weight, because that’s why I drank the stuff!  What does our government allow to be marketed?!?

 

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I used to drink a lot of caffeine-free Diet Coke and still drink a lot of regular and decaf coffee.

I discovered that I felt weak and began slurring my words after drinking more than a can or two of Diet Coke, so I stopped drinking it. Drinking too much coffee affects me in entirely different ways.

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I’ve been a diabetic since I was 3.  I’m 25 now.  In that time, I’ve used saccharine heavily when it was all that was available, and initially used Aspartame heavily when it first came out. Honestly, I think saccharine was the healthier choice of the two :-/

I recently decided to try to go Aspartame-free.  I haven’t had any in two months now, and have noticed that I get fewer headaches and my blood sugars don’t seem to swing around as much.  I don’t know if it’s a placebo effect or for real, but it’s still a good enough reason for me.

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Yes, I have been plagued by severe joint paint.  I tried to take numerous anti-inflammatory drugs only to have my stomach get so upset that I had to stop.  For the past two years I have found relief taking Voltaren.

If I take more than one a day my stomach gets upset.  Several times I stopped taking the Voltaren only to have the severe joint pain return.

Now I have learned the cause of my severe joint pain:  DIET SODA.

I stopped taking NutraSweet containing products and no longer have joint pain.  If I start taking Aspartame products it returns along with some mental confusion and dry eyes.   I no longer have to take Voltaren and no more upset stomachs.

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My NutraSweet experiences are similar.  A few years back, I started experiencing severe Arthritis-style joint pain.  Went to every doctor in the state, with no results.  They could find nothing.

Suspecting NutraSweet, I swore off the stuff. The results were amazing, but it took a year for thing to get back to normal.  Which includes my normal water skiing, skydiving, and weight lifting.

A few days ago, I accidentally swigged down a whole “Arizona Iced Tea” with Aspartame in it.  All the pain came back big-time!

Hope it goes away quicker than last time.

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I do thank you for your research on Aspartame. I for one will never use it, also for life.  It gives me terrible headaches and IBS.  I think the people of the world have been deceived for at least 20 years.

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NutraSweet was giving me heart palpitations.   I stopped. Even if I have a diet coke now, I can feel a difference.  I avoid it.

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The symptom I get almost immediately after taking any form of Aspartame (even when I don’t know I’ve gotten it) is nausea.  The degree of nausea depends on the amount of Aspartame digested.  One of my co-workers baked a delicious cake (we have cakes at the office the first Wednesday of every month).  About 15 minutes after eating it I started feeling real sick to my stomach and couldn’t figure out what was wrong.  Later I heard her tell the recipe to another co-worker, the icing had NutraSweet in it.  Diet drinks do the same thing to me.

Aspartame is also a common migraine trigger (recognized by most headache research centers as such) and I get migraines.

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I’ve seen several patients with FMS (fibromyalgia) who notice that Aspartame increases their symptoms, particularly the IBS component.  Others notice no effect.  This seems analogous to migraines (which Aspartame may also trigger in some patients) — certain foods, smells, etc. trigger symptoms in some patients, and others in others.

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Because of a severe head injury 16 years ago, I am sensitive to Aspartame (and Ultram) because it can precipitate seizures.  BUT my 2 cents has more to do with soda.  If the theory about fibromyalgia being a problem with phosphate metabolism is true, then soda (diet or not) is a good thing to avoid. KyleAnne.

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Ditto here.  I used to drink Diet Coke and it didn’t bother me.  Then I started on Jolt Cola.  Now, I cannot go back to Diet Coke.  The same headache strikes after one sip or taste of anything with Aspartame.

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I am being cautious in swallowing hook, line and sinker the negative news on Aspartame, and I have a lot more research to do on the subject before stating unequivocally that it is a poison.  However, I have stopped using any products containing it for the past two weeks, and I have noticed the following:

1.  Increased alertness, less brain fog

2.  Increased energy

3.  Easier to wake up in mornings and get going

4.  Disappearance of intense cravings for carbohydrates

5.  Able to cut back on Elavil and Soma

6.  Sleeping better

7.  Better diabetic control

For me, anyway, there seems to be a connection.  I’m not saying Aspartame is to blame for all my problems, but it may have been a trigger as I began consuming large amounts of diet sodas, deserts, and hot drinks sweetened with it as an effort to lose weight back in 1985.  I’ll be interested in hearing what others in this group may have to say.

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I haven’t finished reading all the info you mailed me–only about 1/3.

But I have remained free from Aspartame for over 2 weeks now.  Symptoms of the fibromyalgia have not disappeared, but have lessened considerably, especially the “brain fog” as it is jokingly called in the newsgroup.

That alone is a great relief since my mother has Alzheimer’s (she never used anything with artificial sweeteners, so Aspartame is not to blame).

For the first time in months I feel focused on reading and doing my job. I have actually read three novels the past week, something I hadn’t been able to do in a long time because of shortened attention capability.

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Preface: I used 2 packs of Equal a day to sweeten my tea plus my wife would either buy or bake a cake or pie with it ONCE IN A WHILE. My wife was drinking 8-10 cans of diet coke a day plus several glasses of tea which she was putting 2 Equal in each (about) 8 oz. glass, and the same piece of cake or pie.

The numbness in my fingers is all but gone. I had been doctor diagnosed with a NEROUS colon, it has settled down to the point I think I am going to be able to get off the pills. I spent the better part of 2 weeks eating homemade bread with a lot of All Fruit on it and generally just sitting instead of exercising. My BG was 94. I have to also say that I’ve started using Stevia so the BG reading may be at least in part to that.

My wife BG has been over 200 for better than 2 years. It dropped 18 points within 4 days of getting off the Equal. She has had times, a lot, when all she could MAKE herself do was sit on the sofa, she’s got a LOT more energy than she did. She’s been trying to lose weight for 10 years; she dropped 8 lbs. since we got off Equal.

There’s nothing scientific about what we’re seeing but it sure looks like it’s working for us. A friend just lost her diabetic brother who lost a leg a few years back. We showed her the WARNING flyer and yep you guessed it, he had almost every symptom listed and the doctors NEVER COULD FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. This lady said she wished she had had the flyer a few months ago, maybe her brother would still be alive.

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My sister had to give it up.  It was making her head bob like Kate Hepburn’s (really).  NutraSweet and caffeine, the Doctor said.

At first we thought she had Parkinson’s, but since she gave it up, she is LOTS better.

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I used to avoid sugar entirely but not the desserts.  Thus I consumed pudding, milk shakes, Jell-O, etc. all sweetened with NutraSweet.

I would drink a quart of Crystal Light in 1 day.  In 1990 I had 2 grand mal seizures.  I haven’t touched it or allowed my children to have it since.

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I have a problem with irregular heartbeat, and/or sometimes rapid, pounding heartbeat when I drink or eat anything that contains NutraSweet.

I do not get that effect when using saccharin or sugar for sweeteners.   And it doesn’t take a lot – half a can of diet drink or less will do it.   So I avoid anything with NutraSweet like the plague.

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I had terrible burning stomach pains I thought were ulcers.

I consumed gallons of antacids and $$$$ of anti-ulcer drugs.  I tried cutting out different foods and found that diet soft drinks seemed to aggravate my condition.

Cutting them out helped but not completely.  Then I realized it wasn’t the carbonation that was hurting, it was the Aspartame.  Stopping all   Aspartame intakes solved my problem.  I have challenged this many times   and there is no question in my mind that this is the cause.  I got pains once while chewing (non-diet, non-sugar free gum. or so I thought).  But a look at the fine print of ingredients had “you know what”.

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Sleep deprived – I had severe headaches whenever I consumed Aspartame.  I avoid it now and I never have headaches.  I wondered how many others have problems.

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This girl said “My nails split down the middle and my hair fell out.  Stopped all NutraSweet intake and my nails cleared up and hair is healthy.

Wonder what it did to my brain.  By the way this had been going on for years.  Did not know there was any relation to NutraSweet and my problem.

Only discovered it after stopping the product.”

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I also have MS, and do not use Aspartame.  My mouth goes weird when I do have it.  I don’t need to read labels, because even if there is a trace of Aspartame in anything my mouth goes fizzy, so instantly know it and don’t eat or drink it.

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I have never had NutraSweet cause an exacerbation; BUT when I quit using it for 2 weeks and then started again, I discovered it was what was causing my arms and legs to “buzz”.  I would have never believed it if I had not tried an elimination diet.

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In the 1980s Common Cause did an extensive investigation into Aspartame (NutraSweet).  I’ll look for my copy of the articles, but you might want to contact them directly.  The state psychiatric hospital where I worked in quality assurance the psychiatrists charted that patients exhibiting Parkinson tremors should not receive any food or beverage containing NutraSweet as it increased the tremors.

Common Cause noted that NutraSweet was approved for use in foods three months after Reagan came into office.  Scientist who had studied Aspartame did not recommend it for use in foods because when heated it breaks down into toxic elements.

I will try to find the Common Cause article so I can give you the date of the publication.  But the quickest thing to do is to get the phone # for Common Cause and ask them for a copy of their study.

Good luck.  I NEVER use Aspartame (NutraSweet) or any food or beverage containing it due to what I have seen as side effects in patients with Parkinson tremors.

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Has anyone heard of Aspartame being addictive?  I haven’t, but suspect that this might be the case.  I seem to recall seeing a post on this list about phenylalanine alleviating pain by causing elevated levels of endorphin.  Is this true?

More questions: how does Aspartame lower serotonin levels in the brain?  Are there any studies documenting mood changes due to the use of Aspartame? Also, are there any natural substitutes for sugar that are not harmful (and also won’t pile on the pounds?)

Another interesting thing. Aren’t dry mouth/eyes one of the side effects of Aspartame?  i guess that would be really good for the soft drink manufacturers. The ideal product!! One that first quenches and then causes thirst!

I am finding this vein of posts very interesting. I recently sent mail to the list regarding my own problems (which led to responses from many of you, urging me to be tested for lupus).  Thankfully, a battery of tests revealed nothing ‘wrong’ in the autoimmune spectrum.  But I am left with the same problems as I have had for years. I am a huge consumer of Aspartame, and now am wondering if this might be the cause of my problems.  It is scary, but despite the numerous posts (most, i believe, from Claire Gilbert) regarding Aspartame, I am still using it (I actually prefer it to sugar, and crave it if I haven’t eaten any for a while), and cannot seem to kick the habit.

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I was talking with the doctors and nurses that I worked with during one shift, and many of us had neurological adverse effects from NutraSweet.  The doctor said that there isn’t much research on it, but it’s a common complaint with patients.  One nurse has numbness develop in her mouth immediately after consuming the product.  I, myself, experience migraines from it.  Another nurse has an elevation in blood pressure and sees auras and has blurry vision.  Although they are all different complaints, they all relate to the neurologic system.

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Nothing surprises me about NutraSweet. I was drinking diet cola, eating NutraSweet laden ice creams, yogurts etc.  One evening I collapsed, head felt like it was exploding, I was dizzy, momentarily blinded, heart racing. I was very scared and my husband panicked.  After undergoing tests to find out if I had a brain tumor or a stroke, it was determined by my doctor that I was having a reaction to NutraSweet.  I was told by doctor and several nurses to avoid it at all costs. Regular sugar in moderation only.  Seems more & more people are having reaction to it. Don’t know long term effects of the stuff.  I have never suffered memory loss from it but nothing surprises me.

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I was at the grocery store yesterday trying to find an easy to measure sweetener pack for my Kool-Aid.  While I was trying to decide which of the many packages would be the easiest, a nearby clerk offerred to help.

Turns out he has diabetes too.  But then he shocks me with this story of how he had been a NutraSweet freak when it first came out and after about 2 years, he began suffering annoying memory loss (he was way too young for “normal” memory loss).  He didn’t think much about it, thought it was just age (yeah, early 20’s will do it to you!).  But he moved around that same time, and 6 months or a year later went back to the town he’d lived in and couldn’t remember his friend’s names!  People he’d known for years!  Went to his doctor who told him to lay off the Aspartame.  After about 6 months of limiting his Aspartame to just a can or two of soda a day, he was back to “normal.”

