aspartame

I had read that aspartame may mimic or cause MS.  I also recently learned that this was the most difficult substance to get approved.  You can see this on utube.  Anyway, after drinking diet coke for 5 years and getting 5 years of attacks I stopped drinking this and went into remission.  9 years later I was prescribed an oral mouthwash and after taking this mouthwash I had an attack.  Sure enough, I researched the chemicals used in the mouthwash and guess what - aspartame was in it.  Something to think about.

[saveone]

Both neuros I saw asked if I used aspartame.  I don't so I never gave it another thought.

Actually my lung specialist asked the same question....go figure.

[murphy01]

Interesting.  You would be quite surprised though how many products have aspartame in them.  For example, I recently purchased my daughter those Flinstone vitamins and sure enough that **** was in them as well.  Also, 99% of all gum has it in it too.  

[Lulu54]

I have been anti-aspartame ever since my heart attack in Jan ;08.  It is known to cause vasospasms, which is how my HA occured.  I know many women who are heart patients who feel the same way that this stuff is toxic to many of us.
And as MS patients, do we really need anything else to give us spasms?  

so glad you feel better.
Lulu

[LATW]

I have no idea how anyone can stand that stuff.  It is repulsive.
If I want something sweet I go for the real thing!
LA  MS dx'd 2008

[Heather3418]

I chew sugarless gum.  I also comsume Diet Soda's.  I have for decades.  I am a diabetic.  First it was Sorbitol, now Aspartame.  I guess that I am doomed.  I read an article that aspartame does not cause all the problems that people think it does.  I think the article was in Snopes.com

I don't know what to believe in now.  My doctor's all know that I use sugarless products and have never told me to stop using them.

Heather

[murphy01]

Hi Heather
I would not say you were "doomed".  I believe that it is possible that some people might be hypersensitive to this product.  I do realize that many individuals including my own mother are required to use aspartame for diabetes and have had no neurological problems.  I am sorry if you misunderstood my message.

[PastorDan]

NutraSweet in lemon-lime soft drinks was always high on my list of suspect triggers for my 1997 outbreak of classic migraine with aura.  Now the docs keep trying to tell me that all my MS-like symptoms are migraine symptoms.  Maybe that stuff is more insidious than we think.

[saveone]

Because of weight gain i recently bought a sugar substitute. I don't use it in everything just things that need a little sugar.

Is ideal (that the name).  It says it is made from Xylitol, a natural sweetener found in fruits and vegetables., FDA approved and used worldwide for over 40 years.  It also goes on to day our bodies produce Xylitol as part of everyday metabolism.  It is gluten free :o)

It will probably kill me...lol

terry

[JonGalt]

Try stevia or splenda!  Good alternatives if your looking for sugar substitues.

[Deb61]

I had heard this, too, so I cut out the aspartame for about a year.  I noticed no improvement, unfortunately.  I wish there was a magic bullet to get rid of the MS.  Wouldn't it be nice to find the cause and just eliminate it?