Coke Zero & Headaches

Updated on September 22, 2013
J.S. asks from Chandler, AZ
19 answers

I have been getting monster headaches over the last week. They usually start around 1:30 and last all day into the night. I hate taking pills and usually avoid doing so, but I've had to take Tylenol a lot this week, otherwise I'm pretty useless. I was trying to figure out what the cause was. The only thing I can think of, is around lunch time at work I've been having a Coke Zero (boss keeps a supply in the fridge). I know it's loaded with all those sweeteners you can't pronounce. I've never been a diet soda drinker, until this. I've tried to google it, but found little results. Do you think the headaches could be related to the Coke Zero? For now, I am going to go back to my norm...water and see if they stop. But was curious what others thought.

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

Phenylketonurics: Contains Phenylalanine is printed on the can.

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.K.

answers from Kansas City on

I have a friend how got terrible headaches and stomach aches while using splenda, and I think that is what is in coke zero, but I could be wrong. Maybe you are sensitive to that.

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.H.

answers from Kansas City on

I'd also like to add that it could be the caffeine. I mean the artificial sweetener could be the culprit, but maybe it's just because you aren't used to drinking caffeine in the middle of the day and it's giving you a headache. Caffeine is tricky because it can cause headaches and take headaches away, it's a fickle friend! ;)

2 moms found this helpful

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.F.

answers from Houston on

Absolutely it's poison. Not only can it cause headaches but can also cause several other health problems. Artificial sweetners can also cause cancer and its bad for your teeth. It will take a little while for your body to adjust.

3 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B..

answers from Dallas on

I doubt they will stop right away. Your body will go through withdrawals and they might be worse for a while. Give yourself some time for your body to adjust, and I bet they go away.

2 moms found this helpful

S.K.

answers from Denver on

if stopping drinking the coke zero does make the headaches go away then you have a intolerance to the artificial sweetner. I know that my mom cannot drink diet or she gets massive headaches.

2 moms found this helpful

K.A.

answers from San Diego on

All artificial sweeteners trigger migraines in me. Some more severe than others. It absolutely can be the Diet Coke doing it.
I was going to suggest stopping drinking them but it looks like you already are. It might take a few days to get over the caffeine and get the sweetener out of your system. I would say give it a week and if you see no improvement then look to see if the headaches are being caused by something else.

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.B.

answers from Boston on

Yes they could be so hopefully not drinking it could solve your problem.

In the meantime, take ibuprofen (unless of course you can't for some reason). I could literally take an entire bottle of Tylenol and have it not fix a headache (well other than the fact that I'd be dead or have liver toxicity). Four advil (800 mg total) is my first line of defense for headaches, which I get a ton of. Hope the headaches stop!

2 moms found this helpful

☼.S.

answers from San Diego on

Absolutely! Stop drinking it for sure; the fake sweeteners CAN cause headaches among many other things!

2 moms found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

It could very well be the Coke Zero.
Artificial sweetners are awful for your kidneys and they mess with your metabolism so you burn fewer calories (which can make you gain weight).
On top of that, they can trigger migraine headaches.

We use Advil, aspirin or Tylenol but if I've got a really horrible headache that's not responding to anything I go home and put a heating pad on my head and that helps it ease off.
I haven't tried it so far but I've heard alternating hot and cold packs can be effective for treating a headache too.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.K.

answers from Stationed Overseas on

Yes! I switched over to Sprite Zero to cut out the extra calories from regular Sprite and started to get awful, awful headaches. I stopped drinking it and wow what a difference. I won't ever drink it again.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Artificial sweeteners are poison. They cause migraines among their side effects. Reduce your sugar intake by drinking more fluids that you add sugar to like tea or Koolaid. If it calls for 1 cup sugar use 2/3 cup and eventually 1/2 cup sugar.

All artificial sweeteners are bad for people. Some day research will show they were the biggest mistake we made.

My friend was a diabetic and very severe. Her new diabetic doc took her off all artificial sweeteners. She started having much better insulin levels and got a lot healthier. The doc told her to count her carbs and to stay under a certain amount. She used real sugar and real butter. It worked. Her blood levels came down from the 500 range to normal in just a week or so. Just by taking all artificial sweeteners out of her diet.

1 mom found this helpful

V.S.

answers from Reading on

I'm not sure what sweetener is in Coke Zero, but I can no longer tolerate artificial sweeteners and had severe neurological (neuralgia, neuropathy, headaches) any time I consume them. I don't care what they say - artificial sweeteners are poison.

ETA: Phenylalanine isn't a sweetener. But Coke zero contains aspartame, which is what I have an intolerance for. Here's an explanation of your SWH:
http://www.astro.sunysb.edu/tracy/whatis.html

ETA again: Read this: http://www.naturalnews.com/008797_migraines_migraine_head...

1 mom found this helpful

B.K.

answers from Chicago on

I'll bet it's related. I can't drink nutrasweet without getting a massive headache. I drink seltzer water now. Give it another try next week and see if you get a headache again. If so, avoid it in the future!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.H.

answers from Chicago on

Yes, those are bad.. Some people have no effect, others do. It is a reaction that your body has. I get headachs from red dye.

The more natural, the better it is.. :)

1 mom found this helpful

V.B.

answers from Jacksonville on

I know there are many people with an intolerance to Splenda. Is Coke Zero sweetened with splenda? The folks who are intolerant report headaches.

(splenda = sucralose)

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.N.

answers from Baton Rouge on

Yes, they could. Aspartame (Nutrasweet) is a factor in many headache scenarios.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.D.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Artificial sweeteners are a known headache trigger in some. Lay off of them and see if your headaches improve.

Naproxen or ibuprofen might be a better remedy than Tylenol.

If they persist I would recommend you see your PCP.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.R.

answers from Washington DC on

Diet pop can cause a number of symptoms and the caffeine doesn't help either. I make my own carbonated tea with a combination of green tea, black tea and a combination of regular and decaf. I sweeten it with stevia and add lemon juice. I make the tea strong and dilute it with seltzer water for the carbonation. It's very healthy and no calories. It has totally taken away my craving for diet pop.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.C.

answers from Madison on

All diet sodas contain Aspartame or some other artificial sweetener. Aspartame is an excitotoxin and can give people headaches. I used to drink Diet Mt Dew for years. Then I started getting tension headaches every day. Couldn't figure out where they were coming from. Then I started reading about aspartame and artificial sweeteners and how, in certain susceptible people, you can get headaches. I also read the book Excitotoxins by Dr. Russell Blaylock. I quit drinking my Diet Mt Dew. My headaches went away. I have now been free of drinking any diet pop for five years and no longer have a daily headache.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions