"after a suicide attempt that landed me in the hospital&#039;s psych ward for three weeks, i was put on effexor xr and lamotrigine as a mood stabilizer. this combo has changed my life. it took a few months to get the dosage right (yes, months), but i&#039;m coming up on two years since i&#039;ve been hospitalized with little to no problems. i&#039;m 21 and finishing my post-secondary education, hold a part-time job, live on my own, and have loving and supporting relationships. i never thought it would get better until effexor came around."