Lithium worked so well for me. However I could not sleep ,ore than an hour straight I was always going to the bathroom even though I stopped drinking by 6. My face broke out in horrible purple cystic acne that would break open and bleed. Now I am on accutane to help it go away. I tried to tolerate it but after 7 months I could not take it anymore. I went on 350 of seroquel and lamictal but the last Month my anger and mood swings are back so the lamictal is not cutting it so I am off that.. We are going to give tegretol a shot but I am only on 400 and 400 of seroquel. I am going to 600 tegretol tonight then 800 in a week. I hope it works. I think a big part of the way I feel is Otis hard not being able to find something that works I remember I was told it takes at least a year to find the right meds. I laughed and said I hit it right away with the lithium.