When Herbal Medicine Turns Nasty - Letters to the Editor

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients,  Oct, 2003  by H.J. Roberts

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Editor:

An important aspect concerning the widely publicized death of pitcher Steve Bechler, who used ephedra for an overweight problem, has not been considered. He probably was also consuming "diet" drinks and other products containing the chemical sweetener aspartame, currently being used by over two-thirds of the population--especially weight-conscious persons.

I have researched and extensively reported on the serious adverse reactions to aspartame products for over two decades. (1) In the present context, they include systemic and pulmonary hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, paradoxic weight gain, and drug interactions. (Aspartame was conceived as a drug for treating peptic ulcer.) The dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine that result from the breakdown of aspartame may summate upon the cardiovascular effects of ephedra, including hyperthermia and sudden death.

I have repeatedly warned both the FDA and Congress about this widespread imminent public health hazard, coupled with the recom-mendation that aspartame products be removed from the market for these and other serious reactions. The latter include seizures, confusion, severe headache, the simulation of multiple sclerosis, other neuropsychiatric problems, altered vision, aggravation of diabetes, and aspartame addiction ... all detailed in my publications.

The problem has been compounded by the increasing use of products that are conducive to the oropharyngeal absorption of aspartame and its direct transport to the brain. They include gum, mouthwashes, chewable drugs and vitamins, and rectangular "mouth-freshener" strips placed on the tongue.

H.J. Roberts, MD, FACP

6708 Pamela Lane

West Palm Beach, Florida 33405 USA

561-588-7628 / Fax 561-547-8008

hjrobertsmd@aol.com

(1.) Roberts HJ Aspartame Disease: An Ignored Epidemic. West Palm Beach, Sunshine Sentinel Press, 2001.

COPYRIGHT 2003 The Townsend Letter Group
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