It really varies how people tolerate it. Enough people have bad experiences that I think it has earned a bad reputation and for good reason. But it also can work really well and I've been on and off it a few times without more than a few days of brain zaps (without weaning b/c it was making my blood pressure go too high in combination with something else). I always liked how it made me feel but it never worked for long for me (I only was on it with mood stabilizers once, maybe twice. I think I tried it about 4 times over several years). I always was increasing the dosage and would feel better then need more of it until the dose maxed out. One of a number of drugs like that for me.

But I remember being afraid to come off it and then it was fine. I just got lucky but it's one of those weird drugs that people have vastly different experiences even with the same dosages, same time on the drug, etc.

I do know someone who takes a pretty high dosage (which extra mood stabilizers to compensate) and has done extremely well on it compared to years of difficulty before it. I just don't think she messes with the dose much if at all.