Hi hemulen! Of course there are no guarantees and different things work for different people and it may take some time to figure out what works best, but... that being said, I had the same fear, and was quite skeptical, but have had very good success with Lamictal (I've got BP II). I've been astounded at the difference it has made so far. It even took away the one symptom I believed nothing could alter.
Astounded is no exaggeration. Have gone from um, how to put this? -- terminal thinking -- to actually embarking on a new life after being stuck for a *very* long time and feeling I couldn't possibly do anything right or ever make it in the "real world" (which still frightens me -- but not so much that I'm paralyzed by it). So yeah. Actually ready to take on a "normal life"!!!
(And yeah, the low point mentioned above followed a huge hypomania where I was adamant against needing any kind of med, thankyouverymuch! Boy did I change my tune when the crash started--yet again--.Skeptical yes, but also getting desperate and getting real about how the pattern was going and just how much time I was spending hopelessly depressed...a pattern that had been going on for 25-30 years...)
(Hehe, if it helps, you can take my typically bipolar attitude going into meds... "hey, I can always go off it!") But hopefully you will find what works for you and believe me, when that happens, you'll never want to go back! Because <gasp> you'll might just find a "normal life" actually possible. Good luck to you, hemulen!