I can't speak to the long term effects of RAI either since it's only been just over 3 weeks since I had it. I will say that I had no side effects from it other than a very slight sore throat for a few days. I didn't feel nauseous at all. I was kept for 20 min. after taking the pill just to make sure I didn't vomit. I drove home immediately after the 20 min. and was just fine. Of course I had to keep at least 3 ft. between myself and others, including pets, for a week, and I had to sleep in a separate room. I also had to wash my clothes and dishes separately and flush the toilet twice after use. I was told to drink lots of fluids to help flush out my body of the iodine my thyroid didn't take. I didn't lose any hair, and in fact, the huge clumps that were coming out, along with massive shedding, for the last 4 mos. from Tapazole have stopped. Good thing, I have very little hair left; it has to be arranged to cover my scalp. I was afraid of getting the saliva thing since when I had the thyroid storm this past Feb. my mouth was so dry that I had splits and cracks all over my lips, mouth, tongue and throat, and had had really dry mouth problems for a couple of years before the storm. Nope, didn't happen. So RAI wasn't a big deal for me, and I'm 60, so I should be more likely to get side effects. Didn't have any problems at all though.