"by chance i started taking depakote around the time that my sad normally kicks in and after a month it had stopped it dead in it&#039;s tracks; no depression and only very mild manic episodes. i&#039;m also now experiencing a sense of inner calm and mental clarity than i ever thought possible. no side effects other than vivid dreams and some weight gain, which is par the course for me this time of year anyway and a small price to pay for the improvements i&#039;m seeing."