Synthetic drugs symptoms and conditions

I have been on Levoxyl 0.112MG for about 18 years. I do have some of the symptoms described by others, hair loss, hot flashes, etc. , but I think the alternative to this is a lot worse. If I do not take it for long periods of time, it gets to the point where I am freezing cold and the bags that develop under my eyes are embarrassing. I think the problem with most of you that are having very bad side effects is the dosage. If the amount is off just a little bit you can feel like you were just run over by a truck. I went through this many years ago. I would suggest continuing to change the dosage until you get it right. I wish I did not have to take it but it is absolutely necessary in my case.

I understand the frustrations of many of you who have posted. I have been on the Nuvaring for the past 2 years. It's the only medication I am on, and I think it's really starting to affect me adversely. Before the ring, I used Seasonale for 3 years, and before that a different low dose pill. It's great not having a period every month, or with NuvaRing less of a period, but I think the synthetic drugs are starting to cause problems with my emotions, or lack thereof, and weight, etc. I have no sex drive anymore, I gained about 20 lbs within 2 months of being on the ring, and haven't been able to lose any weight since, even with 2 medical diet programs. Now I'm starting to get scared of what the plastic ring is leeching into my body constantly. If the drugs are absorbing into my skin, what else is? It is still much better than Seasonale, which took 6 months of constant heavy bleeding till my body adjusted to it, but I'm 33 now, have 2 friends who had to be hospitalized because of blood clots from birth control in the past 3 years, (1 smoked, 1 never smoked) and I want to take care of myself more naturally. The only reason I am on birth control is because of ovarian cysts. I have been on/off birth control since I was 23 because of cysts, but I couldn't ever stand the side effects so I would go off them again after a year, then get cysts and start again. This time, I'm trying a proper diet, supplements, and avoiding xenoestrogens, such as those in plastic bottles and frozen food trays, etc. To me, after years of side effects, I'm ready to try to do something healthy for myself. I have a nutritionist/chiropractor friend to help me find the best way for me.
I have been off the ring for only 2 days now, but strangely feel less hungry, and I think I lost about 3 lbs. of water weight! It's crazy.
These system-altering drugs just cannot be good for you long term. My sister talked me into stopping as well, as she had terrible side effects from birth control for years. She would get migraines every month, out-of-control mood swings (I mean it- she was nuts!) and missed many days of work. She's a teacher and can't let these things happen. She's slim, but even she said she couldn't budge an inch off of her body even when going to the gym 4 or 5 days a week working out and doing dance classes when she was on the pill. Soon after she stopped the pill, she lost 10 lbs and no longer has crazy mood swings and migraines.
Stopping the pill/ring may not be an alternative for everyone, but for me it's not worth the possible lifelong effects just to prevent cysts that I could possibly get while using the NuvaRing anyway. I only had spotting if I forgot to put the ring in for a day or even just half a day if I took it out. As soon as I would remember, I'd put it back in. Then it would be weeks on end of constant spotting. I feel like my side effects were different in some ways. Instead of mood swings, I have no mood. Everything is kind of, well, blah. Even sex is very blah. I feel bad for my boyfriend, but I told him it's really not his fault! I love him and he's a great lover, but wow did I turn lousy! I heard that the reduced sex drive can be irreversible for some people as well. I don't think I'm that far gone yet!
I'm just happy that I'm already feeling better. I even felt happy going to work today just knowing that I'm doing something better for myself. I don't want to feel this way anymore, and I want to try a healthier way to help prevent cysts, without unnaturally altering my whole body.

I am a 32 year old that suffers from allergy induced asthma. My doctors put me on Singulair and Zyrtec and my allergies and asthma have been in control and I can live and breath without sneezing and wheezing all day long. I have indoor and outdoor allergies and before Singulair I use to have to take over the counter Benadryl and then lay around groggy and miss out on things. I haven't experienced any side affects from Singulair as severe as what I have just read on these entries. I have no thoughts of suicide, I'm far from depressed and I'm a 32 year old mother of 2 kids, I work and I deal with the everyday life. Do I have mood swings, yes, but I cannot necessarily blame Singulair for that. As I read about it though, I wonder to myself, if I stop taking Singular with I be any more happier than I am already minus the mood swings? Do I do it as a trial and error type of thing. I mean if I miss my dose of Singular I end up having to use my albuterol inhaler and my chest hurts and I start to wheeze and cannot take a deep breath without feeling tightness in my chest. I guess at this point, the only thing I can do is talk to my doctors about switching me to a different asthma medication. I'm the type of person that actually second guesses doctors and am always up for a second and possibly a third opinion. I work for years in a medical malpractice law firm and I have no faith in the doctors that practice medicine. I usually read about things in detail before I try them to see certain side affects and what not. I'm not a medical professional, but I am a paralegal and I am an educated person. I go to the doctor but I'm not one to just run to the doctor with ever little ache and pain. I'm torn at this point because if I stop taking Singular I will suffer from Allergy induced asthma, and if I go to the doctor who's to say the next drug he puts me on for asthma might be worse or will cause problems. I can only speak from my experience, but ALL drugs carry a warning label of POSSIBLE side effects. I think I may be one of the few that do not suffer from the side affects of Singular, so I think I may just continue to take mine and breath easily. It also looks like most of these entries are about young children. Could it be that Singulair effects children differently than adults? Or could it be that everyone wants a hand in the money of a major drug company?? Whatever the case may be, everyone needs to educate themselves with any drug that is prescribed to them. I'm sorry for those that have suffered, I couldn't imagine going through that myself!