"i&#039;ve been on depakote, lithium and now trileptal.  trileptal has given me absolutely no side effects, no weight gain and it controls my mood.  i was bumping into walls, throwing up, feeling like i was high and eating everything in sight on depakote.  i gained so much weight.  on lithium, i did well, but couldn&#039;t deal with the gastrointestinal issues, as well as urinating every other hour, and being thirsty all the time.  nothing quenched my thirst.  this medicine is like taking a vitamin and it has stabilized my moods for almost 5 years now."