I have been diagnosed since November. Prior to my diagnosis, I was on the Emsam patch. It is an MAOI. I had tried over twenty antidepressants, ECT treatments, many hospitalizations for anorexia and suicide attempts. For the first time ever, the Emsam patch made me feel whole again. I was doing fabulously. Eventually, i became manic (I was flying high-not sleeping-etc.). Then, the crash came. It was really, really, bad. I was suicidal. I couldn't get out of my ditch. I was then given an ultimatum: partial hospitalization or inpatient. I did the partial program. They tried different mood stabilizers, however, Lamictal worked best. I was told that if I get "balanced" on the Lamictal, I could eventually take the Emsam again. I went into my Pdoc's office last week. I told him that I feel balanced, but depressed. I urged him to put me on the Emsam. Instead, he encouraged me to take 400 mg of the Lamictal-that it would help with the depression.

Here's my question: many of you seem to take the stabilizers, but also antidepressants. Isn't that common? Do you think upping the Lamictal seems crazy? Keep in mind that the MAOI class was the only class that worked for my depression.