Because many do not like to stick to a regimen, fear blood tests (no big deal), and maybe are looking for a quicker "knock down", I am sure people may put stigmas on any psychotropic med. just as many put a stigma on us that have any disorders.
Also drug companies that had come out with newer mood stabilizers may be helping the med stigma by boasting about theirs, I really do not have an exact answer.
I feel before anyone allows themself to be fear stigmas that they should try something first, if it doesn't work for you then give another med a try. All meds have caveats.
Here's a little factoid, did you know North Carolina has the largest amount of Leopoldelite (sp?) Lthium in it's natural state before it is seperated from the ore. In early Roman days it has been said that those who bathed and drank the water from the springs had experienced calming effects, many stories and accounts of this have been documented, in fact in some of the books I have listed at the top of Bipolar forum contain info on this, besides others you may find in your library, Amazon/Borders books and on the internet of course.
The history of this med is interesting, before it had been used in the US many parts of europe and other places had used it, and if my memory serves me right it was John Cade? in Australia that had conducted experiments with this before it was put in pill or capsule form, after the "bugs" were worked through, just like any new medication, it became extremely popular. Oh I can go on for hours, and share some of the stuff about it's history and uses but I would make your eyes grow weary reading, and may even bore you cause maybe you do not want to know too much about it's background.
I guess I have gotten a little too chatty at the moment, ha!ha!

Take care,
DE

PS No one likes to have to take any meds but if it relieves one of the unpleasant and stabilizes things what the hell, right? Given the choice, I'd rather take a med that will make my life and those around me easier

In giving advice seek to help, not please your friend
SOLON