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I was floored, but mainly because I’ve been experiencing memory loss lately.  I figured it was normal for someone of 35, although it did seem odd that it came on so noticeably quick.  I thought it was related to another health problem, and it may be, but it is also odd that for the past year I’ve been upping my water intake to 8-10 glasses a day by drinking that much Aspartame sweetened Kool-Aid.

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Several years ago, I read an article in Psychology Today about Aspartame, which said it was found in lab tests to increase seizures in epileptics.

I can correlate this with two experiences: an ex who started drinking diet sodas and started having seizures on a daily basis after seven years of control on Dilantin; my poor Sheltie, who is okay unless someone leaves a half-full glass of soda around and then the poor thing has a reaction.

Say I’m crazy, many have, but the final experience, memory loss, is something I can say has increased over many years of Aspartame use.

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I know this is only anecdotal but my sister at age 32 with no neurological symptoms her whole life had two grand mal seizures in the space of a few days. This was after a summer of drinking large quantities of Crystal Light, a lemonade mix sweetened with NutraSweet. No antecedents or siblings have ever had such symptoms. This was several years ago, but we (my family) eventually decided to lay off Aspartame. I guess I do believe that there are people with a heightened sensitivity to Aspartame. It is an easy thing to avoid.

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And on the subject – does anyone else have severe reactions to NutraSweet?  I get a headache from a soda and once had convulsions after eating a slice (okay, a rather *big* slice) of chocolate cream pie made with it.  Which is the reason I’m familiar with products that have it – unfortunately, it’s no longer as well marked as it used to be – I tried the Slim Fast powder without reading the ingredients and have terrible headaches before reading the label.  I ignored it the first day, thinking it was just eating less that caused it.

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This is very interesting to me!  I’ve never been able to track the onset of fibromyalgia to accidents or virus like a lot of the people here can – mainly because I have a lousy sense of past time.  I do know that my last and severe (to the point of convulsions) reaction to NutraSweet wasn’t too long before my symptoms started picking up speed.

Unfortunately, I’m not very objective about Aspartame and am likely to be too willing to believe the worst.  I shudder when I see pregnant women drinking it because it affects me so badly and doesn’t affect my mom.

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Count me in on the Aspartame, too.  Gives me headaches, nausea, and worsens the brain fog. Besides, I can’t STAND the taste!

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I am not trying to argue for or against the use of Aspartame here, but I would like to point out that I was able to drink lots of Diet Coke and other products with Aspartame in them for several years. Then, I started developing horrible headaches each time I drank a Diet Coke. Jell-O and pudding made with Aspartame also caused these headaches. I had to stop using the product altogether. My husband, who does not have MS, has developed the same problem. Has anyone else had this happen to them?

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I’m a sporadic browser in this group and haven’t been tuned in lately. Could you Aspartame-sensitive people get in touch with me?  My friends think I’m whacked when I tell them that Aspartame makes me feel dizzy, out of breath, nauseated, clammy and that it makes my heart race.  I don’t have CFS, but I am hypersensitive to several things, Aspartame it particular.  Also, do any Aspartame-sensitive people out there live in fluoridated areas?  Thanx 🙂

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Good of you to post your experience — I had a similar one, only my symptoms were really terrifying.  At first, I thought I had developed an allergy to nitrated pepperoni, since the worst attacks always happened after I’d eaten pizza, which I always ate with diet peach or raspberry soda.  I quit the combination until I had a SEVERE attack (pounding heart, irregular, weak pulse – weird since my heart was *hammering* – difficulty breathing, dizziness, nausea, headache) after downing about 12 ounces of diet Pepsi.  The next day I ate some of my favorite pizza with a glass of water and nothing happened.  A couple of days later, I drank 6 ounces of peach soda, had a reaction, and haven’t touched the stuff since.

It was quite a shock to “suddenly” develop such a reaction to something I had been drinking for several years, especially since it had been touted as NATURAL, and I had no allergies up to that point.  My doctor tells me it is not unusual, and that people often just chalk it up to caffeine (which I still drink fearlessly and painlessly along with my tea and coffee), without actually BOTHERING to find out for themselves.  There are reams of terrifying legal and research material out there for anyone who doesn’t just want to snort at the idea of Aspartame being dangerous.  I cringe when I see clueless parents feeding this poison to their toddlers, but after an experience with an utterly indifferent mother, I don’t bother telling them they might be ruining their kids’ health.  Nobody wants to hear bad news.  But hey, the vision in my left eye quit deteriorating ABRUPTLY when I quit Aspartame (I lost about 50 feet of vision in it).  Makes me kind of suspicious!

And I feel *so* much better!  My craving for sweets left me as well.  Isn’t it a relief?!   🙂

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Another ‘thumbs down’ on the NutraSweet from me.  I also get headaches and a kind of very unpleasant sensation throughout my body – kind of like nervousness but I can’t really describe it.  I just know it makes me very uncomfortable and I avoid it at all costs.  Also, I know some people prone to seizures who say it triggers them.

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Well, Bill went to the grocery store yesterday and bought a case of real coke!!!! He still has 4 or 5 diet cokes left which he will finish but he says that he is committed to trying this. I had my last NutraSweet a week ago and am becoming a label reader as well as spreading the word to friends and family. Besides Bill’s angioedema I told you about, He also experiences joint pain, diminished vision, headaches and other things which you have listed.

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YES!  I started getting migraines in ’88.  Before that time I usually drank 1-2 diet sodas per day and used packaged NutraSweet on cereal, etc.

It took a few migraines to realize that they were being triggered by the NutraSweet.

I got fibromyalgia/MCS in 1991, and still react badly to NutraSweet.  I get the headaches, but also nausea, and the shakes.  I stay away from it in any form now.

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After reading all the posts about NutraSweet, I wanted to add my experience with it.  In mid-1984 I started using the tablets in my tea (one tablet in my one cup of tea daily).  Shortly after (the 4th of July,

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Makes me dizzy and gives me headaches. I quit drinking it several years ago, before I had Fibromyalgia.

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I too have suffered debilitating headaches from NutraSweet.  Haven’t touched it since I discovered the cause and have never had another migraine-type headache since.

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My mother was diagnosed with fibromyalgia about 3 years ago and at the time was taking 15 Tylenol per day, several vivarin and drinking at least a six-pack of diet coke.  Her doctor at the time (thankfully) told her to quit all three, and she does think that aspartame (NutraSweet) was responsible for the horrid headaches she so often suffered from.  I know NutraSweet gives me a headache, and I don’t have FM.  On another note, my grandfather-in-law (how many of you have that relation?) recently had surgery for bladder cancer, and his doctor said off-handedly that it was probably caused by all the diet drinks he consumed.  I wasn’t there for that conversation, but it does make you wonder.

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Yes. I have a problem with both caffeine and NutraSweet. I have allergic reactions to NutraSweet. Norenia.

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Yes, yes, yes – Me, I have definite problems with NutraSweet.  I can’t eat/drink anything with NutraSweet without feeling nauseous (even when I *don’t* know there is any NutraSweet in it).  For other people I know it acts as a migraine trigger, etc.

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At my last appointment, my Dr. commented that most of his fibromyalgia patients smoke, most of them do better when they don’t consume caffeine, and most of them have side effects from NutraSweet.  He said that he is not implying anything, just stating an observation.  I have heard about the smoking and caffeine before, but has anyone ever heard about problems with NutraSweet?

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I can’t blame the onset of my fibromyalgia on aspartame, but I do know beyond a doubt that NutraSweet makes my fibromyalgia symptoms much, much worse.  My doctor pointed this possibility out to me, and when I stopped eating anything with NutraSweet, I felt better.

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Well, up to last month my daughter and I had been drinking lots of diet coke, Pepsi or any other diet cola.  My daughter had been getting headaches and I had started to get pains in my head.  I went to a seminar and they had a speaker on there who was a Dr. who specialized in eating and drinking healthy foods.

He mentioned that diet pop that used aspartame sugar substitute) can give reactions like headaches, upset stomachs, nauseous. It appears that aspartame breaks down into methyl alcohol which, if you drank it in the pure form, would cause blindness.   My daughter and I no longer drink or use anything that has aspartame in it if possible.  My daughter’s headaches are gone and I no longer have pains in my head.  This is just a personal observation, but I was glad I went to that seminar.

I hope others benefit from my personal experience.

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I’ve not been diagnosed with ADD, but both MSG and NutraSweet give me headaches.

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For me, even a few sips of a diet soda of any sort equals at least two days of full blown migraine. Always. And the (*&% stuff (aspartame) is even in “light” yoghurt. Luckily, I’ve always been conscientious about reading labels.

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Side effect for me is that I get dizzy when NutraSweet is consumed. Not so dizzy if not on empty stomach, but still some.

I know 3 people who have this reaction.  One, like me, has a mild reaction. One passes out.  None of us turned this in to the FDA.

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Aspartame is a trigger for me.  I drink nothing diet and avoid all products with that lovely NutraSweet seal.  It’s an automatic sign to stay away.

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In additional to nasty headaches, aspartame increases my dyslexia problems. I tend to transpose letters (sometimes entire words are written backwards) and have problems speaking quickly (like reading a weather bulletin over the air).  As another person said, the NutraSweet label is like a skull and crossbones for me.

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Oh BTW, my son took my NutraSweet away from me, and I started feeling better about 6 months later!  But, boy does that stuff make me ILL now. Wonder if it was all along?  Diet’s=sick=not worth it.

I had no trouble with NutraSweet or coffee until I got sick.  After that, one drink of either would start a migraine within minutes. Weird huh?

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Yes. I lost 30 lbs. using NutraSweet many years ago, and my kidneys almost quit on me.  I had very painful kidney attacks and I knew it was the NutraSweet. When I cut it out, the pain went away. Splenda is manufactured under an outright lie. “Made from sugar so it tastes like sugar”. No it doesn’t. When you use it in anything, it tastes like what it is, a chemical. And it “foams” when mixed in liquid. And it “foams” in my stomach, whatever it is mixed in. Sandy.

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Hi, Thanks for the info on NutraSweet. I have a girlfriend that drinks 6 sodas in less than 20 minutes, and has a lot of insulin reactions and goes into comas very often. I very rarely drink the stuff because it tastes too sweet to me.  Also she has kidney problems.  She is totally blind also. I am going to give the information to her I hope it will help her and pay close attention to it also.

 

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Another heavy user of the artificial sweetener, Larry Taylor of Arlington, Texas, said he was hospitalized for five or six days to undergo a battery of tests after suffering a grand mal seizure in 1985. He was also a victim of migraine headaches that became more frequent between 1982 and 1984. After his seizures, Taylor, an anesthetist, was not allowed to work until January of this year (1987), a disability he said left him “financially devastated.” Reported by Gregory Gordon, UPI Investigative Reporter

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Dorris Bookhart, 43, a legal secretary in Lodge, S. Carolina, started having what were later diagnosed as temporal lobe seizures in August of 1984. At the time, she said, she was drinking four 16-ounce bottles of Diet Coke a day, as well as diet lemonade. Both contained NutraSweet.

In January of 1985, after six months of problems, she suffered a grand mal seizure, a convulsive episode in which the victim loses consciousness, she said. Her doctors were mystified by the seizures, but they ruled out epilepsy, Bookhart said.

She said she suspected NutraSweet as the culprit when, at her husband’s suggestion, she stopped drinking Diet Coke and the problems ended.

“I’ve cried a lot of times thinking these people have destroyed my life and there isn’t a damn thing I can do,” she said. Reported by Gregory Gordon, UPI Investigative Reporter

 

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Joyce Wilson, a real estate agent in Stockbridge, Georgia, said she began suffering from high blood pressure, dizziness and other ill effects in 1982 after using Equal in her coffee and eating NutraSweet-flavored puddings. She said that in 1984 and 1985, she lost some vision.

“I’m not blaming this all on NutraSweet,” Wilson said. “I’m just saying it’s a strange coincidence that when I started using it, I started falling apart.”

Dr. Morgan Raiford, an ophthalmologist at Emory University examined Wilson and believes her problems stem from consumption of the methyl alcohol in NutraSweet. Reported by Gregory Gordon, UPI Investigative Reporter

 

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Susan Yarmey, a free-lance writer from Quincy, Mass., awoke on a hot July morning in 1984 with a large bump on her head and bruises all over her body.

“I had no recollection of what happened. There were marks on the wall, two wooden steps were broken and there was a nice gash on the wall where my head hit,” she said.

