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Hi, I'm a 43 yo guy who's been severely depressed since I was 19 and I'm amazed I'm still alive. Antidepressants (and there's very few I haven't tried, including the popular combos) either do nothing, make me more depressed or help partially for a few weeks and then poop-out. I've never had mania/hypomania (other than a period on Abilify). After my stay at an inpatient psych ward in February, a young PDoc added Lithium to my Nardil (which, incidentally has been my most successful med to date but now does nothing) on the hunch that I might be BP2-ish. Whilst I can't say I went "WOO I'M FIXED", the Lithium certainly had a positive effect for a couple of months. Which has since just waned and stopped. So now I'm desperately depressed again. I'm seeing my PDoc soon to discuss alternative BP2 treatments. Top of my list of suggestions (since he is malleable in his dispensing) is Lamictal. But should it be? I read a lot of positive feedback on it's effect on depression but the data says it's poor. Should I perhaps be aiming towards an alternative? There are so many it's quite bewildering and I'm relatively new to the BP2 scenario. Any tips are most appreciated. Pete

Wondering if anyone has any good news to share about finding remission from refractory depression! Whether you've been partially or fully successful at getting your life back, please share your story

I am on 400 mg Seroquel at night to sleep and as an adjunct for treatment resistant depression and bipolar II. At this dose it works well for insomnia and I have not had a bipolar episode for 7 years. However, I do have auditory hallucinations. It seems as if a radio is on in another room that I can just barely hear. Or as if people are having a conversation I can't make out. I have a PhD in Clinical Psychology and an MD in Emergency Medicine. These hallucinations are not disturbing because I fully know they are a side effect of the medication. I actually try to make out the words or the music. Ironically, at a higher dose the medication would be less effective for insomnia. But, at this dose it seems to work well. I also assume it is working on the Bipolar II. I only had one Bipolar Episode brought on by a divorce. But, I have never had another one. For non psychotic patients, the auditory hallucinations can be managed if you know they are due to the Seroquel. For other patients, I assume if hallucinations are part of your symptoms; it can be more difficult. But if you get these auditory hallucinations, just know they are a side effect and go to bed.