That's interesting to learn, Wild Coyote. I had heard something similar about Depakote, as well as that Depakote is notorious for causing PCOS. I wouldn't say I'm "hirsute" in any significant way. Perhaps some issues beyond what most women my age experience. But I have even had occasional hairs on my chinny chin chin since my mid 20s, before I even knew of my diagnosis (or bipolar medications). My mother had a faint mustache, which is something I don't really have (just a stray hair I pluck occasionally). Yes, perhaps my age (or even medication) may contribute, but then again I am not a fine-haired lass. I have a mop of thick darkish hair. It's far from the rabbit fur that my husband has. Shaving my legs can sometimes seem like shaving a hedgehog (exaggerating a bit) and I confess to occasionally bleaching the hair on my arms, etc.

Despite your warning, I would have no real incentive to go off of Tegretol XR, unless my life became threatened in a significant way. Its benefit for me certainly far outweighs any gripes I have. Really, it's pretty marvelous, comparatively...for me. When you've tried over 20 serious bipolar medications over the years, you maybe see that some gripes are pretty small potatoes. That's not to say I haven't experienced some "big potatoes". I developed dystonia from Navane, kidney and thyroid damage from Lithium, severe hyperprolactemia (wearing pantyliners in my bra) and a pituitary microadenoma from Invega, a rapid weight gain of over 30 lbs in a six-month period on Depakote, the most torturous akathisia I can imagine on Geodon. They're big potatoes. My current mix is all small potato gripes. Even the Seroquel XR, as I've written about in the past (I weigh 20 lbs less now on Seroquel, after 7 years on it, than I did on Depakote for 6 months, 9 years ago). Maybe things will change in the future. I'll worry about that if/when.

Honestly, from my observations reading posts on bipolar forums over the last 12 years, I've realized that I can be much more tolerant of side effects than many people. That can sometimes be a bad thing, but other times a very positive one. I've held out to see many medication side effects ease over time. Also, waited through discomforts to find that I initially blamed the wrong thing.