Yarmey’s doctors diagnosed her injuries as resulting from a “classic” epileptic seizure. She and Massachusetts Institute of Technology neuroscientist Richard Wurtman believe the incident may be connected to her consumption of the artificial sweetener, NutraSweet, know generically as aspartame.

“A friend in New York directed me to the possible effects of NutraSweet consumption…I was probably, at that particular time period, doing a liter and a half to two liters (of diet soda with NutraSweet) a day,” said Yarmey, who said when she stopped taking NutraSweet her problems disappeared.

Yarmey is not alone. Many NutraSweet consumers, particularly heavy users, who have suffered headaches, tremors, blindness, allergic reactions and seizures, blame NutraSweet for their ailments.

Wurtman says he personally is aware of more than 200 cases in which he suspects NutraSweet has caused health problems such as headaches, dizziness, and seizures.

Wurtman says the problem might be solved simply by stiffening the labeling requirements for NutraSweet products so that certain identified groups can monitor their intake.

“The groups I would identify are pregnant ladies, small children, people with a history of seizures and people who are taking certain drugs that interact with phenylalanine,” an amino acid in the sweetener, Wurtman said. Reported by Gregory Gordon, UPI Investigative Reporter

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Another former NutraSweet consumer, Shannon Roth, a mother of two who works as a goldsmith in Ocala, Florida, organized Aspartame Victims and Their Friends, Inc. after suffering blindness in one eye. She said the group now has about 700 members.

“I got up in the morning and had two packs (of Equal, the NutraSweet tabletop version) in each cup of coffee…three or four cups of coffee before noon. Then I’d switch to the iced tea with it,” Roth said.

In the summer of 1984, Roth said, she began to experience headaches, sleep and memory loss, and irritability.

After getting out of bed one morning, she discovered she couldn’t see when she closed her right eye, Roth said. “I could see like through a black veil. It was like a centralized, almond-shaped black spot,” she said.

Doctors’ laboratory tests failed to trace the cause of her partial blindness, she said, and one doctor told her not to expect vision to return to her eye.

Roth said she suspected NutraSweet as the cause after learning of a similar case that was allegedly linked to the sweetener, and after about four weeks without NutraSweet, her headaches and other problems ceased. Her sight began to return a few weeks later, she said. Shannon Roth

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I can’t give you a lot of medical expertise, but let me tell you what got rid of my debilitating migraines–which caused temporary blindness in my right eye.  I mainly attribute my lack of migraines (which were frequent) to three factors:

1)      I quit consuming NutraSweet or Aspartame products.  I think some people are more sensitive to this than others.  My sister and I are both extremely sensitive and we believe it may be causing my brother’s vision problems.

2)      I quit taking Advil or ibuprofen and only use Aleve to keep the pain at bay.  However lately I haven’t even needed that much.  There are some articles that suggest that ibuprofen may actually have adverse effects on people susceptible to migraines, so you might want to eliminate that if you are using it.

Getting of NutraSweet has taken away my excessive appetite.  I eat a big lunch, but have little desire for supper and now that I’m off diet drinks, I’ve lost 10 pounds in the first month.  My headaches are gone and joint pain lessened. And the Pycnogenol has given me energy I haven’t had in the last four years.  I have never been a morning person, but I wake up at 4:30 a.m. (not because of a poor sleep pattern) ready to start the day and hit the road.  My wife and children haven’t adjusted to this new morning me yet.  Of course, by 7:30 or 8:00 at night, I am getting pretty sleepy. But I feel so much better than I have in years.  I’ve come from walking on a cane and being on several medications and having frequent blinding migraines to bounding out of bed with a new lease on life and having few complaints and other than an Aleve once in a while for stiffness, I’m totally drug free.  Something is working!

And of course, prayer really helps!

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My own history, by Kim Evans:

January 02: My right foot went numb

February: First vision loss, holes in my vision, progressed to losing right field of vision for hours

March: Numbness increased up to waist, health quickly deteriorating unknown cause Went to primary Doctor for Neurological exam: Abnormal, right reflexes hyper. MRI scheduled.

April 2: lesions found on the MRI. Memory loss became significant problem Numbness spread to entire right side of body. Told I did have MS and needed to be followed at hospital of U. of Pennsylvania. Told my friends and family that I had MS.

“May-March 03: MANY tests run at HUP and Presbyterian Hospital and Sheiy Eye Hospital Symptoms rapidly increased, intermittent field of vision loss, burning in my head, extreme memory loss and fatigue, pain in right arm, joint pain, leg pain, depression, numbness began on left side, eye pain, red eyes, extreme thirst, chest pain, rapid heart beat, hives.

“I began looking into the possibility of disability through work. In the spring of 2003 was told I had central nervous system Sjogrens and possibly MS as well and needed to begin a 2 year chemo treatment of each immuran or cytoxin and should begin immediately. Told due to the decreased saliva production I should always drink diet sodas to protect my teeth. In May 2003 I informed doctors I wanted to delay my treatment until Sept because I direct a camp in the summers in VA and did not feel I could handle the treatment and face my responsibilities. I also informed the people at camp my health was rapidly deteriorating and that I wasn’t sure I would be able to continue at the camp (that I had founded). Doctors strongly encouraged me not to wait for the treatment because the disease was progressing and the damage was irreversible.

“June 2003 While at camp and drinking a diet coke a dear friend, Jack Rosenquist , asked if I knew that diet coke could cause all the problems that I was having. I explained I didn’t believe him but had nothing to lose so I wouldn’t drink one for another year and see what happened. The only thing I had to lose was a chemo treatment I was dreading and praying to live without. In Sept. 2003 Returned to HUP neurology. Major improvements and asked by the Dr if my improvements were a result of starting my treatment. I explained my only treatment was stopping Diet Coke. My memory loss had dramatically improved, the burning in my head stopped, extreme fatigue was gone, arm pain gone, eye pain gone, loss of vision completely stopped, numbness never progressed since the day I stopped drinking diet coke and many more……

“The Doctor said the only way to prove it was to reintroduce it and see if the symptoms returned. I said NO WAY. Sept 03 to spring 04 I continued to feel good and decided that I was willing to reintroduce Diet coke for the good of others so the medical field would know the need to promote this FACT. In the spring 2004 I called the Dr and said t I was willing to reintroduce Diet coke and asked how would he like me to do it. He explained it needed to be controlled and I could only have one per day and needed to journal my reactions. After one Diet coke per day for 4 days I already had burning in my head, extreme fatigue, abdominal pain, arm pain, red eyes….the 4th day I left my daughter at school and couldn’t even remember I was suppose to pick her up(that had not happened since I had stopped drinking Diet Coke). I told my Dr I cannot continue because it’s not SAFE. I never dreamed all the horrible symptoms would return so quickly.

In Aug 2004 took my sister Roxanne to meet Betty Martini. Sister was diagnosed with MS 9/11/01. She had tremendous pain in her hand and arm. After meeting Betty took aspartame seriously and within 3 weeks had use of her hand and was pain free. This is a very concise summary. Thank you for all your work and thanks again for taking the time to meet with both Roxanne and I. Keep up the GREAT work!!!!! Kim Evans

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“In high school I was a big diet soda drinker. In 1983 I became pregnant with conjoined twins, then gave birth to our son and 2 daughters. I drank lots of diet coke during pregnancy with all 3 children. Thinking white sugar was bad for children I pushed sugar-free drinks, Crystal Lite, ice tea with Equal, and sugar free gum to protect their teeth. By the age of about 6 my daughter was diagnosed with colitis, my son at 6 was diagnosed with severe esophogitus and my youngest daughter also developed many abdominal problems. We spent a great deal of time in Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. My son had to have back surgery due to a spontaneous stress fracture and spondylolysis.

“We spent time at Mayo clinic, Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago and Univ of Pennsylvania Hospital trying to get answers. My son has been diagnosed with eosinophilic esophogitus (he is allergic to all food) and cyclic vomiting, but my daughters are still struggling with intermittent abdominal pain. During this entire time artificial sweeteners were given freely to the kids. Who knows how much aspartame has played a part in their health but they were each born healthy and as the years past there health continued to deteriorate. Both of my oldest children have missed years of school and had to be on home education. Of course now, none of the children use artificial sweeteners but they have been on them for a lifetime. They have not experienced the improvements that I have but we are hopeful.” Kim Evans

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“My wife suffered for many years with daily blinding headaches that nearly led her to suicide because she could not cope with the severity of the pain. Our doctors continuously misdiagnosed her problem and even though she was also having black outs and vision loss to name just a few of the problems, these doctors fed her many varied cocktails of medication and even thought she was paranoid. The real problem was not finally noticed until she tried to get a driving license. She failed because of bad eyesight, which had just been tested three days previous. So after a second test a specialist was flown in from the United Kingdom who diagnosed she was indeed suffering from a brain tumour.

“She had emergency life threatening surgery on the 10th December 2002 and a tumour of 7 centimetres in diameter was removed. We still did not fully understand why she developed this tumour then, but just recently we received an interesting piece of information from a friend who felt that our daughter who is 18 years 9 months may benefit from the information it contained, because she suffers from epilepsy.

“Our daughter has suffered severe epileptic attacks at night since she was just 3 days old. I personally have had to tend her for as many as five times a night for that whole time until I received the information on aspartame. I was stunned at which might possibly be causing these attacks, more so that our doctors for all these years had never even mentioned to me that such a possibility of food additives such as aspartame, which I had not even heard off, so decided there and then to remove all known products with aspartame from our home. There were many products containing this poison, which we were all consuming on a daily basis.

Since we stopped the aspartame intake, our daughter has not had a single seizure for the last 2 consecutive weeks. This is incredible and clearly demonstrates that it is the aspartame that has been causing all the problems. Because of this I have now began a serious awareness campaign on the Falkland Islands to get our Government here to legislature to have this dangerous product banned. My government is now meeting to discuss this issue and I am keenly awaiting the outcome. Robin Goodwin, Falkland Islands

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A friend sent me the news about aspartame only 2 weeks ago…what a revelation! I have been a regular imbiber of Diet Drinks, including DIET COKE and the dreaded PEPSI MAX, from which I am now suffering acute and painful withdrawal! I have eaten sugarless sweets, cooked with EQUAL and eaten many other products containing EQUAL or NUTRASWEET. I have also chewed EXTRA sugarless chewing gum!

The tragedy of this is that I have added these products to the diets of my 3 children – what a monstrous outrage this all is! I now sweeten with Stevia a natural sugar (I can’t use too much sugar as I am now also DIABETIC!) To be as brief as possible I have MULTIPLE symptoms including…had a PITUITARY TUMOUR; MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS symptoms (my hands form “claws”); PETIT MAL SEIZURES (jaw shakes & I bite tongue) and I’m NOT an epileptic!; “TRICKLING” sensation inside head, sharp stabbing PAINS IN TEMPLE & BACK OF SKULL; NUMBNESS & TINGLING in hands; unexplained JOINT PAINS in left arm and hips (I DON’T have arthritis); temporary inability to breathe and WHEEZING (and I’m NOT asthmatic)a bout of extreme SWELLING HANDS & FEET and all SKIN PEELING off both those areas; a DERMATOFIBROSARCOMA removed from right posterior shoulder and now I have lumps in left arm and shoulder and chest which they’re about to investigate to see if they are also cancerous!; previously inexperienced PHARMACEUTICAL DRUG REACTION; BURNING MOUTH SYNDROME; extremely DRY FLAKING SKIN; SCALP SORES; HAIR LOSS (I’ve lost 2/3 of my hair, which used to be waist length and thick & glossy!); unexplained ABDOMINAL PAIN; BURNING HEELS (PLANTAR FASCIITIS); RESTLESS LEGS; An unknown HEART ATTACK (the hospital confirmed I had one without knowing); previously inexperienced and severe ANXIETY; PANIC ATTACKS; previously inexperienced DEPRESSION; MOOD SWINGS (no hormone problems);extreme IRRITABILITY; and MARKED PERSONALITY CHANGE; NAUSEA; DIARRHEA; DIZZINESS; Total NIGHT BLINDNESS in my left eye; INABILITY TO LOSE WEIGHT; CARBOHYDRATE CRAVINGS; BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL PROBLEMS; CHRONIC FATIGUE; CONFUSION; INABILITY TO THINK STRAIGHT (and I am an intellectual and great thinker!);CHEST PAINS; INABILITY TO CONCENTRATE; INSOMNIA; EXTREME ITCHING; “FOGGY BRAIN”; FREQUENCY OF URINATION; TREMORS; LARYNGITIS; MUSCLE SPASMS; POOR MEMORY (always extremely retentive memory previously)SLURRING OF SPEECH; CAN’T THINK STRAIGHT; FEELING “UNREAL” OR OUT OF IT (I would have maybe 6 drinks in a YEAR!, don’t smoke or take drugs).

