Hello. I am posting this after doing some research on a medication I have just been put on. It is a mood stabilizer called Lamictal.

I have been seeing a therapist since May, after I have been continually depressed, anxious, and suicidal. I have a history of some major depressive episodes since I was 16 including one attempt. In retrospect I have always thought it was really "situational" depression, up until the last year or so when I have been off and on depressed and more recently it does not seem like a major issue has occurred in my life, in fact, quite the opposite -- I should have plenty of things to be happy about, yet I struggle each day. Anywho, that is a bit of back-story. This Tuesday I finally was able to see a new Psychiatrist to be diagnosed and also find out if she thinks I should be on meds because therapy alone has not been seeming to work.

Although she did not give me a definitive diagnosis after seeing me for only 45 minutes, she did say it is possible I am both bipolar AND borderline (BPD) which I have thought I had tendencies of BPD, but not Bipolar. In addition she says she can say for sure that I have recurrent major depression. Although I suspected I had an issue with depression, I was kind of shocked that she said it is possible to have both BPD and bipolar. I thought you could only be one or the other.

She is first putting me on Lamictal for mood stabilization. I am on 25 mg for week 1, week 2 I go up to 50mg and by week 4 I will be taking 100mg.

It has only been 4 days but I am already noticing a change in my mind and moods. Although I have been slightly irritable a couple times, I think it is no more or less than normal. I haven't burst into a sobbing fit or had any suicidal thoughts or severely self-deprecating thoughts about myself in a couple days, and considering these issues have occurred most days for at least a year or so now, this is good news.

I am really not sure if this is the meds actually beginning to work or if this is just psychosomatic, which wouldn't surprise me. I often think I am pregnant when I am not, I am usually just paranoid.

My big question is mostly to other people who use Lamictal or the generic brand name Lamotrigine, which I believe is what I am actually taking (if there is a difference or not?)

1.) When do you take it, day or night? (my pdoc says it doesn't matter when, it is up to me, as long as it is once daily and around the same time - I have been taking mine at night between 9-11pm because it is making me drowsy and I struggle to feel awake as it is at work)

2.) When did you feel like it was working/after how long?

3.) did you feel more energized/productive/motivated on it?

4.) Lamictal & Mania?

I guess I just want to hear what other people have to say about this drug, especially people who take it. I guess my pdoc put me on this because she suspects I might be bipolar (the first time anyone told me that) and she wants to try this first before putting me on an antidepressant which can sometimes push bipolars into mania? I am not even sure I have ever had mania, but I am still confused on the matter.

The first med I ever took (and the last one I took maybe 3 years ago before I stopped going to therapy and taking meds, yet again) was Paxil and although I was in an awful state 3 years ago, when I took it at age 16 or 17, I remember I felt very numbed, began stealing things, and was very sexually promiscuous with multiple partners for no apparent reason. I am not sure if that is Mania or not. I honestly have no idea.

Any feedback from those who take Lamictal or Bipolar people is much appreciated.