I forget whose post I read now, but someone was scared of taking meds. I can understand that. I feel like I've been on every one they make, just about. I refuse to go on Lithium, because of the side effects. When I was in my 20's and still looking for help, I was misdiagnosed with depression and put on various antidepressants alone. They didn't help at all, and in some cases, like Zoloft, made it even worse. Since I was finally diagnosed correctly, and a mood stabilizer added, it's been much better. But we had to play around with that too, First, I was on something I don't remember, then Depakote, which worked fine up till about 6 months, when I started getting huge bruises everywhere and my hair fell out in chunks. Then they switched me to Topamax, which I'm still on to this day. It has very few side effects, but over long term use affects your memory and your balance. Then he added two anti-depressants to that, and and anti-anxiety medication. All this, and you'd think I'd feel better, wouldn't you? I'm rapid cycling, so my mood changes like the weather. I never get the real high highs, but I get crashing lows that make me wish something would fall out of the sky on me. I would never commit suicide, because of my son, but there sre days I wish I could. And I'm scared to play around with the meds any more, because the last two times he changed them were disastrous.