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A couple of years ago, I decided to give up aspartame. I decided to do this aspartame detox because I read about the dangers of aspartame (also called Equal or Nutrasweet) and didn’t want this chemical in my diet anymore.
Aspartame can cause a host of problems, such as headaches, vision problems, fatigue, and depression. However, the worst of aspartame side effects is the impact it has on neurons. It can actually destroy brain cells. Here is an article about more of aspartame’s negative side effects.
In late 2010, I was having about three coffees per day, each one with an Equal or two. In addition, I’d drink about four or five cups a day of grape drink sweetened with aspartame that I bought from WalMart. At the end of that December, I decided I would stop eating any form of aspartame as a New Year’s resolution. I didn’t feel that consuming aspartame fit with my overall healthy lifestyle which included regular exercise and overall healthy eating.
This article lists my experience with aspartame detox and withdrawal. I’m not a doctor and this isn’t medical advice. These are just my experiences that I’ve shared for everyone’s benefit. If you have problems or questions when giving up Equal consult a doctor.
Quitting
On January 1st, 2011, I just simply stopped consuming aspartame of any kind. I didn’t stop gradually; I just quit cold turkey. Was it the best method? I’m not sure. I assumed that quitting aspartame was as easy as giving up any other “food” or drink. However, as you’ll read below, I was wrong. Looking back, a more gradual detox process would’ve been better.
Withdrawal Symptoms
I can’t say if my symptoms were genuine withdrawal, my body detoxing, or some other type of reaction related to quitting aspartame. By far, my biggest aspartame withdrawal symptom was a headache. I have no history of headaches at all (I get about one mild one per year), but the day after I quit aspartame, my head felt horrible!
Along with the pain, came a huge light sensitivity. I couldn’t stand any sort of light. Not only that, but when I closed my eyes, I could still “see” the light from lamps in my mind’s eye. It was awful and I can’t remember ever feeling like that before (or after).
Fortunately, my symptoms only lasted a couple of days. I think it’s because I am generally healthy and followed a simple aspartame detox plan.
Aspartame Detox
First, I drank lots and lots of water. Keeping myself hydrated made sure that any toxins being produced left my body as quickly as possible. It also flushed out any aspartame residue out of my system that much more quickly.
Second, I exercised. It wasn’t the easiest with a splitting headache, but (after taking a few aspirin) I still forced myself to do it. I sweated like crazy, which undoubtedly pushed more junk out through my pores.
Third, I began to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and cut out other chemicals. Although my diet was generally good, I still wanted to make sure I wasn’t putting new chemicals in my body while I was detoxing the old ones (aspartame).
If you are thinking of giving up aspartame, I’d recommend it. I switched to sucralose (Splenda), but eventually gave that up as well since it has its own set of problems.
If you like calorie free sweetness in your life, try stevia (we’ve written a review called what is stevia), an all natural no calorie sweetener. It has a generally good, but somewhat metallic taste. Above all, it has nowhere near the side effect list of aspartame.
If you are having some aspartame detox and withdrawal issues, I hope my tips have helped you better deal with it.
About Jonathan Bennett
It’s December 28 and for my New Year’s resolution I have decided to cut out artificial sweeteners. My doc told me last year to quit drinking diet soda but it was tough. It’s been several weeks without aspartame and now several days without sucralose. No withdrawal symptoms yet but I didn’t drink a ton of diet soda but I did like my diet coke. And I thought Diet 7up with splenda was ok….nope. Not that either. It was also the “light” yogurts and the drink mixes I put in my bottled water that added to the mix.
I thought Soda Stream was better with sucralose but I was wrong. I’ll get the sparkling naturals with sugar only and NO sucralose. It will be water and home-made iced tea from now on. No artificial sweeteners. I’d rather stick with plain ole sugar!
I just went through the kitchen and threw out anything with aspartame. Wish me luck. First I’ll get off artificial sweeteners and then GMO food. One step at a time.
