"the help i received from lamictal was outstanding.  it took a few weeks but my down cycle wasn&#039;t nearly as bad and the mania all together stopped.  in time the cycles all stopped.  but the side effects were too much to handle.  i started to lose hair, my fingernails were so think i broke nails typing (even on many vitamins and prescription vitamin d). i would bruise just by a bracelet resting on my arm for a few minutes and then the bruise wouldn&#039;t go away, the worst side effect was terrible circulation.  i have been on topamax and experienced the poor circulation they talk about all the time, but this was something else entirely. i couldn&#039;t feel my finger tips and my feet had no feeling.  my hands were ice cold all the time."