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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sac on July 8, 2004, at 9:27:50
After a five year struggle with what was diagnosed as Bipolar II and various failed trials with mood stabilizers and anti-psychotics I was finally fed up. I had read many times about aspartame causing mood problems but I suppose I was in denial since I was a 5-6 can a day diet coke addict. I couldn't imagine something so seemingly benign as aspartame could be causing my downward spiral with regard to mood instability over the past several years. It has only been one week since I quit ingesting aspartame and my moods are completely stable! I am taking it one day at a time to make sure I am not jumping to any conclusions but I really believe that this is significant. Has anybody else experienced this?
Posted by Wildman on July 8, 2004, at 9:48:48
In reply to Bipolar II and avoiding aspartame, posted by sac on July 8, 2004, at 9:27:50
I may have to give that a try, I drink a few Diet Cokes each day as well. My pdoc suggested that I might be a mild BP2, which I'm not sure I agree with...
Gee, I've given up alcohol, weed, maybe now Diet Cokes. I hope I don't have to give up my cigars, as that's the only vice I have left!!!!
Wildman (Lex and Seroqel are my friends these days)
Posted by Sad Panda on July 8, 2004, at 10:35:08
In reply to Re: Bipolar II and avoiding aspartame, posted by Wildman on July 8, 2004, at 9:48:48
> I may have to give that a try, I drink a few Diet Cokes each day as well. My pdoc suggested that I might be a mild BP2, which I'm not sure I agree with...
>
> Gee, I've given up alcohol, weed, maybe now Diet Cokes. I hope I don't have to give up my cigars, as that's the only vice I have left!!!!
>
> Wildman (Lex and Seroqel are my friends these days)
>
>I guzzle Pepsi Max buy the gallon, it is aspartame sweetened too. I think I had problems before switching to diet drink, but it's been so long that I can't remember. I'm not going to give it up because I already gave up everything else!
ex-toker, ex-drinker & ex-smoker
Panda.
Posted by DanielJ on July 8, 2004, at 11:38:56
In reply to Bipolar II and avoiding aspartame, posted by sac on July 8, 2004, at 9:27:50
It's hard to say how Aspartame will affect you. After drinking the "NEW Diet Coke" many years ago I began to feel strange. I had tremors at times and began to feel weak when I hadn't eaten recently. I was diagnosed with Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and placed on a special diet. A year later I still had similar problems but they had worsened (if I didn't eat something every 2 hours I was a mess). I went to an endocrinologist to confirm my diagnosis, he concurred. 8 years later I went on a real diet finally giving up Diet Coke and Aspartame. Within a week and a half ..ALL.. my symptoms disappeared. I haven't had anything containing Aspartame since, nor have I had those symptoms return. I drink Coke Classic now. My advice... avoid Aspartame aka Nutra Sweet.
PS A symptom of low blood sugar can be mood swings which I also had occasionally back then.
Posted by jrbecker on July 8, 2004, at 14:52:24
In reply to Re: aspartame causes many problems!, posted by DanielJ on July 8, 2004, at 11:38:56
here's a link on the subject..
http://www.mindfully.org/Health/Aspartame-Adverse-Reactions-1993.htm
Posted by sac on July 8, 2004, at 21:12:11
In reply to Re: aspartame causes many problems!, posted by jrbecker on July 8, 2004, at 14:52:24
Very interesting article, Thanks!
> here's a link on the subject..
>
> http://www.mindfully.org/Health/Aspartame-Adverse-Reactions-1993.htm
Posted by sac on July 8, 2004, at 21:17:46
In reply to Re: aspartame causes many problems!, posted by jrbecker on July 8, 2004, at 14:52:24
I know it's hard to have to give up alot of things especially when you have a mood disorder and that's why I clung to my diet coke with a vengeance. I'm not ditching my Prozac or my low dose Depakote just yet...but I have to tell you this past week I have not felt the extreme fatigue that has been affecting me for the last few years either. Most importantly for me, is that my moods are not shifting all day long as they were before and I definately had some agitation and irritability going on with the diet coke and pepsi. Also, Pepsi came out with "Pepsi Edge" which is a low calorie soda with no aspartame (they use splenda instead) it tastes pretty much like regular Pepsi and much better than Diet Rite. Anyhow, I am going to give this a shot. BTW I lost 2 pounds in one week since giving up "diet" sodas!
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