The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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Posted by Ed (Lower Burrell, PA) on 12/23/2007
I had been using 3-6 Equal packets in morning coffee for at a year. At one point I noticed my left arm had a numbing sensation that would not go away. It stayed for weeks. Sometime my arm muscle would twitch as well. It would be months before I finally stopped using the Equal and realized it was the Aspartame poisoning my nervous system.
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Posted by Heny (Bridgeport, CT) on 12/04/2007
Like others, I was lead to believe that Splenda was the answer to sugar substitute. I then started on Equal(which was just as bad) then decided to go back to sugar. I later read somewhere on this site that "Stevia" is a better substitute for sugar--nothing added(google the name and read) I just went to the vitamin shoppe and purchased a box. This stuff is real good. One packet equals to two tsp of sugar.
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Posted by Dorothea Enlow (Killeen, Texas) on 12/02/2007
Splenda had me fooled. I just heard the news that Splenda is not totally just from sugar without the calories. I knew that sucrolose gives me Insomnia but I just didn't want to believe that Splenda does too, so I brushed it off. Well now I know that the cause of my intermittend insomina is also Splenda. This company fooled us good.I will from now on use sugar again, but only half the amount what the recipe calls for.
EC: Sucralose is another name for Splenda!'
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Posted by Nancy (Austin, Texas) on 10/06/2007
I tried the Atkins diet a few years back and would eat 1-2 "snacks" a day sweetened with splenda. My skin on my face got very blotchy, patchy and dry. When I made the connection, I stopped eating the snacks and in a week it cleared up again. I've also noticed that sweetening anything with splenda will give me a headache. Also, whatever sweetener that is in Diet Pepsi makes me stupid. I can't put together sentences or think of the word I want to use after drinking it for a couple of days. I figured this out when I visited my sister and that's what she had to drink around the house. Within a couple of days, I couldn't converse very well and the only difference was the Diet Pepsi. I never use artificial sweeteners anymore.
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Posted by Lisa (Amarillo, TX, USA) on 10/06/2007
does anyone know ANYTHING that cures msg + aspartame headaches?!? Every time I accidentally get some aspartame or msg, I get the worst migraine headaches! of course aspartame is the worst because I cannot think properly because of my brain misfirering messages for about 24 hours after having the least bit of it:-( while I try to stay away from both substances I sometimes manage to get some and I am sorry for pretty much 2 days. PLEASE HELP ME!!
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Posted by Gwenivar (Vidalia, Ga) on 05/21/2011
for those aspartame or splenda headaches, which are like migraines: take dyphenhydramine (benadryl) and a pain killer combined for as long as the symptoms of a headache last. It may take a whole day but the relief is worth it.... Aslo you may feel tired and drained but you will get relief. I have had this problem too and it is the only thing I have found to help. Oh, and I have had to stop using all of the diet sweeteners due to allergies.
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Posted by Sherrie (Oakland, Nebraska) on 10/05/2007
Hi. I believe I am experiencing withdrawals from Splenda. My symptoms are similar to that of hypoglycemia with lightheadedness, headache,weakness, and a "shaky" feeling. This happened after 3 weeks of heavy Splenda using and abrupt stopping when I had no tea to use it in. Just thought I'd let you know that there definitely are withdrawals if one stops using Splenda. Thanks.
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Posted by Heather (Denver, Co) on 05/03/2010
Hi, I stopped using all artificial sweeteners this weekend and have felt shaky & like my blood sugar is too low also for 2 full days. How long did it take you to stabilize and feel normal again? Heather
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Posted by John (Dallas) on 07/10/2016
I may be going through the same thing. Did you guys feel cold and clammy, jumpy, and did you feel tired, with a racing heart? Thanks!
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Posted by Pat (OFallon, Mo) on 10/03/2007
I've been using alot of splenda over the lase few years and having different things to happen to me. I have sores on my arms and neck, Depressed, and RLS. I haven't tried to stop but I have been reading about others who had the same trouble. Do you think this is my problem?
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Posted by Tina Erwin (Whitney, Texas) on 10/01/2007
I have a question maybe someone can help I have been drinking diet soda for the last three years and lately I have been feeling realy tired and sick to my stomach and achy bones and joints heart palputaions and on ocassion dizzy I have been to my doctor he checked me for arthritus and that came back clear and so have several other test we cant figure out what is wrong could it be the diet soda I drink about 3 to 6 a day has anyone else had all of these same symptoms and quite drinking the diet soda and there symptoms go away let me know what you think thank you
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Posted by Kel (St. louis, Missouri) on 09/28/2007
I have suffered from heart palpitations for years and just recently discovered they are triggered by artificail sweetners.
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Posted by Fia (Cartagena, Columbia) on 09/25/2007
Equal caused severe headaches. What is your thought on Stevia? I use it in place of artificial sugars and appear to have no problems. It comes in liquid or powder form and is about 20 times sweeter than sugar. It is also a natural product made from leaves and used extensively in South America.
