I've also been on it for years - my max dosage at one point was 200mg. The only side effect I experienced was a lower sex-drive, which for some is the end of the world. (my husband certainly wasn't happy, and we had to figure out what to do from that point forward). I've been tapering off it since January, and am now at 50 mg. I think EVERY stabilizer out there is worth a try, every single person is going to be affected differently, and if you notice a bad reaction, and are honest with your pdoc, it will be easy to find a new drug.