A couple of years ago I was diagnosed with bipolar 2 and put on lamotrigine (generic Lamictal). Once the dose was high enough I didn't get any more significant depressive episodes, just the odd terrible 2 or 3 days rather than weeks. Hypomanic episodes, while never particularly extended or severe have also reduced.

However, I still had some underlying problems that weren't solved (like anxiety over basic tasks and feeling overwhelmed). Having previously assumed that these were symptoms of depression, it turned out that they might not have been. When I tentatively brought up ADHD my psychiatrist said "I've thought that about you for a while, but needed to get the bipolar under control first." A few months on with the right dose of Elvanse, and things aren't perfect but they are *way* better.

At my last consultation my psychiatrist suggested the possibility of trying to come off lamotrigine because there was a chance that I didn't have bipolar 2 and that everything might have been caused by frustrations and anxiety stemming from undiagnosed and untreated ADHD. Apparently this happens to some people because untreated ADHD can have similar symptoms to bipolar 2. She was not pushy at all, acknowledged that there had been benefits from the bipolar meds, and was comfortable with me taking time to think it over and (if I wanted to try) choose the right moment for myself.

I'm giving it some thought because there are a couple of possible lamotrigine side effects that I'd like to see disappear and I'd obviously like to stop taking something if I *genuinely* don't need it. But I'm also nervous about it. Weirdly, part of this is because bipolar 2 seemed to explain so much (although not as much as ADHD!) and it quickly became part of how I understood myself.

Has anyone here had any experience of this, one way or the other? (I'll put a copy of this post in the ADHD sub too)