Hello travelbug

Thank you for letting us know how your appointment went today.

I completely agree with your pdoc - no need really to rush into labelling the kind of BP; this is minor for now; what will be managed is your current presenting and future presenting symptoms; regardless of which sub type of Bipolar you belong to. This can come with time as evidence of patterns and symptoms emerge.

Lithium is certainly the Gold Class standard when treating Bipolar. It is a highly successful mood stabiliser for a lot of people. Caution obviously, as with all medication, needs to be exercised when one is on lithium. Regular blood tests are required to test for things like Thyroid Levels and Lithium levels - pending really on your psychiatrists view; around 0.6 - 0.8 is around the equilibrium one looks for in terms of optimal functioning of lithium of the blood; can be marginally higher; pending on episode.

Lamictal; for me; personally is a pretty good mood stabiliser; when I compare them against all of the other mood stabilisers that I have been on. It hasn't caused any weight gain with me what so ever - and I'm pretty sensitive to anything messing around with my metabolism.

I have no exprience with Topomax. I know members that have been on this; and they mostly have positive experiences. Hopefully members can come forward to offer their input.

You will find the right cocktail.