I am so grateful to you people for spreading the word, and for each individual’s bravery to come forward, but mostly for the friend who sent me the information to find David Rietz (albeit after his death…and many thanks to his wonderful family for keeping his site and his memory alive) Dr. Betty Martini and her associates …….. Dr. Blaylock, Roberts etc. Were it not for Brett, I would probably experience the ultimate symptom – DEATH! Margaret Russell

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Hi, I was a chronic user of diet sodas, gum, candy, and many other diet foods. I would drink about 2 or 3 diet cokes a day for about 25 years. I started this terrible habit when I was in college and started getting sick from it right away.

I went to doctors with various symptoms but with no help. After college I still continued to use this poison and into my 30’s I was developing lots of different symptoms. My first child was born when I was 33. I could barely get off the couch at this point and barely could make it through a day without being totally zapped of all my energy, cloudy thinking along with terrible migraine headaches.

I lived like this into my forties. I am now 46 and have been aspartame free for about 3 years I think. Before, I gave up diet stuff I had most symptoms that are listed on most web sites. I am now left with nodules on my thyroid that might turn into cancer one day and have gained about 30Lbs. I use to be thin but now have a terrible weight problem!!!! jeffriesd10@yahoo.com

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I have studied ASPARTAME POISONING for nearly 25 years because I knew that the METHYL ALCOHOL in it was dangerous. Years ago the government banned alcohol. So, the drinkers stated drinking METHYL ALCOHOL, commonly called wood alcohol. Many went blind, and many died. METHYL ALCOHOL is the most dangerous of all alcohols. At 86 degrees it breaks down to formaldehyde (embalming fluid) then to formic acid (sting of the fire ant)If you mix ASPARTAME with a little Kool-Aid you can kill ants like crazy. How much ant poison would you like to drink? Here is a story that happened to me. I was a bodybuilder. I switched from hot cereal to Total to get the extra vitamins. I used Equal on the Total not knowing that it contained ASPARTAME. Within 2 weeks I was in a deep depression. In the depression I quit eating. The depression went away. Back to the Equal the depression came back immediately. After a few rounds I realized it was the Equal that was making me sick. My doctors were ready to call my parents to make funeral arrangements. I had an unopened box of the poison. I took it back to the store. The cashier asked,” What’s wrong with it?” The ass’t manager came running from her office and exclaimed, “Give the man his money back, its poison!” I asked her why they still sold it. Her answer buckled both of my knees, “AS LONG AS PEOPLE BUY IT, WE’LL SELL IT.” That was 25 years ago, and her answer rings true yet today.  Silvereagle1948@yahoo.com

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As a skinny 25 year old, I had mononucleosis and gained 5 pounds. I began drinking diet soda. I found myself constantly ravenously hungry and craving sweets. I gained and gained weight, but it did not occur to me that the problem was the diet soda. I started consuming more and more “diet” foods and just kept gaining weight. After 25 years of diet soda, I had developed dozens of symptoms. The scariest was that I had muscle tremors/spasms that were rapidly worsening. Then I crashed – I could barely wake up and my muscles were extremely weak.

I had asked doctors for help over and over. They all told me I was a depressed hypochondriac who just needed to lose weight. Finding myself mostly unable to make it to work, I started reading every book and website I could find with any theory no matter how absurd it sounded. I came across a site about aspartame poisoning. Once I got past the government conspiracy part, I realized that aspartame poisoning perfectly explained what was wrong with me. I stopped consuming aspartame (and msg) one year and four months ago. My muscle tremors/spasms were the first symptoms to clear up. All of my other symptoms (except respiratory) have either gone away or much abated. My head feels more and more clear, and my body feels more and more energetic. My appetite is normal, and I am no longer fighting weight gain. I have even lost a few pounds. Inspired, I have done quite a bit of health research and continue to make changes that improve my health. gadickson2002@yahoo.com

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I was drinking diet Coca-Cola with NutraSweet (Aspartame) in it and liked the taste. I realized about 5 years later that I was having mood swings — getting very angry at our sons for no reason at all and yelling at them and sending them to their rooms for looking at me wrong. I was suffering from heart palpitations, memory loss, almost no energy to do anything, slept for 12 hours at night, got up for three, then went back to sleep for two or three hours again. I was no good to anyone for anything. And I couldn’t figure it out. I wasn’t the same person I used to be.

One day after yelling at our youngest son for no reason (again), I could take it no longer and wondered what was happening to me. I had no control over my moods, no control over my sleeping habits and no control over how I was hurting my family. I was thinking about it and it came to me: NutraSweet. Get off the NutraSweet. It was as if God whispered it from heaven. I listened to God and within three weeks, there was a drastic difference. My heart palpitations were gone, my memory was returning (although it still isn’t what it used to be) and my sleep habits were getting better. After six weeks, I was back to my old self with a few minor lingering problems. I believe I was left with a little bit of memory loss, at age 39 I was diagnosed with bursitis in both shoulders and I can’t remember the years when my youngest son was 1 to about 4 years old. I hate that the most. I have almost no recollection of those years at all. Not even the important stuff. I have pictures, but no memories. It wasn’t just my kids. My husband suffered through it, too. He had no idea what happened to the sweet, fun, relaxed, happy-go-lucky wife he married. But he stuck it out. If you love your kids as I love mine (I have homeschooled them and spent almost 24/7 with them since they were born and they are now 16 and 14) please stay off of this stuff. NutraSweet (Aspartame) is bad. It isn’t good for anyone. Especially not those you love and will have to live with you. lsmac@bv.net

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My health has improved since I have stopped taking aspartame. I have Ischemic heart disease along with muscular pain and joint pains. jamesrgill@ntlworld.com

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Last November I purchased a large warehouse pack of Crystal Light and began drinking it. By the end of the year I was calling my doctor about chest pains. By January, the pains were more frequent and I called the doctor and was told to go to the ER.

After losing work and spending money on tests, the doctor said I probably had heartburn or something gastrointestinal. I said I had heartburn when I was pregnant and this definitely was not heartburn. I was also passing enormous amounts of gas (that luckily I could pass off as my young child’s). That weekend after being at the hospital, I saw the empty tubs of Crystal Light on my countertop and figured out that maybe that’s what had changed. I stopped using the drink and after about one month, the chest pains finally totally went away. I still have somewhat of a gas problem and wonder what damage I did to my body. Maybe there appear to be a lot of people for whom this product may be OK, but it will definitely not be for me or my family. Hopefully you will do more research and come to a conclusion that this product may not be safe for your family either. Since my problem I have found that aspartame is used in some baby formulas, in medicines I gave my child for ear infections, and in Pedialyte I had given my child. This makes me very mad that I had given this product to my children and sad for all the other people who are unknowingly giving their children something potentially harmful to them. cramerd196j@yahoo.com

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I have had a year of my life STOLEN from me! I have deteriorated to the point that I spend most of my days flat on my back with crushing fatigue-it’s even an effort to breath (NOT by any lung congestion, but the EFFORT to work my lungs), unable most days to care for myself-unable to think right, remember things, for my invalid father, staggering and bumping into things in my house, tests and hospitalizations finding nothing! I was looking into MS (one of the suggestions of my doctor for the array of alarming symptoms that were sapping the life out of me at an increasing rate), when last night I found Karan’s Korner and thru it your articles. I am a diabetic, once controlled by diet alone, who has now been put on medication since my blood sugar was now regularly high 300’s to low 400’s without it, and relying more heavily on Aspartame than ever. The last time I had used Equal was that morning in my coffee-I had started the day ok-it was a Saturday and I had to drive first thing to the post office to get bills in the mail and didn’t want to miss the mail so I skipped eating-I got sidetracked at a yard sale and didn’t get home to eat for over an hour-things were looking hopeful for that day-maybe I would be strong enough to even go grocery shopping! But then a short time after that breakfast with my coffee that crushing fatigue was back, and I crawled back to bed, defeated. By chance, I had used no other products with NutraSweet that day-I had been drinking water and eating fruit and cottage cheese. I got to the site around 8:30pm on Saturday and decided to take the NO ASPARTAME TEST. It is now 9:30am Sunday morning and I have been flushing myself with water and at this time feel just fine! I slept well with no “restless legs”, my mind is clear, I have energy, am breathing without effort, and for the first time in a year have HOPE!I will let you know my progress as I continue this test.  HDAVI22127@aol.com

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It is now 9:53pm EST and it has been almost a whole week without aspartame and the results so far are astounding! I had been taking 20mg Zestril daily since December of last year because my blood pressure was so high my doctor feared I would have a stroke, 30mg Actos and 20mg (sometimes more) Glucophage daily for my blood sugar which had been successfully controlled with diet for two years, and 20mg vioxx for pain. I have not had a pain pill for 4 days now, and have not had blood pressure or diabetic meds for 5. Today my BP is 120/80, and my blood sugar is not only under control, but as a test I have been eating foods that even BEFORE it went totally out of control I wouldn’t have been able to eat! I have used generous amounts of REAL sugar in drinks, ice cream, pastries (not small amounts, but a PLATEFUL at one sitting) crackers, cereals, etc. I don’t intend to continue to eat this way, but I have a scheduled appointment with my GP on Tuesday and I really want to show him what has happened in just one week! My vision has started to clear up the past two days also. Two weeks ago it took me all my effort to walk around my block 3 1/2 times at a crawl. Today I went to a local park with my dog and walked the trails, hills and all, for almost TWO HOURS. On Wednesday I attended an exercise class in water at a local pool that had been approved by my doctor since I was too weak for regular exercise. I had previously had to ask them if I could use the ground-level entrance for the handicapped since the regular entrance involved going into the basement level where the lockers are located and back up to the pool, then reversed to get out. This time I used the regular, and after the class I had just finished taking the flight of stairs up and as I stepped out of the stairwell the person who had been in the office when I had asked for permission saw me- she was amazed that I was the SAME PERSON she had seen just a week before (and I mean jaw-dropping amazed). My father is coming back to live with me Saturday, almost two months after the county social workers came in and declared that I was unfit to take care of him because of my health and that it would be dangerous to allow him to remain here. If I had not found a link to your website while looking into MS I probably would have spent the rest of a short, miserable life sinking deeper into my nightmare, unable to get out until I finally just died. Thank you all for giving me back my life AND my father! I will continue to post progress reports to your site. HDavi22127@aol.com

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A day late with my progress report, but I’ve got bronchitis and have been taking it easy. Well, it’s two weeks aspartame-free and I’m still doing great-no return of symptoms! Have great news about my Dad and my Uncle Warren and aspartame. Early this year my Dad was diagnosed as being in the early stages of senile dementia. He had gotten progressively worse, and about 4 months ago began hallucinating-all night long he would curse and yell at people who were not there, he would imagine things that were not real (he told me to go out front and see the new Mercedes Benz he had bought for me with the money the government had called him on the phone and told him he had won in a special lottery and that they had certified him as the richest man in the world! He absolutely could not be convinced otherwise, even when he saw the car was not there), he had to be watched constantly or he would wander off-even drive! When I found out about aspartame I got him off it and now 2 weeks later he sleeps all night, no longer hallucinates or imagines things! He still has short-term memory loss, but since he is a dialysis patient he clears poisons and drugs from his system much slower than normal. I can hope for improvement for his memory with time. Since he is diabetic I had been plying him with all sorts of aspartame sweetened treats – Jell-O, pudding, ice cream and ice pops, Jelly, etc. thinking I was improving the quality of his life. Now, as to Uncle Warren, who was diagnosed as a diabetic about a year ago: I passed on all my sugar-free supermarket “finds” to my aunt who bought them for him-she told me how he gorged himself on aspartame filled cookies and ice cream especially. Well, he had been experiencing outbursts of rage, loss of balance, weird feelings in his head, high blood sugar levels, etc., and since she took him off 1 1/2 weeks ago, he is just fine now! My husband and I have been spreading the word to everyone! Thank God for this website and others like it. I saw my doctor Tuesday and he was utterly delighted with my BP, Glucose level and physical condition and approved me going off my meds. He has asked me for info printouts. There are probably other patients of his (especially diabetics and dementia or Alzheimer’s patients) who may benefit from this. I will be back next week with another report (maybe on time this time). Good luck to all of you-you have nothing to lose by trying the test and your whole life to gain! HDavi22127@aol.com

