Olanzapine is FDA approved for treating Bipolar. It's also used off-label as an adjunct to anti-depressants in treatment-resistant depression. It works on serotonin as well as dopamine, so can have a lot of benefits for depression as well as preventing mania. Atypical anti-psychotics are also used as mood stabilizers--that's why I'm on Olanzapine/Zyprexa. It's actually the core of my treatment, and I personally prefer an AAP over a true mood stabilizer because the side-effect profile is less frightening to me. This is a personal choice, though.

I'm Bipolar II and Olanzapine is very helpful for me. I've been on it for months now and it has no side-effects to speak of, just helps lift my depression and stabilize my moods. I don't get sedated from it, though I'm somewhat unusual in this.