I've been on lamictal for almost ten years. It saved my butt. I'd been on Depakote, which had worked for a few years, but then stopped working and had all kinds of side affects. I'd been on lithium for 5 years until I suddenly had problems with toxicity and started to go off the rails. Lamictal helps keep my highs and lows closer to normal. Only down side is that if I miss a dose, I really start to feel off and having brain zaps within 12 hours. That doesn't happen with any of my other meds. Good luck.