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Hi! So far have lost 17 lbs. since stopping NutraSweet! Dieted for years and only got heavier! Now, seems like it just drops off. Have been detoxing to get the poison out of my system using raw vegetable and fruit juices, and the herbal teas Lapacho and yerba-mate’. I also use the non-caloric NATURAL sweetener stevia. It’s been scary at times since when I do detox, the liver dumps stored toxins out and I get a lot of the symptoms I had originally-weakness and fatigue with blurring of vision. The difference now is, when I stop the detox, the symptoms stop! AND, the symptoms are getting milder so I must be close to being cleaned out. Today, I only had some mild blurring of vision. Finally ordered my hard drive from Gateway, so I should be back in business soon and be able to get back online whenever I want! Good luck everybody! HDavi22127@aol.com

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I was introduced to aspartame before it hit the market. One of my clients was a scientist who helped develop the product and in the beginning at least he was not aware of the problems it could cause. When cyclamates were removed from the market we were all at a loss for a replacement sweetener that tasted good. Aspartame seemed to be the solution. Of course I immediately started using NutraSweet. After about 15 years a chiropractor gave me a page with possible side effects … I was stunned that this one product might be the cause of my declining health. I had been to various doctors who did thousands of dollars in testing but could find nothing wrong. I immediately gave up the product and went back to plain old sugar … it is 6 years later … for the most part my headaches are gone … the joint aches are better but my sciatic nerve is inflamed and the only thing the neurologist can come up with is possible exposure to some toxin in the environment. That was quite an innovative diagnosis I thought since most doctors have to have a physical reason or none. The outcome was I have to just live with it … so I do. Hopefully with time this will wear out or off. In the meantime all any of us can do is spread the word and hope others will listen … the consumer is the only one who will eventually put a stop by refusing to purchase the product. Aspartame is too big a business for it to be willingly given up and the powers that be certainly are not going to cut off their money kickback supply to stop it … and the public trusts that the government would not allow a harmful product to be produced and sold to the public. It is an uphill battle but one that needs to be fought. Linda, http://www.kats-korner.com

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I had intense dizzy spells for about three years about 8 times a year. An all-day-long, stay-in-bed, and don’t-move-at-all kind of dizzy. It seemed to have originated in my ears, because if I kept my head still, I could sometimes manage. During the same time period, I suffered frequent migraines, sometimes several in one week. I had many tests done, including hearing tests, vision tests, and MRI, and nothing was found to be wrong. My diagnosis was “benign positional vertigo.” I took heavy antihistamines for some relief from the vertigo, and I also had migraine medication. My family doctor and my neurologist both mentioned that I should maybe lay-off the caffeine and the aspartame. Within 3 months of throwing away all packets of NutraSweet, and all diet food containing it, my symptoms went away, and I haven’t had migraines or dizzy spells since. (I did not stop using caffeine; I never had more than one caffeinated drink per day anyway.) I was free of symptoms for over 3 years, until a few weeks ago, when I ate 1/2 cup of yogurt before I realized it contained aspartame, and experienced slight dizziness that evening. I wish there were tests that could be done for aspartame poisoning, because I’m sure that’s what my problem was. lisasylvia@cox.rr.com

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Hi! Finally got my hard drive replaced! Well, still aspartame free and loving it! I am now 35lbs lighter than when I first quit at the end of October. I am slowly but steadily regaining my health and strength. I still have memory problems-I am very forgetful, especially when I’m tired. I have to be very careful to stop for frequent rests when I am working around the house-I have to pace myself. I still stagger a bit and bump into things and lose my balance, especially when I’m tired- but I have a near-normal life now! I eat right, take supplements and exercise, and I believe that with time I may fully recover from all the neurological damage that #@*%&! did to me. Take hope and take the Aspartame challenge! And YES you CAN GET THAT %#&$@! OUT OF YOUR SYSTEM! I felt like hell for months when I was detoxing, but the symptoms gradually got less and less until they were gone, and now I am healing! HDavi22127@aol.com

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It a tragedy this has been allowed to happen. I am Type 2 diabetic and have switched to stevia. I already feel better after 2 weeks. I did have leg and joint pains and breathing problems. I’ll keep in touch. robmilt@hotmail.com

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Thanks for bringing this information to the general public. I became aware of the dangers of aspartame 3 weeks ago and have removed it from my diet since then. I have noticed diminished headaches and feeling of being drunk. I still have slurring speech patterns and hopefully that will diminish and disappear as well. Keep up the good work!!! pro45066@yahoo.com

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Please take the diet soda or anything with aspartame in it off the market because it me unbearable around people at work. Since I quit the diet soda people sure can tell the differences in me & I hated the way I was so I quit the diet soda. Think god for my friend MRS DOULIN WHEN SHE SENT ME THE EMAIL about the aspartame that’s when I stop drinking it & I throw away my other stuff with aspartame in it they sure can tell the difference in my behavior at work because I was having panic attacks at work which I didn’t realize that I was having them & I wasn’t getting along with people. SHELLYANDDOUGIE01@msn.com

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In 1998, I decided I needed to lose some weight. I knew that aspartame caused me to have cramping and abdominal pain, but thought perhaps I could put up with that for the sake of weight loss. Well, after two weeks on aspartame, I was hospitalized for internal hemorrhaging intestinally. I had lost 4 pints of blood in an hour and a half. Fortunately, the bleeding stopped spontaneously. Tests showed no reason for me to have had the bleeding. I never had any trouble before that time, and I have never had any since. BUT I DO NOT USE ASPARTAME ANYMORE! hipshothanna@hotmail.com

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I began drinking diet drinks when I was about 15 years old. At the age of 30, I was put on insulin for diabetes. When I was 43, I began to have bouts with unexplained diarrhea. By eliminating things from my diet, I eventually discovered that the diarrhea was caused by my consumption of diet soft drinks, so I limited my consumption of this to one glass per day. Then about 10 days ago, my sister sent me a pamphlet on the side effects of aspartame. Since then I have totally eliminated aspartame consumption and have not had any more diarrhea. Other symptoms of aspartame poisoning that I had was an unbearable ringing in my ears, swelling of my feet, legs, and ankles, numbness in my feet, and shooting pains in my legs. Since I quit using aspartame: the ringing in my ears has decreased, the swelling in my feet and legs are somewhat better, as is the numbness in my feet, ankles, and legs. I haven’t had any more shooting pains in my legs and I haven’t had diarrhea since I totally stopped my aspartame consumption. According to the pamphlet that I was sent, aspartame is slowly embalming you while you are still living. I have started drinking water with lemon juice in it and I use Stevia in my coffee and tea. The Stevia seems to lower my blood sugar levels and it is a natural product. Thank you for informing the unsuspecting public, the FDA certainly didn’t try to protect us. marthamc@cox.net

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When my daughter was about 2 years old we started giving her soft drinks other than water or milk. We chose sugar free ones to protect her teeth. At the same time we noticed severe behavioral changes in her and on a trial and error basis we realized that the sugar free drinks, containing aspartame were the problem. Within minutes of her having aspartame she would be breaking anything in sight and attacking anyone within her reach. Needless to say from that day aspartame has been banned from our house. It is very sad that so many people are unwilling to listen and cut it from their diet; I’ve been telling people about our experience over the last 6 years! Hopefully now I’ve found this website people will listen to me. Thanks. louise8hop@yahoo.co.uk

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I was a diet Pepsi drinker for 10-15 years. I recently went to the doctor for severe migraine headaches. I would wake up every day with a headache and go to bed the same way. There were some nights I could not even sleep from the pain. I stopped drinking diet Pepsi 4 weeks ago and I have not had a headache since! cherrera@klehr.com

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I have two stories to tell. When my son was 12, about 17 years ago, he started having seizures, and was diagnosed with epilepsy. An aunt of mine sent me an article from the N.E. journal of medicine put out by Harvard Medical School. They were trying to get aspartame off the market because of all the hazardous effects it had. Even though he was now on anti-seizure medication, he still continued to have seizures. I immediately stopped everything he was taking that had NutraSweet in it…which was quite a lot of things….and in time his seizures completely stopped, and he is now seizure free.

However, I continued with my diet sodas, because I didn’t want to gain weight. After several more years, I was having headaches and chest pains. I was put on a stress test and found there were problems, so they scheduled advanced tests. On the way to the hospital, I blanked out and totaled my car. Thank God no one else was involved. Anyway, I underwent extensive heart and brain tests, which all proved positive.

My husband then decided that perhaps it was the diet soda I was still consuming, so we threw out everything that contained aspartame. Several months later, when I went back for tests to see how things were, everything was normal. I tried to explain to my doctor about the aspartame, but they really don’t listen to that sort of thing. At any rate, I have been fine now for more than a dozen years, and I tell everyone I know about the dangers of aspartame. Sometimes it is just a small effect that we are not conscious of, but in time it will continue to grow to be a severe problem. Tell everyone you know about the dangers of aspartame. If they don’t want to consume sugar, there are other artificial sweeteners on the market that will serve their purpose. Mimi6332@aol.com

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My husband has had pulling all inside of his body, for 10yrs. He had not sleep for years all-night.

We have been to many Doctors, which they never found anything wrong with him. They gave him drugs to make maybe sleep at night, most of the time they didn’t work. Because when he relaxed, the pulling started all over again. He described it to me as your whole inside was coming apart.

He became so bad I had to take him to the emergency room to get a knockout shot. Poor man was so tired. Then I found on the internet, the aspartame poisoning. I said to him, what do we have to loose, let’s do without Equal in your coffee, or chewing gum for a night. My God he sleep all-night. On the eight day, he did have withdraws bad. He now again is sleeping just fine.

It’s so hard to believe that something like that can do so much damage. Whatever we can do to help, we will help on anything, to get the news out to people. We are starting to get Dr’s records to send to Nancy Martini. Jim and I thank you for everything.  Write to us when needed. We will help you. Sincerely Barbara and Jim Cassello, jcassello@austin.rr.com

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I am 24 years old and was suicidal for 4 months because I had nearly all the physical and mental problems caused by ASPARTAME. I thought I was going mad or was possessed. By chance I gave up fizzy drinks in particular diet coke and orange squash which had it in and I was miraculously cured literally overnight. My landlord also had the same problem because he drank diet coke. Every day I am coming across more and more people who are being affected by this one way or another and am becoming tired of telling them. Why should I be clearing up after the government!! LET’S GET TOGETHER AND TAKE THESE BASTARDS TO COURT!!!  What I went through was worse than death and I will not let them get away with it. hotmuffin@hotmuffin.fsnet.co.uk

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I just wanted to pass along my thanks for putting this information out. In May 1998 someone handed me a one-page flier containing just the tip of the iceberg about the effects of Aspartame. At that time, Diet Coke was my drink of choice. If I were thirsty, it’s what I reached for, and had been for at least 10 years. During those years, I developed severe migraine headaches, which were literally debilitating. I was on preventative medication, as well as symptomatic medication, which included self injections and pills, and suffered from about 4-5 headaches a month. I quit drinking and/or eating anything containing Aspartame after reading the devastation it causes in May of 1998. After about 3 months (which was probably the detoxification period) my migraines began to slowly, but surely, dissipate. I have been Aspartame free for five years now, and my migraine headaches have diminished from 4 or 5 a month to about 2 or 3 A YEAR! What’s more is that none of them require a trip to the emergency room, which was a frequent occurrence in the past. Thanks, again! I truly believe that the information you provide saved me from years of suffering. andreariggleman@aol.com

