I'm sorry you've had such a rough time with bipolar medications, AspiringAuthor. The side effects you mentioned all seem to be particularly bad ones.

I'm on Tegretol XR (a large dose), but have never had a rash. Was Tegretol a medication you just recently got off of? Or from a while back? I would wonder if trying it a second time (or trying the extended release) might not cause the rash. You said it gave you a serene feeling. That sounds nice, as long as you don't have a rash.Trileptal is actually a very close relative of Tegretol in that it has oxygen added to it. Trileptal doesn't usually require blood monitoring, and doesn't have all of the drug interactions that Tegretol has (though it has some). The only bad thing is that it seems to be a little less effective for some people than Tegretol.

I've never tried Latuda or Vraylar either. I have had ECT, but only for a long stubborn severe depressive episode, not any of my manic episodes. ECT can be a lifesaver for some. I've heard of some people not having memory problems, but I did.

Of the 1st generation antipsychotics, I've only taken Navane (Thiothixene) and Trilafon (Perphanazine). In my case Navane seemed helpful, but at a higher dose gave me a dystonia. My pdoc lowered the dose and the dystonia went away, but the lower dose plus many other bipolar meds, didn't do enough. Trilafon (perphanazine) was very effective for me. Possibly the most effective antipsychotic I've been on for mania and mixed episodes, but it did give me weight gain. I was on a slightly higher than normal bipolar dose of Trilafon.