Lamictal (lamotrigine) has been shown to be effective, in clinical trials, in two ways:

1. seems to delay time of onset between episodes
2. has antidepressant qualities, as Bizi says.

It is often used in conjunction with an AD or for bipolars who cannot take an AD. BUT:

Clinical trials have shown Lamictal is not superior to placebo for mania.

As such, it is not an alternative to stabilizers with anti-manic effects such as indeed lithium, but also divalproex, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine... and the new generation neuroleptics.

So why do we call it a stabilizer at all, and not an anti-depressant? Well... partly history, partly chemistry. Neither term is really accurate.

Originally, Lamictal was thought to have both anti-manic and anti-depressant action, so historically it was termed a stabilizer, even thought used only off label at the time. Also, Lamictal is an anti-epileptic drug (AED); this class of drugs when used to treat bipolar generally serve as "mood-stabilizers," and are called thus. Lastly, most antidepressant (AD) drug classes have very different types of action than AEDs so lumping Lamictal under the AD umbrella would be more misleading than calling it a stabilizer, especially as pretty much all ADs carry a risk of manic reaction in bipolars, especially if the patient is not covered by an anti-manic agent.

Until Lamictal came along, saying "mood-stabilizer" was almost synonymous with "anti-manic." Now, not so but the name has stuck so we do sometimes say mood-stabilizer when we really intend something which will prevent/treat mania.

once one is stable, anti-manics are sometimes suspended (varying philosophies or whether a bipolar patient should or should not take them all the time). if the main problem is depression, Lamictal can be maintained to help with that.

Bizi, just a note... I do believe Geodon is serving as your anti-manic mood stabilizer, not Lamictal.

~ waves ~