"i was diagnosed bipolar i with ocd when i was 14. i am now 38 and a mother of 3. i have been taking equatro/tegratol xr (carbamazepine) for 3 years now. i also take it with a mild antidepressant. i think on its own, the carbamazepine worked ok, but i found myself still depressed. no more rage or bursts of anger, but zombie like. as soon as my doctor introduced the antidepressant into my regimen, i feel wonderful!!! i take 600 mg a day total of the carbamazepine xr. 1 tablet in the am and 2 before bed. my morbid thoughts have stopped, suicidal tendency went away almost completely.  my moods are elevated and stable now. i am able to enjoy life now."