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 Arlene (Norfolk, Virginia) on 08/24/2007
I have just read the site relating to various artificial sweetener causes of herpes outbreaks. I was diagnosed over 20 years ago with Genital Herpex; having only one outbreak and only one other very mild outbreak a couple of years later. Since then, nothing. Anyway, I have been a steady and constant user of Splenda since it came out, using 5 packets for each cup of coffee. I don't drink too many sodas but do drink Crystal Lite and consume other products with Splenda. Over the past several years, I have developed this type of constant hack which comes from my throat, not my lungs. Initially my doctor said it was caused by acid reflux and I was given an upper gi to make sure I had no damage to my esophagus which showed no damage. I was told to take Prilosec but that doesn't help much either. Well, a couple of months ago, I switched back to Equal and it seems like my symptons disappeared. I have now stopped using Splenda again and the symptoms have greatly reduced. They are not totally gone, but again, I do consume Yogurt with Splenda and Cystal Lite and also the lite sugar free ice creams. I'm thinking that the Sucralose, which is the only different ingredient than that of Equal may just be the cause. Can anybody relate to this or have had similar symptoms? I'm thinking maybe its some type of lo-grade mild outbreak???
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Posted by Sylvia (Tillsonburg, Ontario Canada) on 08/21/2007
I was suffering unexplainable joint & muscle pain and, at least, 70% of my pain disappeared when I eliminated Aspartame in my diet. I have done great research on Aspartame and it poisons people. All diet products contain Aspartame and it is in over 5000 food and beverage products.
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Posted by Pam (Columbus, MT) on 06/09/2007
To say I was horrified as I read all the info about aspartame on this website is an understatement!! I too was a diet coke drinker for years, anywhere from 2-5 a day. In the spring of 2004, I began experiencing severe pain in my left heel. As it got worse, I got a cortisone shot. The first shot worked great. However, about 5-6 months later when I started hobbling around again (I teach in an elementary school and am constantly on my feet)the second cortisone shot did not work. I used to use castor oil to treat carpal tunnel syndrome acquired during my previous employment. Or was it aspartame poisoning? Anyway, the castor oil worked really well--I massaged the foot every day for over 6 months, and then I read something in our local paper's "Ask the Doctor" column about a woman who had burning and pain in her feet, and she quit drinking diet coke. So did I, and lo and behold my symptoms started disappearing. I made the mistake of drinking a couple of diet sodas with Splenda (after reading all this I see that's not such a great idea either), and while the symptoms haven't been as pronounced, I'm going to quit those too. I still massage my foot about every two weeks or so, and, oddly enough, the pain has moved from my heel to the top of my foot around the ankle area. I'm hoping all this will go away once I've eliminated splenda also. Thanks to everyone who took time to write---what an eye-opener!!
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Posted by Betty (Ferndale, MI) on 06/07/2007
Artificial Sweeteners send blood sugar sky high. I have had diabetes for a few years. I control my diabetes with exercise and diet. In order to find out which things have an effect on my blood sugar, I test my blood often and I have noted that the only time it goes way higher than it should is when I drink diet soda or when I eat anything with artificial sweeteners
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Posted by Dwight (Shawnee, KS) on 05/19/2007
Stopped drinking diet sodas. My symptoms included severe rash, coughing, chest pain, swelling of upper lip and gout like symptoms. My sister had similar issues and advised me to stop drinking diet soda. I stopped and the symptoms went away. I started again and they came back. I am convinced it was the Aspartame.
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Posted by Leslie (Rocky Mount, NC) on 05/17/2007
After reading the information about what aspartame does to the body and how it is in some gum, I was shocked. I like eating Doublemint gum from Wrigley and while I was reading the information I decided to look at the ingredients in it. Sure enough it has aspartame in it. I was wondering why I was feeling sick and having headaches and kept getting sores in my mouth when I would never get them before. I immediately called my daughter and told her we will not eat this gum again and I threw it away. Thank you so much for the information. It has definitely saved my life.
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Posted by Cindy (Scottsdale, AZ) on 05/11/2007
What are the reasons for a "Fatty Liver"? I was recently diagnosed with Fatty infiltration of the liver, and my doctor said " just watch what you eat". There were no suggestions for diet and it didn't answer the question of why my stomach area hurts off and on. I did get some other answers with your web site regarding Splenda and that it can create major problems! Amazing, I have used Splenda or other sweeteners for years and have just come to realize they could be the cause of several of my problems. Stiffness, headaches, fatigue and a rash that at first was diagnosed as being shingles, but then the doctor told me he didn't know what the problem was. Could these sweeteners also contribute to my stomach issues and or "fatty infiltrations"? Thank you for your input.
