Think I Am Going Through Aspartame Withdrawal!

**Jskell911** · 09-10-2008, 09:53 PM

Has anyone experienced this?

Little background:

I suffer from depression, anxiety, and PTSD. I take Paxil for this and have for about 5 years. Love Paxil, I know others have had bad experiences. I also suffer from every type of headache out there: Migraine, Cluster, Sinus, you get the picture. I have had CT scans, MRIs etc.

DH has done some research and found that there may be a link in the lowering of serontonin levels witht he use of Aspartame. And I use a LOT of it!

So, as an experiment he wanted me to agree to go off of it for a month to see if I feel any better.

NOW:

My belly is feeling awful, and I have had the headache from H$$%L for days. I think I am doing through a detox period! Uggghhh

Anyone have any idea how to make this easier? Or will I have to just work through it?

**cheriede** · 09-10-2008, 10:27 PM

I stay clear of artificial sweeteners all together these days. I deal with chronic pain and I discovered about a year ago that artificial sweeteners was one of the causes. So, I began searching for all-natural 0 calorie sweeteners. I found Zsweet, Wholesome Zero Calorie and I use these all the time without any problems. Erythritol is the main ingredient in those products. I also just picked up a new product today and it is Truvia, but I haven't tried it yet. Anyways, you may want to look into the all-natural sweeteners to see if it would work better for you.

Not sure that I have any other advice to you about withdrawals, but I hope the days will get better for you soon.

**Mo-BayMom** · 09-16-2008, 03:37 PM

That crap will kill you..learn to live with unsweetened drinks...I don't say that tongue in cheek but these fake sugars are not healthy at all.

I used to love sweet tea with sugar then went a diet and used equal and wow..the headaches and bellyaches..now I drink plain ole tea .

**Jskell911** · 09-16-2008, 07:00 PM

I know of the dangers now and that is why I've stopped using them. But going cold turkey has been a little brutal.

We are also considering trying to cut out MSG. We have learned the combination of taking out the Aspertame and MSG has dramatically improved the quality of day to day life for people w/ Fibro, CFS, and Depression (which I have all of).

**monkeywrangler71** · 09-16-2008, 07:07 PM

What was the aspartame in and what are you replacing it with? If you've switched to regular sugar it might be making you feel sick, or if it was in diet cola it could also be caffeine withdrawal.

**Jskell911** · 09-17-2008, 07:11 AM

It was mostly coffee. And I have switched to real sugar in both coffee and soda (don't drink much soda though).

**MisaLady** · 09-20-2008, 06:34 AM

Originally Posted by Jskell911

It was mostly coffee. And I have switched to real sugar in both coffee and soda (don't drink much soda though).

Actually, depending where you are and how your system responds to things... this could be more about the high fructose corn syrup than getting off the artificial sweeteners. I know I can't do sodas containing HFCS. Most of the ones that don't list it right on the front or the side. Jones sodas are pretty good and do not containg HFCS.