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I was a Diet Pepsi drinker for many years. Fortunately, I did not suffer any damage other than headaches. I no longer consume aspartame at all and do not allow any family members to do so. It is nothing but criminal that such a substance is allowed to be put into our food supply, all in the name of money. Please continue to do all in your power to get this poison out of our food supply. I will be contacting my Congressman and Senator regarding this matter. My sincere sympathy to those who have suffered needless harm from this poison. pwellborn1@msn.com

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Aspartame is seriously dangerous! It is in so many things! Even gum that contains sugar also contains aspartame! I thought that Double Mint was okay but then I found out it contained aspartame as well. Any time I have a little bit of it I get severe Headaches!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! scooby9301@yahoo.com

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I am on day twenty-two of my 60-day no aspartame diet and I have lost five pounds! I have no more headaches or backaches. My school is doing research and it is a lot of fun. We are doing aspartame for everything. My biology teacher and I are telling everyone about it and we also bought 10 bumper stickers. We are doing our best to spread the word. It is true for every 92 symptoms. We even know someone who was diagnosed with MS and was undiagnosed with it after she stopped drinking diet coke. stwo22twoa@aol.com

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I quit using aspartame, completely, my vision is back to the point I do not have to wear glasses, and my energy level has sky rocketed. My husband stopped using it also, and his tendonitis has disappeared. bzinkc@yahoo.com

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At one point I was drinking about 5 caffeine-free diet cokes a day, and I began having sporadic few-second blackout/disorientation episodes. These started not long after I had started drinking diet coke, and when I stopped drinking them, the episodes disappeared entirely. I won’t blame every ache and pain on aspartame but that symptom which I never had before nor since had a perfect correlation with the timeframe I drank diet coke. kandtschmidt@optonline.net

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Since cutting out aspartame my daily migraines have ceased. What really annoys me is that people are putting it in innocent looking mineral water. fiettkau@hotmail.com 

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Never drink diet anything ever.  I was out of my mind for two weeks detoxing from this crap, I would beg people not to ever mess with diet anything it really is poison. I am a gym person and pretty healthy, I train and run etc.  I started on diet cokes to save on calories I don’t know why but soon I was drinking 10 per day plus sugar free syrup plus phenylalanine weight lifting supplements plus other hidden crap. Had no idea why I started freaking on work and anxiety severe , vision loss, tired, headaches, well now it’s only been 10 days how long till it’s over, I hate feeling this shitty. mantip226@yahoo.com

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I exhibit MS symptoms every now and again and went through the whole MRI scan and neurology thing. When I discovered the connection between NutraSweet and this I cut artificial sweeteners out of my life completely. My symptoms subsided dramatically but never completely. Once in a while I let my guard down and something gets into my routine and I feel weird again and then I realize that it contains aspartame of some other derivative.

Most recently I have found that barbeque and prawn cocktail flavored crisps have it in, who would’ve guessed that. skunx999@hotmail.com

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Your site is right on. I have been misdiagnosed for over 15 years and it had gotten really bad in the past three years. I quit aspartame products a week ago and already feel much better. The pain and burning/tingling in my feet and hands is going away. The foggy thinking is better. I’m still quite fatigued though and hope that improves soon. What a blessing.  Such a simple answer to a problem that was destroying my life. This product should be BANNED. zestytx@aol.com

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I have been a victim of aspartame poisoning for several years and only realized it very recently. I have been suffering from extreme chronic fatigue and high blood pressure, weight gain, depression, numbness of hands & feet, joint pain, headaches, insomnia, etc. I started ingesting Aspartame a little over 4 years ago when I began the Atkins diet and have continued consuming at least a six pack of some type of diet drink per day. I have been on “umpteen” medications for depression (& most recently for high blood pressure) for 4 years with absolutely no relief, often with a worsening of symptoms. Doctor after doctor keeps insisting that I am just depressed and need to try this or that medication. I have always known that was not the answer, but did not know where to turn. Finally two weeks ago someone enlightened me to the horrors of aspartame poisoning. Given the amount that I have ingested on a daily basis for the last 4 years, my health issues finally make sense. I immediately stopped all aspartame intakes that I have been able to detect and while the recovery is slow to happen, I can very gladly say that after having diarrhea for the last four years, it is finally cleared up. Now if I can just get rid of the rest of the miserable effects!!  GuzziRiders@aol.com

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I have had constant diarrhea for the past 10 yrs and the doctors, after many test found nothing wrong. I stopped taking Equal and am cured, ( had no lifestyle before). tashitashi@xtra.co.nz

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I also was a victim of aspartame. I was gulping down Crystal Lite while dieting for years. I became ill, with headaches, body aches, depression, memory loss, etc. One day while surfing the internet I stumbled across an article on Aspartame. I discontinued using aspartame and although I began to feel better it left a lasting impact. I now have a damaged kidney and liver. Don’t put this poison in your body! suzette33@alltel.net

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I was a victim! I loved COKE! For years I would drink three to five sodas per day. When I began to gain weight I switched to diet cola, which at that time was not sweetened with aspartame. I didn’t care for the taste, but it didn’t bother me physically, and I ignored the warnings that the sweetener at that time was known to cause cancer. I was skeptical like many, and I did not necessarily believe it would hurt me. I drank diet pop coke for several years before they switched to aspartame. I didn’t even pay attention to when they switched, never had a reason to care. Sometime around the years 82-83, I began symptoms that progressively became worse.

The best I can describe my symptoms is that they appeared to be affecting the secretions in my body. I went to my doctor to have tests run, and he said I was fine. He could not find a yeast infection or any problem that could cause my continuous and extreme vaginal itch. He found no reason for my headaches, and itchy dry skin. He asked me if I had a change in diet, and I said NO! I was eating and drinking the same things I had for years. I never once suspected Diet coke during this time.

Symptoms persisted and became worse. My eyes watered with a thick film, My vision was becoming impaired, and I was afraid I was losing my sight. I went to an ophthalmologist who said my eyes were fine! My ears filled with wax and tingled constantly. A repeat visit to my doctor showed nothing wrong. He suspects an allergy or stress. He knows I am not one to complain.

I went to a gynecologist because the vaginal itching and discharge seem to be increasing, intercourse became painful. He could find nothing wrong with me. No infection, NOTHING! My abdominal and stomach area soon became so painful that I was forced to walk slowly. I couldn’t jump, run, or sit in a chair without pain. Every trip to the doctor indicated nothing wrong. My husband began to wonder if I was becoming what they called a hypochondriac. But, I am in pain, this is real! If this is an allergy, I need to find out what it is.

Months past, and I don’t believe I would have ever figured it out, without the help of two girls I worked with. I overheard one girl talking about having a symptom of extreme vaginal itching so bad that she couldn’t wear jeans anymore, and she only wore skirts.

I talked with her and found out that her doctors could not find any-thing wrong with her either. She did not have all my symptoms, but we were sure we were on to a mutually shared allergy.

A few weeks went by and we casually shared with another co-worker our symptoms and our futile attempt to find out what the allergy could be. After hearing our symptoms of extreme vaginal itching, she too remembered having it on occasions, and so bad that she would scratch until she bled. She said it was not constant like ours, but intense. and that if it ever happened again she would report to us the food she had taken in prior to it. Weeks later she came to us and reported she had the symptoms again. One night, she had a usual meal at a restaurant, and at home she had a glass of Crystal Light lemon drink in the afternoon, and that evening the extreme itching occurred. She tried it again a week later and it did the same thing. When we compared notes we found out that: She never drank soda pop of any kind and only recently purchased the can of Crystal Light; drinking it occasionally.

Our other co-worker was a soda queen like me, only worse; she said she drank five to ten diet sodas a day. WE DID NOT WANT TO BELIEVE IT WAS OUR DIET DRINK! But in our desperation to find out what was wrong with us, we gave up our diet drink for 2 weeks. In two weeks my itching decreased, My friends hadn’t decreased of any significance. She was skeptical. We stayed off of it for two more weeks. My vaginal itch was only faint. It was enough to convince me that I’d found the culprit of my allergy. I had questions that needed to be answered. We were not the only ones at work, who drank diet pop, and some drank as much or more than me, yet they did not have negative symptoms. My question is: Would they become ill, from drinking aspartame sodas, without having physically negative symptoms?

I went to my doctor who told me that our bodies are made up of chemicals, our foods are chemicals, and that aspartame is a chemical, even if it is a natural sweetener. He explained that the chemicals in my body are different from many others, as well as being similar to some. He said chemicals have reactions to other chemicals, and because aspartame affects my body physically, others may not have the same symptoms. He couldn’t tell me if they were in danger.

My life changed for the good after that. I eventually returned to my old healthy self. It took a year for my vision to return to normal. The itchy watery eyes cleared in four to five months. It took a year for my ears to stop tingling. The ear secretions ended in four to five months. It took a full two years before I could run or jog again, without pain in my abdomen. I’ll never forget what I’ve been through, and I’m thankful that I was one of the lucky ones who found out soon enough, before becoming irreversibly ill. Noone seemed to know about aspartame problems back then, and It was several years later that I noticed aspartame free ads for diet foods. It’s been 20 years since it’s been found that aspartame is bad for you, and many doctors know its bad for you, through their patients. Those of us who had early warnings through symptoms are the lucky ones. It’s the ones without symptoms that worry me. They will find out too late, if they don’t stop ingesting aspartame. Yes, it saddens me to know that after 20 years, this aspartame is still on the market. Good Luck on your endeavor! You have my support! Lori7nty7@wmconnect.com

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After several years of significant aspartame consumption (via Diet Cola), worsening depression and significant weight gain, I had my first and only major seizure the day before my 25th birthday. An EEG the next day showed clear signs of epilepsy. After doing my own research, I realized my soda consumption might have contributed to the seizure. I stopped drinking it and made NO OTHER lifestyle changes. Several months later, I had another EEG done, and displayed NO TRACE of epilepsy. We are poisoning ourselves with FDA approval! Tell your friends! tempegradgirl@yahoo.com

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I have a lot of these symptoms and once I stopped drinking the diet colas a lot of my symptoms went away. My question is I eat a lot of sugar free cookies but i am not sure about the ingredients I always look to see if aspartame is in it but what about like maltitol I just don’t know about other artificial sweeteners. Thanks. ftabor72@yahoo.com

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I have been through some much in the last 9 months with all of my symptoms. They have been dizziness (to the extreme I couldn’t walk for days), severe headaches, my toes & hands numb. My doctors were preparing me for MS when someone told me about all the diet coke I drink. I cut back on my diet coke and my symptoms have slowly gone away. lizcashion@yahoo.com

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I remember when aspartame first came out, I was in High School. It was “supposed” to be safer and better tasting, than saccharine. It seemed to be in everything. At one point I got very ill, but no one knew what caused my illness. When I got well I resumed my normal eating habits and promptly got ill again. It was a chance discussion with my science teacher that led to an experiment. I changed what I ate. To this day I cannot ingest ANYTHING that contains aspartame without becoming very ill. My body remembers that chemical (aka poison). lil_macs_mom@hotmail.com

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Was told I was “allergic” to aspartame after a year or so of blacking out events. Stopped all use 15 years ago, and am fine. qrmaier@yahoo.com

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I used to drink diet drinks because sugar was “so bad”. In 2000 my Mother died of brain cancer. I took a second look at aspartame. After getting off of it completely, all of my body aches went away. I did a test, drank it for 3 days. They all came back. I am now off of it for life. In order to KEEP my life! ASPARTAME DOES KILL. I am convinced if everyone with any kind of physical problem would discontinue aspartame, it would improve. Especially joint pain. People hobble to the checkout with their cases of diet drinks and wonder why they can’t move! Check the label of anything that says SUGAR FREE. sheilasbiz@hotmail.com

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I’ve been a major “diet-Coke-aholic” for more than 30 years, often drinking 10 to 12 cans or more of diet Coke a day. My health has steadily declined over the last several years. My tendons, bones, and joints seemed to be deteriorating for no reason. I’ve suffered increasing chronic body pain. It has become more and more difficult for me to concentrate on anything for more than a few minutes at a time. In the last 10 years, I’ve had surgery 12 times: 3 neck surgeries, 6 wrist surgeries, one thumb surgery, one knee surgery, and one ankle surgery.

