Lamictal is effective for BP-II, addresses the depressive end quite well.
I had converted over to that when my pdoc had recommended I give it a try, and over the few years I've been using it, I have had no problems with it. Where, my brother, who is BP-I, who leans towards mania more than depression, didn't do well with Lamictal, it just caused him to become more manic.
He had been on Lithium for over 30yrs but had to switch due to recent health problems. After Lamictal was tried and his mania went over the edge, they put him on Tegratol, it's been a few weeks and he's adjusted to it quite well.
We are keeping our fingers crossed that this new alternative will give him stabilization as well as the Lithium had all these years.
The change to Lamictal was good for me, cause AD's(one was Celexa too) sort of pooped out, and being DXed as BP-II mild, I really needed an AD more than something for hypomania (which I hardly ever had) so I tried Lamictal, in fact from 200mg I'm down to the lowest therapeutic dose of 150mg.
Lithium, is great and also was used as an anti-convulsant in a certain way.
As the old saying goes, some meds work for some and some don't work for others, so you'd need to try it out before you and your pdoc will know if Lamictal is the better alternative. To reduce side effects, it must be titrated slowly. I haven't had any side effects, but some people do.
I like that I didn't get drowsy or have any extra weight gains, like some other mood stabilizers cause.
I'd give it a try if I were you and your pdoc suggested to do so, but that has to be your own decision first.
Lots of luck with whatever way you go.