Best of luck with it all Robin! I also gave up sucralose recently. I’ve started using stevia. Have you tried it? It’s a natural zero calorie sweetener. I don’t like the taste as much as Splenda, but it is still pretty good, at least in coffee.
Thank you for the information, following some research I am hoping it’s not too late for me. Many thanks again
Gail, from what I’ve read about aspartame, once you quit there shouldn’t be any lingering effects.
I found out that there is aspartame in Diet Pepsi, my drink of choice.One of which I have been trying to stop drinking for weight loss reasons.
http://lifewithoutdietpepsi.blogspot.com
is my blog of which I write about my life without my favorite soda. I did notice I got the headache thing but I knew that was coming because of when I had tried to quit before. The other think I noticed was I had more energy.
I gave up aspartame about a week ago. Since then I have had a mild headache between my eyes but I have been dizzy and nauseated to the point I just want to sleep. And my heart is rapid. Any suggestions?
Melanie,
I would definitely consult a doctor in your case. Your symptoms seem very extreme and may not be aspartame withdrawal. They could be something more serious.
To say I was an aspartame abuser is really putting it mildly….
I drink coffee a lot and didn’t want the calories associated with sugar, plus I work in a factory
which often hits in the 90′s and drank diet drinks during the heat.
In December of 2012 I started have vision problems which my ophthalmologist diagnosed as early macular degeneration.(I’m 55) The doctors solution was to inject a cancer drug called Avastin into the eye, the drug lessens the swelling of the blood vessels that cause the leaking into and behind the retina.
After some research I had found that aspartame has been associated with macular degeneration. So I quit cold turkey. Ouch
Headaches and sleeplessness began.
It’s been a couple of weeks, things are now getting back to normal.
My vision is improving slightly, but I won’t be able to see any real proof until March 25 when the ophthalmologist has a chance to laser scan my eye again. We can then compare the previous tests….
I elected to not start the eye injections until I’ve had time to see if the lack of aspartame is helping.
I will keep you informed,
Ed Downing
Thank you for sharing, Ed. Please update us on your condition and progress.
I gave up aspartame too.I’m having alot of insomnia and anxiety issues. I caved in and had a half a can two days in a row and the symptoms disappeared
I LOVE coke zero and Splenda (addiction type of love) but I gave up all artificial sweetener after reading all the negative impact on health. My whole body hurt about four days after, for about three days the pain was crazy. I suffer from aggressive arthritis but this pain was so different. Now, about three weeks in, I have relief from that pain. I do see my rheumatologist tomorrow and will discuss the symptoms with her.
I’ve been drinking 8-10 Diet Dr. Pepper’s a day for the last 8 years or so. Ya, I have a problem. I knew I was addicted, I didn’t know it was killing me, until recently. Chronic fatigue, depression, irritability, night sweats, and panic attacks began ruling my life. Medical science couldn’t find a thing wrong with my body. My chiropractor suggested it may be aspertame poisoning…worth a try in my book. Today makes 3 days since my last DDP and guess what? I feel amazing! Oh I have an annoying headache right between my eyes and I’m irritable from not getting my fix and ya my moods are a bit swingy right now. But I have been sleeping like a baby and my energy returned almost immediately. I feel like me again! I can’t wait to see the me I can be once this stuff is completely detoxed from my system!
I gave up aspartame, (cold turkey) about 2 weeks ago. Since giving it I’ve felt much better within myself. I found it interesting when you say you sweating loads when excerising was that just due to working out more or due to detoxing from the aspartame. I excerise regularly anyway but since giving up I am sweating so much whilst at the gym. After reading what you’ve put I’m hoping its a good thing. I am going to up my water intake too just help flush everything out.
