Sometimes it's just knowing that something is being done for us that gets us through those early days and weeks on a new medication.

You know how it is when you've had bronchitis for a couple of days and you finally decide to see a doctor, then start feeling better as you're waiting in the exam room? I think that's the effect you're seeing now, as I did when I first started Lamictal. Looking back, it wasn't until I hit 125, then 150, and finally 200 mg/day that I really made major strides, but at the low doses I felt that it was doing something for me, so I was disappointed whenever I had an up-and-down day or series of days.

I tell you this because it's so easy to be fooled into thinking things are so much better, when in reality you've still got a ways to go. There's nothing wrong with being optimistic; you just need to understand that you haven't reached a therapeutic dose yet and there'll be some bumps in the road to navigate before you get there.

I've been at this since February and I still haven't found stability yet; it takes time and a lot of experimentation for most people to find that perfect "bipolar cocktail". If you're really lucky, you may need only one or two drugs to manage your BP, and you may even do well on a low dose of lamotrigine.

Everyone is different......five months ago when my internist sent me to a psychiatrist, it was supposed to be a one- or two-shot deal---an evaluation, maybe a mood stabilizer, and then back to my internist for med management. It may be that way for you. But for me, that first visit was only the tip of the proverbial iceberg, and things got complicated really quickly; now I'm seeing my pdoc every 2-3 weeks and we're still tweaking meds and treatments, with no end in sight.

That's OK though; it took me fifty-three years to get diagnosed, and my BP isn't going to go gently into that good night. I hope it's a much simpler and easier course for you!