"i&#039;ve been bipolar for 20 years. i&#039;m a scientist, when i&#039;m working. lithium has always been helpful but is not so great for depression though it does help if you take it a while. i finally started lamotrigine about a month ago. lots of friends and professionals i know and trust said i should. i was skeptical since drugs tend to be bad news. after just a month (i titrated up quickly, so i&#039;ve been on 100 for 2 weeks. probably best not do that there&#039;s a fatal skin disease you can get) my low level depression feels better. 

i&#039;d say it&#039;s genuinely beneficial for bipolar depression. a little dizziness but not so bad, and it fades. my friends say there&#039;s no evidence that more than 100mg or 150 helps, but it could increase side effects. 100 is good"