Just posted a Medwatch complaint with the FDA for aspartame (NutraSweet). I cannot believe that it is still available, and indeed is ubiquitous. I would really like to see Sacrine available again. I react badly to aspartame, but not to Sacrine. The problem is that aspartame gives me a high - but then I crash from it, often falling asleep. It also seriously disrupts my sleep patterns for at least 12 hours after ingestion.
I just read a medical article on aspartame addition. I can see it. I know that it isn't good for me, but continue to sneak it here and there. For example, at lunch, I will take a half a cup, followed by maybe another half a cup, before switching to iced tea. It tastes and feels so good. For me, it is like speed should be - but often isn't. I think that I am mildly narcoleptic, and because of that, at least Dexedrine does not do much more than keep me awake for driving (this is BTW by prescription).
Part of the problem seems to be that the breakdown of the constituents. One quote from the article:
"The transformation of phenylalanine to dopamine and dopamine metabolites assumes relevance in addictive states. Addictive drugs flood synapses with dopamine, which carries a "pleasure message" from one nerve cell to another in the "reward pathway"... thereby creating a "high." For instance, cocaine blocks the reuptake of dopamine, thereby acting as an indirect dopamine agonist. Such repeated rushes can result in desensitization of the brain to dopamine".
see:
and:
