I took it for over 20 years, with no real side effects that I was aware of. However, my doc recently took me off of it because she said that it has too many interactions with other psych meds. I was weaned off of it and am doing fine. It seems like my other meds are working better. I know it is hard on your liver [you are supposed to have a liver panel done every 6 months, at least that is my understanding] so I am glad to be off of it.