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.