While my husband doesn't experience mania as much anymore, he refrains from drinking, period. When he drinks, he feels more like doing strange things & being on anti-depressants & drinking alcohol is a bad combination. It's really better that you not drink at all (if possible) while you're taking medicine. I hope that helps.

Lamitcal is not an anti-depressant. While drinking while on any medication is not the best idea, my doctor told me that there is not an elevated risk with this drug in particular. As far as the Mania, I personally don't think drinking makes me more manic-- however I think mania lead me to drink more than I should. I'm with you, being a 23yr old, sometimes you feel like you're invincible and the amount we tend to consume while unhealthy for anyone makes our crazy behavior go too far. I don't know how long you've been on Lamitcal, but it worked wonders on me...it's made to treat the mania, so it doesn't flatten you out like other stuff. One warning though, after a night of tough partying I woke up with exactly the sort of rash the doctors warn you about could turn into Stevens Johnsons. My head was the size of a balloon, and I had to quit taking the medication. So be careful, I think the alcohol may have worsened my symptoms.

I would say that it brings out the best of both, mania and depression in my experience. If I've been drinking in mania (I'm not medicated) I'll feel like I'm on top of the world in an uncontrollable way. However, in depression it makes me feel much worse severe anxiety, I will not eat for weeks, until I�m completely sick. So, without medication alcohol makes my symptoms much more severe