[Jshect]

I have bipolar II with hypomania and severe debilitating depression. I also have anxiety and ADD-like concentration issues.

So if you are bipolar II with rapid cycling hypomania and severe depression let me know if lithium worked for you. If not, what has?

I am most concerned with my severe depression issues because I cannot function when I am down. I function quite well when I am hypomanic so I am not as concerned with that.

[AniManiac]

I have similar symptoms.

My pdoc prescribed Lamictal, however, not lithium - she said it's considered one of the safest and most effective meds for BP II. It is supposed to be weight neutral, requires no blood tests, and doesn't impact libido, all of which is better than lithium.

[Travelinglady]

Yes, mood stabilizers are generally considered the way to go. Lamictal has been the drug of choice for bipolar II's, although I had to go off of it after years of the highest dose. Bad side effects.....

Lithium has certainly been popular. But I think it's really more for Bipolar I mania. However, I'm no expert on the subject!

Definitely consult a pdoc on this matter!

hi- I have Bipolar II with more depression than hypomania as well. I am taking Lamictal with no side effects and good results.

[Sheba976]

Lamictal for me. I'm only at 100 mg and the horrible depressive, crying for no reason and sui thoughts are gone. I also take Lexapro but I have been on it for a year and I think they will be weaning me off of it soon once the Lamictal is stablized.

[ohlala]

Lamictal is working for me. Lithium requires blood tests, causes weight gain, and can really mess up your metabolism. Still, for some it is a miracle drug. I couldn't take SSRI's or SNRI's either.

[Anneinside]

Lithium works more on mania than depression. I take lamotrigine (lamictal) as my mood stabilizer. I am also on an MAOI, Emsam, for depression, along with a boost from Abilify.

[Tsunamisurfer]

I normally cycle weekly, and range from extreme excitability with poor judgement through to suicidal depression. My pdoc chose to put me on lithium because it is effective for mania, and is also known to reduce suicidality. So far so good (checks pulse). She put me on Epilim to help with the reduction of mood swings. The combination only achieved moderate mood intensity. I was then put on Seroquel (again) for psychosis, and that is when my mood chart flat-lined on normal for a couple of months so far.
While the cycle frequency is typical of Bipolar II, the mania is what got my pdoc to diagnose Bipolar I.

[Secretum]

Hi. I also have rapid-cycling (you wouldn't believe just how rapid sometimes!) bipolar II with awful depressions and almost enjoyable hypomanias. I was initially prescribed lamictal like everybody else. Unfortunately, I had a reaction to it and had to come off. Now I'm on another anticonvulsant called tegretol (well, technically I'm on generic carbamazepine because I'm a broke college student). Supposedly tegretol is a great mood stabilizer for those of us who occasionally have crazy fast cycling. I noticed that it did even out the daily mood swings related to my cyclothymic temperament...so that I felt nothing but the severe bipolar II depression I've been going through! Lovely. I'm also on Wellbutrin (again, for me really bupropion) which is an antidepressant, since, as I mentioned, tegretol did not really do much to help my depression.

The 1st pdoc who evaluated me gave me a choice between lithium and lamictal. Lithium does have its advantages; it's a mineral, so it's "natural"; it's great (better than all other bipolar meds) at preventing suicide; it's cheap price-wise; and it has the longest history of use of all bipolar meds, so we know a lot about it.

Definitely talk to your pdoc about it. A lot of bipolar individuals take lithium in addition to other drugs. That might be a good option for you; your other meds could help with the rapid cycling and depression, while lithium reduces your risk of suicide and prevents your mood from swinging too far in the opposite direction (just because you haven't been too far up now does not mean that you never will go there, and being on antidepressants definitely increases your risk for mania.)

[Fresia]

Lithium did not work for me and I developed a rash with Lamictal, which was disappointing because it helped. Geodon with Topamax has balanced the BP II and very rapid cycling; then I have Welbutrin XL for the depression which is significant for me too and also still astounds me with the rapid cycling, such a weird feeling. The other Welbutrins (orig and SR) were too short-term acting despite the one being sustained release and would cause swings. It would nice if was not a trial and error situation, but eventually is trial and success.

Good luck finding what will work best for you!! Hang in there!

[bernimasa64]

my son is bipolar I and the lithium has been a godsend for him. It has helped with his moods and stuff. He started taking lithium at 13 and is now 18 and that is all that helps him.