ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS

[Nickw]

My son was recently prescribed a course of Augmentin antibiotics to clear an infection. It was a few days later when I noticed that it contained ASPARTAME. Unfortunately I have an allergic reaction to this artificial sweetener and it is becoming increasingly difficult to purchase any cordials or fruit squashes to name but a few items that do not contain it.
Would it be a reasonable idea to make patients aware of the additives before dispensing the medicines as an allergic reation may be deemed as being a reaction to penicillin not the additive. It also brings to mind that the increase in CHILDHOOD DIABETES may be down to this increasing use of artificial sweeteners and insufficient amounts of natural sweeteners i.e. glucose to produce insulin naturally? Any thoughts??

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Nickw, how annoying for you.
We don't like aspartame or saccharin in our house either, not because of allergy, but just because I don't like unnecessary chemicals in what we eat/drink. So we try and stick to stuff that is naturally sweetened (such as the sugary Calpol, it's not like he drinks a bottle day!), organic squashes and fruit juice etc, and just eat less of it. I feel artificial sweeteners are a food manufacturers' excuse to get us to eat more processed food. Give me plain Rachel's Dairy with a bit of honey in it any day over a no-fat, no-sugar, additive-laden "yogurt". And what you say about a potential link with childhood diabetes is really worrying.

ROBINW GOOD IDEA TO START INCREASING AWARENESS OF XYLITOL BUT NEED MORE GOOD INFO FIRST. ANYTHING TO SLOW DOWN THE USE OF ASPARTAME ETC.

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