My diagnosis is Bi Polar 2, GAD and OCD. I am on an AP that my pdoc has told me works as a mood stabiliser also (Zeldox). I have no seperate MS, just the AP, small dose of AD and stimulants. My depression is far worse than my hypos, and when treated with AP I did not go back to that dark place, so for me, they must work at keeping the depression at bay too. I have never had psychosis, and the only full blown manias I have had have been med induced.

I was put on this medication during severe mixed episode. I had been off meds for about 8 months and had never experienced a mixed episode before. I was desperate but so nervous about starting the zeldox. My doctor said it would work within 10 days, and it did, this medication saved my life. Initially I was pretty much knocked out for 3 days when starting it, the anxiety was also higher for a few weeks. I feel that it does make me tired, but not sedated if that makes sense. I dont feel doped up like I did on seroquel, but I am less active and activity does make me very tired. I dont really have any bad side effects from it, luckily.

I have tried all sorts of med combinations over the years. I was on lamictal for a long time, but it got too expensive as it was not approved for BP here at that stage. We combined that with high doses of AD which looking back on, I think was the real reason the lamictal didnt work as well as the zeldox. I was treated with Seroquel for years too, on a dose of 900mg which also did work, but the weight gain got ridiculous, and I was just so absent minded on it, plus a few other side effects. I took myself off it and was hypo for months. I feel the seroquel did act as a mood stabiliser for me, but kept me at a more depressed level than the others I had been on.

I was also treated with olanzapine and rispiridone. I found the olanzapine good for severe depression, I especially liked the wafers for when I felt that bad. The weight gain and dopeyness put me off it. I do feel that it did help me at times of severe distress. I'd take it again PRN but not regularly. Rispiridone again slightly helped with the depression, but I think that may have been because I was too sedated to care. Went off that one too as I was just existing.

I have done research on Zeldox before being used as a MS but I cant remember any of it. I do remember being very nervous to go on it though. I just trust my pdoc when he says it works in that way now. He has not steered me wrong yet.

Sorry this is so long. I hope it is helpful to the discussion.