Lamactil is a very strong medicine and if you do decide that you need a mood stabilizer there are others you can try. I took lamactil and it did help but I got sick and went off of it and went on Topamate, an anti seizure medication! This was all based on the diagnosis of bi-polar II disorder.

Finally after losing a lot of my hair and having such cognitive difficulties that I could not concentrate enough to read a book, I went off topamate as well, slowly, as sudden can be dangerous. Consult your doctor of course.

What I found is that I was better without it. I had recovered somewhat from my traumatic response by then and I believe the diagnosis was wrong. I have been off of meds now for 2 and a half years. I can think now and my hair grew back! I am a bit depressed but trying to accept and cope with it.

My doctor knows I am off of meds and is supportive. I am very careful to get enough sleep and I am using other tools to deal with my negative thoughts. I would not have been able to do this a few years ago so just follow your and your doctors best thinking on this but there are many drugs and those side effects sound much to hard to tolerate.

Painting and even just crafts help me as they engage my right brain and my left brain (which is often telling me how awful it is) gets a rest.

Best to you

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures."