Last week we talked about Splenda hiding in everything from Quaker reduced sugar oatmeal to Capri Sun Roaring Waters.
Today I went to Costco and bought children’s liquid Aller-tec (generic Zyrtec/cetirizine) — two bottles for $9.99. Since Mr. 7’s dose is 10 mg (2 tsp), each 8 oz bottle should give me 24 doses, so this cost me $5 for the equivalent of one box of the dissolve tabs he’s been using. He’s almost at the swallowing pills stage, so this should hopefully be the last kids’ one I have to buy… Apparently this is grape-banana flavor (eww!) — but I noticed it contained sucrose (sugar), probably to hide the taste of the medicine. So then I thought I’d take a look at the box of Zyrtec dissolve tabs in my cabinet.
Well, look at that. Where the generic Costco Aller-tec syrup contains sucrose, the name brand Zyrtec tabs have Sucralose (Splenda). And “flavors,” which your guess is as good as mine, lol. Would it have occurred to you to look for Splenda in OTC medication? It’s never before occurred to me…
Ed
Thursday 14th of November 2019
I was looking at the ingredients since I have to give it to my little one and started googling why there's sucralose in the syrup...stumbled across your post. Makes no sense, as well some of those other strange ingredients besides the main one. Anyone know why?
Kimberly Galloway
Monday 7th of October 2019
Long story... but after trial and error and little help from doctors, I have discovered that my sudden onset of tinnitus is aggrieved (and probably was caused by) Sucralose (Splenda). I was diagnosed with aspartame poisoning 30 years ago but was told the other artificial sweeteners were ok. My investigation my taken me to Splenda. Even my zertec, which I take to help with the tinnitus and full feeling in the ears contains Sucralose in the coating! I just discovered this today! I just realized that after forgetting my zertec yesterday, I had no ringing!
Kari O.
Wednesday 27th of August 2014
Do you not take medicine often yourself? As a lifelong allergy sufferer I have had to suffer through the nastiest tasting medicines, ever. All because they're too sugary or fake sugary. I learned to swallow pills at age 5 because I would HATE the kid medicine taste. It's standard though. That's why Mary Poppins would add a spoon full of sugar, but then everyone hated sugar, so the pharmaceutical companies switched to fake or hidden sugar. How upset would parents be if your kids medicine had a calorie counter? lol
rachel
Thursday 28th of August 2014
Somehow I see a Weird Al parody coming on -- A spoon full of Splenda helps the medicine go down...
juli
Wednesday 27th of August 2014
Actually yeah, I would look for it in OTC meds :( I look for it in everything. My DH once brought home a can of spaghetti sauce with sucralose. They put that junk in everything! It upsets my stomach so I'd rather have the (real) sugary calories.
CHRISTINE
Wednesday 27th of August 2014
Are you kidding? This is making me mad. I have never been a real intense label reader, but I am starting now. I will be grocery shopping for hours now!