"i was diagnosed bipolar ii a little over 4 years ago. i was manic for a long time, i&#039;m talking 2 years. with episodes of extreme depression. i wouldn&#039;t take my medications and ended up in and out of several mental health centers at several hospitals, well over 10 hospitalizations. i was a reckless mess. i can&#039;t even remember a lot of that time period. i was losing everything along with my mind- i was gone without a doubt. i saw this dr yet can&#039;t remember his name, while in the hospital and he was so nice and didn&#039;t want to sedate me like i had been in the past. he put me on lamictal for the first time. this was 3 years ago. it saved my life. works within the first week. seriously the best mood stabilizer ever."