I took Lamictal for 8 years and it worked great for me until... I got the dreaded RASH!! Apparently that rash can be a sign of a deadly allergic reaction. I ended up in the hospital because the rash was so bad, my doctor put me on a high dose of STEROIDS and no replacement mood stabilizer or anything. So for the first and only time in my life and went full-blown manic! I had to be hospitalized from the steroid-induced mania. :-P Thankfully, my psychiatrist got me straightened out in three days. That being said, Lamictal is a great mood stabilizer. Just stop taking it if you develop a rash. My rash was like hives, FYI.