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Posted by Peggy H. (Chesapeake Va) on 04/06/2016
My web search of high fructose corn syrup says that by an artificial chemical process, the molecules of glucose and fructose become separated. Fructose goes straight to the liver, which causes excess fat production, called lipogenesis. This leads to fatty liver, which leads to diabetes. I have both. The web is a wonderful research tool, but you have to give thought to how you make your information request to get to the best sites. Search deeply. And use your common sense.
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Posted by Roberta (Charlottesville, VA) on 05/09/2007
I had been using splenda as an artificial sweetener I had no idea that it could cause you to break out in a rash until reading it on your site. I broke out in a rash on my elbow, but I never linked it to splenda. But I did use splenda in my tea for about 3 days. It has happened before, on occasion, but when a rash appeared, I thought it came from something else. Thanks! no more splenda!
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Posted by Mack (Williamston, SC) on 05/06/2007
I just received an e-mail from a friend who is a PHD in Nutrition stating that everyone should avoid artificial sweeteners but especially Aspartame. It seem that if aspartame reaches 112 degrees F it converts to formaldehyde. This can easily happen during shipping.
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Posted by Minela (Roswell, GA) on 05/06/2007
I started drinking this energy drink with aspartame, the very next day i got a major throbbing headache and ear infection. One week later i stopped drinking it and it went away.
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Posted by Luke (Madison, USA) on 03/23/2007
I found out that SPLENDA was discovered by accident by a chemist trying to create a PESTICIDE by adding a chlorine to sucralose...
it accidentally got tasted and found to be super sweet... 600 times that of white sugar. It does not get broken down by the body. Also, the small packets of Splenda are 99% sugar!!! that's right diabetics... splenda is not good for you! or ANYONE! look it up on www.mercola.com i wish you all be healthy and happy.
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Posted by Joseph (Fort lauderdale, Florida) on 03/11/2007
Aspartame MSG Sucralose Splenda Nutrasweet : When accidentally taking any of the above sweeteners I experience a cold sweat the taste eliminates in my mouth and a severe headache and sometimes seizures.. I have Lupus and it also flares up rash outbreaks... Hope this information is helpful in one way or the other.
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Posted by Michael (Broadlands, Virginia) on 03/11/2007
For about the last ten years I have had a pinched nerve in my neck. I am 40 and very active (yoga, lift weights, run, etc) It flared up on occasion when I would work out hard and I would injure my shoulder or neck, putting additional pressure on the nerve. About 18 months ago the pain got so severe that I was seriously considering surgery which would have fused some discs in my neck together (among other things). A business associate had mentioned that he had problems with his knees hurting when he drank diet coke, which i drank. As a last resort I quit drinking diet coke and about 4 weeks later the pain in my neck was down to manageable levels again. This lasted about until recently when it flared up again, I had recently started taking a new weightlifting supplement (powder) and upon closer inspection it contained aspartame. I talked to my doctor who had not heard anything about his particular side effect of aspartame, but we theorized that the additive caused small swelling to muscles which impinged my already narrow nerve openings. needles to say, I have cut aspartame back out of my diet.
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Posted by Regina (Harrisville, West Virginia) on 03/05/2007
Is there any way to help alleviate the side effects while quitting aspartame? I quit drinking Diet soda about 4 days ago and it is harder than I imagined it would be. I have had headaches, muscle twitches, anger, depression and just overall been a different person. My husband is a smoker and I think the comparison of side effects from quitting diet soda is just as severe as quitting smoking. Please help if you have any ideas for me. By the way, I have continued my caffeine intake through drinking tea so the side effects are not from the lack of caffeine
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Posted by Chuck (Fitzwilliam, NH) on 03/03/2007
Since I stopped using sugar and started using Splenda I am currently experiencing acid reflux and esophageal spasms. Now, according to further researching on the side effects of aspartame,i.e., Splenda et al, I've discovered that this "low fat" sweetener is highly toxic and will disrupt the nervous system besides the natural functions of the bodies organs. I've found that Splenda is made from wood alcohol and at 86 degrees F turns to formaldehyde during cooking. My remedy seems quite obvious- quit using products that contain aspartame !
