I'm newly diagnosed this year after a nasty few years with very little, if any, stability and no returning to baseline (previous Dx was MDD severe, recurrent, plus GAD), having to leave jobs due to being too unwell, and a lot of hospitalizations and horrible treatment there (not to mention very adverse reactions to anti-depressants!). Finally, a Dx that makes sense of it all...

My Dx is now BP II, SAD, GAD. It's so confusing to read the info that is out there and then the DSM criteria. I am a rapid or ultra-rapid cycler and also have mixed episodes (but likely just shy of full on mania)- so theoretically that doesn't fit the BP II Dx, right?

I have been very slowly tapering up on Lamictal since September and got to the 200mg 10 days ago. I have not been stable the whole time (actually had the worst mixed episode i've ever had in Oct and nearly didn't make it) and am still in a nasty (precarious) depression. Has this happened to anyone else on Lamictal? P.doc was considering tapering me down to a lower dose (since the lamictal is also causing some cognitive impairments) but we really want to give lamictal a good trial, since it has such a preferable side effect profile. I was meant to wait it out til late January but I need some relief now. I am wondering about adding low dose lithium.
Any experiences or advice?