"been on it for 16  years now.   was on 100mg daily but change of lifestyle and reduced this to 50mg about 15 years ago.  about a year ago i weaned myself off the medication (over a period of 3 months) but bipolar began to manifest itself to a point that i resumed the 50mg dosage.   i am not aware of any side effects of my medication, but do appreciate the overall feeling of well-being and contentment that was not there during my recent trial of not taking medication."