When facing yet another ankle surgery, one of my doctors asked if I drank diet colas. When I said “yes,” he advised me to stop drinking them for 6 weeks to see if my ankle pain got better. It not only got better, but so did a whole host of other symptoms! That’s when I started doing research on aspartame. I’ve been aspartame-free for 6 months now. My elbows and wrists no longer hurt. My knees, ankles, and feet hurt far less. For the first time in years, I’m not running a low-grade fever. I can sleep the whole night through without a sleeping pill. My energy level has gone up. My weight is going down. My fingernails are no longer splitting and peeling back in layers. My hair is growing like wildfire. I could go on and on. How could our government get away with foisting this poison on us and let us be slowly killing ourselves all this time, all in the name of profit? I am absolutely outraged! betty@cyberjunkie.com

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Couldn’t sleep due to severe itching & scratching till I bled, also bled under the skin. Went to 6 Doctors, had many tests, said it wasn’t cancer or Lupus, thought it could be nerves. Happened to read about the 60 day Aspartame free test and decided to try it. I was a heavy user of aspartame. It’s been just over 2 weeks and I can hardly believe it, I am sleeping without being waked up with itching. It’s a miracle. My newest Dermatologist was interested when I told him about the test, he told me to keep a record for when I come next time.

I think Aspartame is addictive; I started using it because my husband was diabetic and he used it. I even sprinkled it on my toast, in my salad and other vegetables, 2 envelopes in 1 cup of coffee, and diet Soda. I should have realized when people kidded me about it. Chario8@aol.com

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I’ve been a diabetic for over 20 years and drank more than my share of Diet Coke. Recently however I switched to Diet Rite products (no aspartame) and noticed a dramatic improvement in my blood sugar levels. I’m actually taking less insulin! edrothacker@sbcglobal.net

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Drinking Diet Cokes, sweetening coffee and cereal with Aspertame caused extreme joint pain in all parts of my body. Use of hands was limited and very painful. Sometimes hands would spasm. I got off Aspertame and it took over a month for the symptoms to stop. Now there is no pain or spasms at all in joints and hands. It is amazing! Like night and day! Caseyh44@hotmail.com

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I have suffered from aspartame poisoning for more than a year now. Thank goodness I found Dr. Janet Hull’s site. She and I share the mincing of Graves’ Disease. I couldn’t walk, I felt that I was cooking inside I was so hot, and so many other symptoms I could write a book. No doctor could diagnosis me and when I stopped taking aspartame my symptoms began to disappear!! This is true and you can read “Sweet Poison” for more information.

Please do not use Equal or Diet Coke. Read labels for this food additive. Protect your children from this poison and especially those that may be overweight. Good luck. nfn02191@naples.net

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I worked at Nutrasweet plant in Augusta, GA from 1984-89. They let me go because I developed Seizure Disorder, and said I had become a liability to them. I got seriously ill and it’s effects of toxicity have pervased my life. I do not have Grand Mal Seizures any more, however mental disorders continue. I’ve been on disability since 1997.

I’m now 47 yrs old. The sickness in my mind and body caused by Nutrasweet has cost me a lifetime of misery and suffering. Currently I’m going to a Electro Acupuncturist twice weekly to help me with muscular disorders. I would like information on any class action lawsuits against Nutrasweet, as I would like to join as well. I went to the V.A.Medical Center in the Bronx, N.Y. and participated in a double blind test study in January 1990.

I have the Doctors name in my files. They failed to locate the test data after the release date for information dissimination. I have a video tape of me having a seizure in the Epileptic Unit at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, GA. The seizure occurred after consumption of several diet Sprites. I have been ill for a very long time now and wish to do something about it to recover punitive and economic damages from the makers of Nutrasweet. Please help if you can. Thank you, George McMurrain, gdmcmurrain@hotmail.com

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I went through hell posibilely as a result of using substances containing aspartame in the mid seventies and still believe that I suffer from the long term results of its use. robett2@aol.com

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Aspartame is a KILLER !!! I drank it in my coffee for 12 years, 20 packets a day 7 days a week average. Been out of work for almost 2 years now.Was down for 8 months could barely walk. Arthritis, muscle spasms, swelling of hands, feet, knees, hands, wrists and elbows and many other ailments. Been Aspartame free now 15 months symptoms slowly going away. no1butcherman@yahoo.com

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In 1983 I was introduced to Diet Coke and started drinking it immediately. I thought that it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. I was definitely an addict to the product. I drank probably close to a 12 pack a day. Little did I know what was causing my problems.

At night when I would go to bed I had terrible cramps and pains in my feet and legs. At times I would crawl on my hands and knees to get an aspirin or ice to try to stop the cramps. A couple of years back someone sent me a notice about ASPARTAME and it’s causing symptoms like MS. I was very moved by the information and I immedidately quit drinking diet Coke.

Since that time I no longer have leg and feet cramps. I don’t crawl to the refrigerator any longer for help. I am a true believer that ASPARTAME was my problem. I don’t know who sent me that e-mail but I sure would like to thank them for the all the nights sleep that I have received since I have stopped drinking diet Coke. Sewchapman@comcast.net

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I have had personal experience with your subject. I was having extreme fatigue, and I felt like “something was wrong” with me. The doctor thought I might have MS after hearing about my symptoms. An MRI was performed on me, but thank God, it came back normal. To make a long story short, several weeks later my husband heard on talk radio that nutrasweet was like poison, and that I should stop using it. Within a few weeks ALL my symptoms went away. I will never knowingly eat anything with aspartame in it again. bmdj4@msn.com

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I have had severe adverse reactions to aspartame including but not limited to dizziness, vomiting, memory loss, severe migraine headaches and weight gain. I began experiencing these only 10 months after starting to consume diet soda drinks on a regular basis. It became clearly evident as these reactions became more severe, that the cause was aspartame. I worked at a convenience store that served up employees free diet fountain drinks and slushs. I began to notice when I wasn’t at work and I drank no diet drinks that the symptoms would ease off. I was curious and so I went on the internet and found a few articles dissing aspartame. I stopped taking anything with aspartame and all the symptoms cleared up. I know for a fact that it was the aspartame because I replaced diet with regular drinks (I love my cola). I didn’t have any adverse effects when drinking non-diet drinks in the same quantity. Also, whenever I am at a friends and all they have is diet, I will take one, only to suffer later. I decided not to take any more diet pop even if it is the only thing available and just drink water, juice, or coffee/tea. What I can’t understand is why they are still using aspartame when there are so many complaints about it and there are so many alternate and perhaps safer diet sweeteners on the market now (like DiabetiSweet, Erythritol, SPLENDA, and Stevia Sugar)? Some don’t even have the aftertaste associated with Aspartame. The reason is that it is cheaper, so it all boils down to company profit at the expence of consumer’s health.

Another story is that of my grandson. Any cough syrup or drink sweetened with aspartame makes him gag and vomit. Makes you wonder about what this additive is really doing to our children. Why are there so many kids now with A.D.D. and other learning disabilities, more than ever before? “You are what you eat”, that old saying really makes me wonder if the food industry hasn’t been slowly poisoning our children over the years with all their untested food additives. Scary thought.

I sent this info to several companies who were using Aspartame at the time (7 years ago now). They either didn’t respond or sent some form letter pointing me to a website that was pro-aspartame. Back then, the pro sites outnumbered the cons, and they were usually on the top of the search engine list. Now I am glad to see that the reverse is true, and that there are allot more con sites. Perhaps one day the companies that use Aspartame and other questionable food additives (like M.S.G.) will take heed and actually do the right thing for their customers and stop using these dangerous food additives. Some companies now even point out that their products are “Aspartame free”, so I guess there are responsible companies out there that are taking heed to all the negative publicity.

I notice there are those who are responding negatively, and say that Aspartame hasn’t affected them. I guess that is all well and good and if they want to continue taking Aspartame it’s their business, but to diss someone just because they have had a bad experience with Aspartame and blatantly ignore overwhelming evidence against the use of this substance is totally childish and irresponsible. You may have not had any ill effect YET from using Aspartame, but that doesn’t mean you won’t. Everyone has different tolerances to different substances. For example, I can put my hands in a corrosive substance and have no ill effect, whereas my wife breaks out in a skin rash. I have thicker skin is all. If I left my hand in long enough, I would eventually experience discomfort. So keep on taking Aspartame and drink a half – gallon of diet pop every day and get back to me in a year or two with YOUR story about the evils of Aspartame (you will definitely have one if your intake is that high). compumedic@interbaun.com

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I discovered I was poisoning myself with Aspartame (Diet Coke) in 1997. At the time I had to be helped to the dinner table, and helped to stand up also. I was misdiagnosed as having Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia, and Depression. My bones quit burning and hurting after the third day of being Aspartame-free. Within a month, I felt like my life was given back to me. The Irritable Bowel Syndrome was also gone.

Please be warned that Wrigley Chewing Gums ALL have Aspartame in them, whether they are diet or not. I contacted the company and asked them why, and they said they could get away with it because they also add sugar to their products along with the Aspartame. All Wrigleys regular products, including Juicy Fruit have Aspartame in them. As do most all chewing gums including Dentyne. Check the label, it is listed. jetti@earthlink.net

 

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When I moved abroad, I obviously changed my eating habits. After 5 years, my skin started itching so madly that sometimes I was bleeding out of too much scratching. I then started a long process of food / soap control, retiring and reintroducing what I thought were the most susceptible to be the problem (peanut butter, tomatoes, washing powder, etc.). I suspected very quickly the diet cola but refused for a long while to admit it (I love my pop so much!!) 🙂

But lately, I stopped cold turkey and the itching is almost gone now. Of course, there are sugar substitute in so many food now that I don’t think it’s possible to completely stop the intake…And I sure am now resigned to itch for the rest of my life…as long as it doesn’t make me turn crazy like before!

I now think sugar substitute is really bad and should not be allowed in the food and drinks. andree.gelinas@gmail.com

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I have been morbidly obese most of my life. When diet colas with aspartame came out, I drank a lot of them. At that time,1986, I had a data entry job with a large corp. Their computer setup required that operators enter a 7 digit password before every transaction. I would have to do this about 100 – 150 times a day, the same 7 digits – fgdc074. Soon I was up to 2 liters of diet coke per day. 2 weeks later, my wife noticed my speech started to slur slightly. She was keen to it because I was a part time lecturer. I also smoked, and she attributed the sluring to that or my high blood pressure meds [I have since quit smoking, aspartame, and I don’t need blood pressure meds]. THEN IT HAPPENED. AUGUST 1986, I FORGOT MY PASSWORD. I had to write it down. Someone at work suggested it was the diet coke. I stopped it. one month later, my memory returned, and my speech stopped its slur. I still smoked, so it was not the smoking. I would not stop smoking for 2 more years. danfcon@yahoo.com

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About a year ago I wrote in that I was taking the 60 day no aspartame challenge after living with epilepsy and headaches for years. I am pleased to report that the challenge worked and the seizure disorder disappeared. Recently, however I began to drink the diet sodas again foolishly. Three months later the seizures came back (being diabetic my choices are limited). I have no choice, however, but to try and cut it completely out of my diet again. I just want to say as a genetic research technician at U of MD I think all the chemists need to remember that genes may play a roll in the way one person vs. another digests aspartame. Realize that not EVERYONE is allergic to shellfish or say poison ivy. Some people in the world are even immune to the AIDS virus. Its all in your genes. Perhaps these odd, multi-symptom neurological reactions to tiny amounts of apsartame are due to different mutations within a gene. Basically we can’t be sure why some people react to small amounts of aspartame while others don’t. But what we should be doing is figuring out why only some people have these reactions. Even if the number is say 1 in 3000 people with aspartame sensitivity (totally made up)…. that would mean about 100,000 Americans and 2 million people worldwide are wandering around consuming products that haven’t been completely proven for safety in the long run. Thats just a guess but still a lot of people. The point is more experiments must be done to figure out what’s really going on here before we can judge this product either way. I can honestly say I believe its affecting me negatively and obviously others feel the same way. Here’s hoping that more money for clinical research on this stuff becomes available…. locajessie13@hotmail.com

