Skully--the meds I take are Lamictal and Tegretol. I was on Abilify--and it was working-- but had to stop because of tremors. As far as I know, Abilify is the med of choice (wanted to say drug of choice.....) for bpd. It has good, positive research behind it. The mood stabilizers--lamictal and tegretol--are used for both bp and bpd. I have two add-ins as needed: ativan and Nu-Vigil. Ativan to knock "it" down, Nuvigil for days when I can hardly say hi to the kids and would prefer to sit and stare out the window, look at tree branches, twigs, uh, whatever. I've been on the tegretol and lamictal for about three years now. Sometimes we change the dosage (usually up), but they're still working...I have been hospitalized once within those three years, though, and also just before them...The hospital, for me, is brief: 4-12 days at the most. It's for safety, for a renewal of mindfulness skills (the place here uses DBT as a staple), and for med adjustment. Then back out, working hard in therapy.