Is lamictal a "weak" drug for bipolar 1?

I've read that lamictal isn't the most effective drug is that true? I was on it for a while and it worked alright but then being new to bipolar I decided I didn't need my medication so I stopped taking the full dose and went into mania. I was hospitalized and they increased my dose of lamictal to 400mg and it did not "fix" me quick enough for their standards so they switched me to Tegretol. Now my doctor has been talking to me about possibly switching back to lamictal or some other drug as tegretol has noticeably reduced my sex drive and my testosterone is low. I'm afraid of switching meds since Tegretol works for me and why screw with it but my sex drive is messed up and I'm only 25 so I don't want to live the rest of my life with a bad sex life.

I know there are other drugs like depakote and oxcarbazapine (i forget the regular name of it) that don't have as bad of an effect on sex drive.

If you guys had to recommend between lamictal, depakote, or trileptal or staying on what I'm on what would you suggest? I have bipolar 1 with psychotic features so if the switch causes a problem I will most likely end up in the hospital which will possibly ruin a semester of school for me but not cause me to loose my job cause I'm on disability currently.

Ok so just going to start by saying i'm not a professional

So just take whatever I say with a grain of salt.

From what I know, if you're having trouble with low testosterone, depakote may be the way to go. They don't give it to women for the reason that it might increase their testosterone leading to agression and unwanted hair growth.

I have not taken lamictal, but have taken trileptal, seroquel, abilify, and geodon.

Honestly, from where i'm standing trileptal/geodon may work, the trileptal to handle mood, and geodon for psychotic symptoms.

Or put Depakote in the trileptal space, but that has the possibility of making you feel very tired.

Ask your doctor about the possibility that depakote may increase your testosterone, if he thinks it might work, then Depakote/Geodon or something similar could be an option.

I would recommend Seroquel; however that has sedative effects, which will probably make you very tired as well. Seroquel is an antipsychotic and a mood stabilizer I believe, so it could be an all-in-one pill for bedtime.

I've been very fortunate to have suffered very minimal side effects from any drug except celexa (antidepressant) so I really have nothing to add on that note. I wish you luck




I

I have BP1 with psychotic features and I am on the following

Lithium
Lamotrigine
Aripiprazole
Sertraline

I found that adding the lamotrigine actually helped a lot, it was added at the same time as the aripiprazole. Having said that everyone is different. Anecdotally lamotrigine is good for depressive episodes in particular, tho I have found it good for both. I think it is a case of trying it and seeing, and if it doesnt work trying something different. But certainly despite my diagnosis I have found it to be good.

Cracked

WHen I was "only" Bipolar II Lamictal was enough to even me out. Then when I became manic I started taking Seroquel in addition to it. That combo works well for me.

From what I know Lamictal is great for maintenance on mood swings: increases time between episodes and help's you be even. And it's good for Bipolar Depression apparently. But As far as I know it's not used for acute episodes... so might not do much when you're in the throws of mania.

Just my two sense. Not a pro.

I'm bipolar I and have been taking lamictal for years now, it's been a life saver for me in terms of managing my mood. Having said that, intially when I was in my manic/delusional phase I was just put on heavy doses of seroquel and lithium. When my delusions resolved, severe depression kicked in-thats when my psych weened me off the seroquel and on to lamictal. I believe my med combo is as good as it's going to get at this point.

Lithium
Lamictal
Klonopin