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Posted by Colleena (Nanticoke, USA) on 09/11/2007
I just recently found a correlation between eating sugar-free ice cream sweetened with splenda and breaking out into hives around and in my mouth.
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Posted by Larry (Chula Vista, CA) on 09/11/2007
A while back, I decided I needed to cut back on sugar and tried to switch to Equal (aspartame). Within a few days I noticed that my nipples (I am a male) became very sore to the touch. Just a slight bump or rubbing against my shirt was really beginning to hurt. After a few weeks, I went to see my doctor, who, being stumped after the ointment didn't work, sent me to an internist. In the course of his diagnosis he asked a lot of questions; one of which was have you changed anything in your diet recently. I told him about the Equal. He asked how much sugar I had been using. When he told me that calories in a tsp. were just 16, he suggested I quit the aspartame and see what happens. Within a week or so, the pain was gone. I thought it was possible that it was coincidental and not really the aspartame to blame, so I started taking it again. The pain returned almost immediately. I quit it again, the pain went away. I waited for several weeks and tried it again (gluton for punishment); the pain returned. Without a shadow of a doubt I can associate that pain in my nipples with the use of aspartame. I don't know what it was doing to me, but it wasn't worth it. I've never gone back. I have been using Splenda (sucralose) for the last several weeks without any ill effects that I've noticed. I especially like that fact that there is no after-taste associated with the Splenda either. I logged onto this site to see if there was anything to worry about with this stuff, but so far, I haven't found anything wrong with it personally.
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Posted by Notfeelingwell77024 (Houston, Tx) on 01/03/2013
I suffered from a reaction to Splenda a couple of years ago after drinking a lot of Crystal Light and stayed away from it until recently. I thought if I used just a little in my coffee it would be ok. Well, it took only a couple days before it sent me into a tailspin that I am still trying to get out of. It's been about 2.5 weeks and I went to urgent care yesterday because I thought my blood pressure was out of wack. It was elevated to 49/85..not severe but it was there. I nearly passed out while driving last week. Had to pull over and breathe. I could barely make it to my car yesterday and thats the reason for the stop at urgent care. The Dr. didn't know what to think and out of no other ideas suggested a CAT scan. Well, I'm trying to detox and he gave a mild BP medicine (diuretic) and see if it stops. But I am experiencing periodic flushes in my head, light headedness, panic attack feelings, sharp throbs in different areas of my head. Last evening my arms, back and legs had shooting pains. I woke up this morning feeling wonderful. Then about an hour ago I drank a small amount of Vitamin Water Zero and began having that flushed feeling again. I don't want to panic, but I also don't want to end up in an ambulance. This is very un-nerving. Don't mess around with the artificial sweetners, they are all bad. Use good old fashioned sugar, just less of it.
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Posted by Linda (Harrisburg, PA) on 09/11/2007
I recently stopped taking Aspartame, and have gone through horrible withdrawal- mood swing, nausea, headaches. I read that increasing your vitamin intake can help to offset the symptoms. I found Fuse drinks, which are labeled as natural, no preservatives, etc. And, they have vitamins in them. Unfortunately, they also have sucralose, which I now know means Splenda. I thought I was having another withdrawl symptom, but after reading here and other places, I know my wheezing/hacking/hard to breath feeling was from the Splenda. Looking back, I realized that it occured shortly after drinking the Fuse drinks. I was beginning to wonder if I hadn't developed asthma. I can't believe that they allow these products into our food, and even out toothpaste!
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Posted by Glen (Valdosta, GA) on 09/09/2007
I heard from a friend that he didn't drink diet soda because of the RLS [Restless Leg Syndrome] he experienced. I realized that when I'm on the road (truck driver) drinking diet sodas I'm fine, but when I get home all I drink is tea with splenda. Within one week I'm experiencing RLS and, as mentioned in one of your posting, herpes outbreak. I think this is pretty conclusive. The word really needs to get out about this.
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Posted by lma (Chicago, Ilinois) on 09/03/2007
When I added an artificial sweetner to my tea while waiting for service on my car, I had no idea a few minutes later I would be gasping for air unable to breath. My throat closed making it difficult to catch a deep breath. The service people called the paramedices who gave me oxygen and took me to a hospital. The doctor examined me and gave me benedryl. I did not receive a diagnosis. Two years later I learned Asparteme most likely caused this problem. The technician who used a computerized biofeedback electrical devise, highlighted that I am sensitive to Asparteme. So much so that my simply placing a packet of this artificial sugar on my thigh, she was able to easily push down my arm. Without the packet on my body, I prevented her from pushing down my arm. A remarkable demonstration that a tiny bit of this substance adversely affects my body. Asparteme is an ingredient in diet soft drinks. I once had a sip of a diet cola which produced a similar reponse - coughing, inability to catch a breath for several minutes, but I didn't make the connection until evaluated by the technician.