Thank goodness I have never been an artificial sweetener user. I try to keep my drinks simple. Water, coffee, wine. That’s about it. I used to use cream and sugar in my coffee, but I knew that much sugar wasn’t good for me. So I forced myself to drink my coffee black for a week, and I started liking it. Now, that’s just how I drink it. You may want to give it a try. You can get used to consuming foods and drinks that just aren’t sweet. It’s worth a try. Good luck to you all. I commend you in your journey to better health!
Hello! Glad to have found this board. I gave up Diet Coke four days in a row. I had participated in a “green” event this weekend and day five was a doozy. I had the worst headache, an anxiety attack and I was so discombobulated that I didn’t know which way was up. I knew it wasn’t a caffeine withdrawal, it was the aspertame withdrawal. The funny thing is, everyone said it was typical caffeine withdrawal. After reading the posts and others on the web, I KNOW for sure I was having aspertame withdrawal.
I am going to wean myself from Diet Coke. Acutally, I already did, but never made the final wean from one/day. On Saturday, I drank 6 ounces of a Diet coke (couldn’t finish the 12 oz can) and as I sit and type this, there is a 12-oz can on my desk. I had just enough to take away the headache and I am about to refill my 20 oz. water cup.
I started juicing 10 days ago and wanted to change every thing for the better. It’s best to do baby steps. I love juicing and already my body is feeling the benefits of this healthy drink every morning. (My basic is 3 carrots, 1 tomato and 1 green apple. I’ll add in radish, kale, lime, parsnip or beets if I had it on hand.)
I know now that aspertame is not good and I am surprised that every adverse health condition I have could most likely be caused by the ONE diet coke/day that I have. Time for a change. Thank you!
p.s. The true fact is, after drinking just 6 ouces of Diet Coke on Saturday, I ended up overeating on Saturday AND Sunday, because I wasn’t satisfied. When, when I went the four days without a Diet Coke, even though I had a headache and was juicing, my appetite was happy and I felt good all day.
One question (sorry for the long letter). Is it okay to take acetaminophen or other headache medicine when the headache comes back?
I absolutely adore my Diet Coke…this is going to be rough. 3 years ago I had an event which landed me in the hospital for 8 days. On day 8 they sent me home with a walker which I used for 2 months. Today they say I’m having migraines without pain. If there are too many things going on around me I feel drunk. This includes trouble walking and talking. The triggers can be visual, audio or stress. I have abou 8 of these a day. I can’t work and I’m on disability.
I’ve decided to get away from aspartame to see if it makes a difference. Wish me luck!
After years of consuming over 4 cans a day of diet coke and/or diet dew I have quit CD turkey. Day 3 today and I feel line death. My head has never felt such throbbing odd pain. My eyes can’t seem to focus and I have waves of dizziness and nausea. I know I should probably attempted to do this gradually but I would have never stopped. I read withdrawal symptoms can last up to a month. I hope not…
I was drinking a 2 liter of Coke Zero or Diet Dr Pepper a day. I LOVE Coke Zero, but I received a text from my cousin about aspartame poisoning. I had almost every single side effect. I got so angry at myself that I quit cold turkey. I did have a packet of Splenda with some iced tea last night, but I am sick of putting chemicals in my body. The scariest side effect of the Aspartame was the weak legs. It scared me half to death. Quite honestly, I don’t want to put any more soda in my body ever again. Not worth it.
i have quit aspartame for 4 days now. i have an annoying headache and feel lightheaded and cant sleep. cant wait for this to go. aspartame nearly killed a guy at work a few years ago by destroying his liver. i have started a low carb diet also. the problem is that i like a drink. now what can i drink in a pub? my drink is usually jamesons and diet coke. what can i replace it with that has no aspartame in and is low in calories and carbs?
I was drinking 2+ liters of coke zero cherry daily. A month ago my feet began to burn. I was convinced I had neuropathy. All my lab work is negative including A1C, CMP, CBc, complete thyroid profile, and CRP. I Had worked out 5x weekly. I have quit drinking most anything but water. My feet still burn but possibly better. If I am experiencing toxicity how
Long until it resolves?