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I have been drinking 1 six pack of caffeine free diet pepsi daily, since I gave up alcohol 8 years ago. I suffered sore joints, poor sleeping habits, short temper and impatience, difficulty in concentration, numbness in my hands, plus several other noticable health problems, not to mention elevated blood pressure, high cholesterol, high glucose. After reading the information in www.sweetpoison.com, I stopped the diet soda habit cold 6 weeks ago, and started taking the detox formula recommended by Dr. Hull; all of the above symptoms have gradually diminshed so that I feel I am on the road to recovery. I had no idea that an FDA approved ingredient could be so damaging to ones health. All of the critical blood chemistry readings are now within acceptable ranges, my blood pressure is well within acceptable ranges, and my sleep habits have improved, not to mention that the symptoms of arthritis have diminished. It is very difficult to believe that this is simply a coincidence. While I was a Diet Pepsi consumer, my stamina was limited, and now that I am off the stuff at age 65, it is no longer a strain to play 4 sets of singles tennis in the mid day sun. bcohune@comcast.net

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I used nutrasweet in my tea while at work and developed not only dizziness but also a very mild hallucination – but realized that I wasn’t dizzy on the weekends! I finally stopped using it and regained my “balance”. I also remembered my Father complaining of “disequalibrium” and remembered reading that it was also genetically based; I told all of my relatives about it and we all got better! …loved the taste and ease of use but it’s poison to me now! naptimeatv@msn.com

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I am 41. For nearly 7 months I thought I was dying. Doctors knew nothing. Swollen tendons, lumps in my muscles, intense nerve pain in all my limbs including my back. I got next to no sleep for over a month from the pain. My quality of life was unspeakable. I was warned about aspartame but ignored it. After loosing sleep for a month I decided to read up on it. Within 15 minutes I was at the sink dumping everything with aspartame in it. That was July 1st 05. Today is september 1st. I FEEL GREAT!!! I feel very lucky to have found my poison. I am so much better. I still need to detoxify. I am now very convinced aspartame was the problem. I can walk normal again. The makers MUST be stopped!!! I have helped two friends with very like symptoms. They just quit. altempl@ihpc.net

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Everyone listen! I am 53 years old and have been drinking diet soda like an addict for years. Several years ago my hands started getting very weak – I assumed it was “old age” setting in. Then I started having pain on my side – despite every medical test imaginable – i.e. catscan, MRI, sonar, x’rays, sonograms, heart test … I started getting sicker and sicker. It finally reached the point to were I could no longer walk. I would be up all night, with muscle spasms, shooting pains down my legs and arms. I was lethargic – couldn’t move if my life depended on it. We had to hire full time household help because I couldn’t get out of bed. I was told I had fibromyalgia and not much they could do but give me pain killers and anti-depressants. I finally changed doctors – and walked into the new doctors office with a diet soda! Immediately, she asked me what I had in my cup – when I told her..she said “do you know how dangerous artifical sweetneers are?” Anyhow, it has taken 4 months of detoxing my body with vitamins, minerals, herbs etc, to finally say that my pain in undercontrol. It took about 3 months before I started walking like a normal person again. If my accident I put something in my mouth as I did the other day, a sugar-free cough drop, within 20 minutes I start having pain down my legs and arms. I am not 100% back to my old self – perhaps 80% there. PLEASE LEARN FROM MY EXPERIENCE. I am now hearing all kinds of horror stories from friends of friends! MsSharman@aol.com

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I have been drinking aspartame since I can remember. Recently I had a hives break out on my arms, my legs and my stomach. I went to two medical doctors who diagnosed it as being from the sun, scabies or just a rash that will go away. I asked one of them if drinking a product with aspartame was harmful and he said it wasn’t, he drank about a liter of it a day himself. The hives did not go away, I finally went to my chiropractor. As soon as he saw my skin he said it was my liver…the aspartame was destroying my liver. It has been three weeks now since I have had an aspartame and the hives are gone. I had the worst headache for about three days but a cup of coffee cured that. I wish I had l had listened to all those warnings about aspartame, it’s amazing how much better I feel now. I am trying to spread my knowledge to other “addicts” now. dnat314@yahoo.com

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My son and I have been victims of Aspartame poisoning. I lost my female parts because of what it does to your hormones. I had abdominal cramping like labor, hives, heart palpitations, spaciness, blurred vision, loss of vision, headaches, restless legs, backaches and depression. My son was in the hospital with terrible abdominal pains, vomiting and another time for a headche so bad he crawled to the car–they found nothing wrong any of the times. We finally deducted months later for all of us that it had been the Weight Watchers diet I was on and he had consumed liters of grapefruit jiuce with it in it. He so much as gets a piece of gum and his tongue, face and lips go numb. His girlfriend has popping noises in her head, flashes of light and migraines from one piece of Orbit gum. This is poison and no one will believe us when we say it is poison–they say it doesn’t affect them. Believe me after a few years of consumption they will have a very rude awakening. Between this and mass immunization I think our government is trying to control the birth rate in the USA.–Pitiful… pattyhatfeild@verizon.net

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I’m a 34 year old male and recently started a diet. I cut out all fatty foods and switched to Sweetener and Diet Coke as well as low-fat options. Within weeks I was trembling, twitching and suffering memory loss. I thought I was beginning to suffer a neurological disorder and went to see a doctor. After I heard about Aspartame I cut it completely out of my diet and within 4 weeks, all symptoms have gone. I am convinced it was Aspartame. I wonder how many people are suffering from this substance and just don’t know why. timhall504@hotmail.com

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I can personally tell you that aspartame is like a poison to me. I was lucky enough to have found out about this many years ago. Shortly after I was married I discovered that some weird episodes I was having were actually a form of seizure (or absence really). After reflection I now realize that I had been having these episodes for a long time, but as they generally occurred in the morning it was not discovered until I got married and my husband witnessed them. At first, I was terrified. I thought I had some sort of mental illness and I would tell no one, not even my family. I did finally tell one friend (who obviously wasn’t) and she made me feel as crazy as I thought I was. I began to get worse and had episodes more frequently and later into the day, so that I was having them at work, etc. I also developed a horrible rash, which almost made me lose my job as the whole entire office was afraid I had some kind of contagious disease. I also almost lost my life as I had an episode while driving and took out a telephone box, someone’s fence and almost ran into a parked car, before I actually got back on the road. I didn’t realize what had happened and went on home. When I got a huge bruise on my leg and my husband looked at our vehicle which was mangled we were so scared we immediately retraced my trip home from work. We found a state trooper writing it up as a hit and run. We told him what happened and as a result I lost my driver’s license. Luckily for me, a distant family relative had a terrible reaction to aspartame as well. She would be catatonic for days at a time. She is fine now that she is off of aspartame. I was dieting heavily and so I decided it couldn’t hurt to cut out the aspartame and see what happened. This was back in approx 1994-1995. Immediately the rash started going away, but it took 90 days for my seizure like symptoms to cease. It was almost like going through a drug withdrawal. The last day I had a seizure I was practically catatonic. I was out of it almost all day. From that day on I have not had one single recurrence of any symptom. I also have not touched aspartame in that time. I have read a few of the comments from people who do not believe that aspartame is dangerous. It does not seem to effect some people, but that does not mean that it is not dangerous to others. I also understand that some would like scientific proof that it is dangerous before they will believe it. And that is their opinion. But you also have to remember that there are lots of diseases that nobody in the world knew about until one person came down with them. I think everyone who has been affected by aspartame would LOVE scientific proof just as much as the skeptics. That doesn’t mean we are stupid for trying to improve our quality of health and life by cutting out aspartame now. My husband, daughter and I all just stay away from aspartame. We also stay away from all artifical sweeteners even though I am not sure if any such as saccharin, splenda, or stevia would affect me. It’s just not worth it to me to test it out. As years have passed, I have come to realize that there were lots of other symptoms I was having that correspond to aspartame use such as nightmares, etc. If aspartame doesn’t affect you than I am very glad. As for those of you who have some permanent illness from aspartame I couldn’t be sorrier. I just feel extremely blessed that I was able to come out of my situation with no noticeable side effects. I was finally able to get my license back, but only after going to a neurologist and having an MRI which came out clear. The neurologist I went to said he believed my story that the aspartame is what was causing my problems, but unfortunately he said there was no way to test for aspartame sensitivity at this time. So he suggested the MRI as a means to show the state that I did not have epilepsy or some similar type of seizure disorder. Maybe we will never find the exact correlation between aspartame and the health problems people have been having. But if you are having health problems, consider it as an option to just discontinue use of the aspartame. aspartamefree@hotmail.com

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Since cutting this out of my diet – I no longer suffer from migraines (I used to get about 2 or 3 per week). I also don’t want my baby to be exposed to it either – I’m currently pregnant, so I’m glad I cut it out when I did! http://pregnancyandbaby.notlong.com

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I had a seizure at work nearly 2 years ago. Then lots of what they call “auras” until I had another seizure 6 months ago. Then I was told I had epilepsy and put on some horrible medication. I was thoroughly miserable about this. But took my pills, thinking I had no choice.

The auras stopped, the depression increased. Then, at work, in front of several of my bosses at an important meeting, another seizure happened. The medicine wasn’t working. Ii did lots of research and found all this stuff about aspartame. I’ve been on the diet coke for years; and drinking 4 or 5 coffees a day with sweetener. I love yoghurt. And god knows what else. Here’s the answer then eh? I’ve been off the deadly aspartame for 2 months. I feel so much better. I can join in conversations again. My memory is returning. My confidence is coming back. My energy is getting better. The depression is still there, but getting better. I’m still taking the pills, but daren’t really come off them, just in case. My neurologist isn’t convinced. He says it’s not text book. but he’s probably being financed by some drugs company?? Thank god for the people setting all this up. What else can we do to spread the word? Karen

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I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS BEING LIGHT HEADED AND COULDNT BREATHE TRYING TO EXERCISE. I USED A LOT OF ASPERTAME IN MY COFFEE AND DRANK A LOT OF DIET POP WITH ASPERTAME IN IT. I STOPPED USING IT TWO WEEKS AGO AND I CAN NOT BELIEVE HOW MUCH BETTER I FEEL. I GOT DIZZY EVERYTIME I STOOD UP BUT NOW IT HAS SEEMED TO GO AWAY. LRPROUGH@INTERL.NET

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I can personally tell you that ” Aspartame is like a poison to me. I was lucky enough to read ” Rense.com”. I have been off Diet Cokes and all products of “Aspartame”, I Feel 100% better, no headaches, brain fog, or depression. They need to ban this ” POISON”. Thank you for this information. mminard200@yahoo.com

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I have been aspartame free for a month now, and my symptoms of dizzines, anxiety,and back pain have completely disappeared. Thank you for the wonderful work that you do! grooms@wowway.com

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I came down with horrible hives that I suffered with for 9 months. I was given antibiotics, allergy pills, and steroids but nothing helped. After doing some research I cut out all aspartame and have not had a serious outbreak since (5 months now!). Prior I was a diet soda addict, but now I only drink water, juice or tea. I am so glad I learned the truth. kellybrink@hotmail.com

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I am 64 and started diet cokes in the 1980’s. It took until 2005 to finally realize what was causing every symptom I had. No doctor could find anything wrong with me. Chest pains, palpitations, excrutiating leg pain, stomach aches, anxiety, depression just to name a few. After just 3 days of being off this stuff, my symptoms disappeared. admin@woodenpaperdollfactory.com

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I have been having chest pains, confusion, panic, etc. for over a year and a half. I decided to take a break from diet coke, my symptoms slowly subsided. I had a diet coke yesterday after abstaining for the two weeks and an hour after having the drink, I felt horrible. No more diet coke for me. This is very real and very scary. rmc8898@yahoo.com

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Started having muscle spasms and grand mal seizures a year and a half ago when I started using Equal in my coffee instead of Sweet ‘n Low. I’m 46 years old and have never in my life experienced seizures. My last one was on Feb. 13, 2006. After being rushed to the hospital multiple times and seeing my personal physician multiple times, no one could give me a reasonable explanation about what was going on (unless I submitted to numerous, costly tests which I believed would not give me a clear answer). I then started thinking back about what in my lifestyle or diet had changed previous to the first seizure. The only thing I could come up with was changing to Equal. I immediately gave it up. Right now I’ve gone 32 days with no Equal and no seizures. I was having a seizure at least one a month. I realize that it hasn’t been that long yet, but I feel confident that I have at least identified the culprit. I already feel better overall and am not at least experiencing the muscle twitching in my legs that I was feeling prior to a seizure coming on. I just hope that there is no irreversible damage done to my body. harris.sandra@comcast.net

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