Aspartame and my experience

[Kaitybugsmom]

After poking around on here and reading some of the diet 'triggers' for epilepsy, I found some interesting reads on aspartame. I believe the biggest shocker for me was one that RobinN posted.

I was diagnosed with high blood pressure awhile ago, and yes it is high. I was put on medications and yeah they do work in lowering my blood pressure yet they didnt do anything to get rid of the side effects of the high blood pressure (dizzy feeling etc) I would feel the same way ON the meds as I did off the medication. So my Dr. diagnosed me with BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo)...med after med after add on still dizzy, faint, anxiety etc.

I drink a fair amount of coffee, eat several 'light' yogurts and drink alot of diet pepsi in a day, they are my get through the day foods. After reading what RobinN posted about aspartame I cut it out 5 days ago. I havent had any at all. No yogurt, no diet soda, nothing with it 'added'. Guess what? BP is down (due to the medication) but the dizzy, faint, anxiety feelings are almost completely gone!

Just thought I would share with you all that for me...it made a huge difference. Now if I could just figure out what I am eating and drinking that is causing my memory loss I will be good to go

 

[Nakamova]

I agree that aspartame can be problematic, particularly for folks with lower seizure thresholds, those others can be affected too, as your example suggests. In combination with sodas it's double-trouble -- not only are you getting something that mimics a overstimulating neurotransmitter (aspartate), but the phosphates in the soda can interfere with absorption of calcium, magnesium, and other nutrients that play crucial roles throughout the brain and body. (Low magnesium levels can be a factor in high blood pressure). Caffeine can also interfere with calcium absorption. Plus there's dehydration that can occur with drinking caffeinated liquids, also potentially a factor with blood pressure.

In my own case, I believe aspartame/soda played a role in triggering my very first seizure. Over the course of a few days I had consumed not much more than a banana and quite a few diet sodas. I was also not sleeping much. So, fatigue + low blood sugar + low magnesium + high aspartame pushed me over the edge.