Comparing Lamotrigine vs Valproic Acid

For Bipolar Disorder I have been fighting mood swings and depression for years and have tried all the antidepressants which for the most part didn't work and sometimes made me worse and more crazy, so I went to clinic and was lucky enough to tell this to a random doctor, she said it common for doctors to prescribe antidepressants for bipolar by mistake, I took a questionnaire that basically suggested I was Bipolar. I saw my regular doctor after this and he agreed and put me on Lamotigrine and it was like the lights went on, I am three days in and so amazed how I feel with no noticeable side effects I am stable and not constantly self talking and feel bad weak and discouraged , it works for what it was made for, keep looking and get diagnosed for the right thing because you can spend years taking the wrong medicine. Wow

For Bipolar Disorder First let me say thank you to all who have posted. I have been hoping to find a forum like this. Having suffered from depression and rapid mood swings (hypo mania) for more than 37 years it is a relief and very validating to hear other people's experiences if even if all of them are not applicable to mine . I experienced a severe depression with a suicide attempt 36 years ago. Since then a variety of medications have treated my depression quite well. I also found a loving husband and have a job I really like. Those external things can make a big difference too. I started lamictal 15 years ago and it helped take away the rapid mood swings & lessened some of the stronger depressive moods.Thanks to all for sharing. Now I don't feel as alone

For Bipolar Disorder The jury is still out on this medication (branded as Epilim). I was prescribed 1.5g a day to act as a mood stabiliser. It's hard to tell if it's any better than previous medications. I didn't suffer any immediately obvious side effects and my mood does appear to have been mostly 'stable' since using it. Though I have suffered from increasing memory loss in the years since taking this drug so there could be possibly be a link there? I have read on some of the epilepsy (a condition this medication is usually prescribed for) forums that some 'users' have also experienced short term memory loss. Perhaps one day (probably after I'm long gone, or at least after my mind has faded away) evidence will come out to support this? For this reason I can only rate this drug as a neutral 5, with not much firm evidence either way. It's unlicensed for my condition and hence I am (as we all are) being experimented on to some degree.

For Bipolar Disorder I use Valproate Sodium for manic episodes I believe. I take 4 tablets per day. The main problem is weight fluctuation - expect a great increase! - and fatigue. If you forget to take the pills, you find a whole host of problems which is also awful but on the whole it works well.