"i started depakote er 2000mg at bedtime about a year ago after decades of ineffective treatment for depression and anxiety. depakote proved that i was misdiagnosed: it quickly alleviated my psych. symptoms and allowed me to reduce xanax xr dose by half and eliminate prn xanax. i haven&#039;t experienced the weight loss side effect, but did lose a lot of hair at first.  the hair seems to be thickening up now.  i would give it 10 stars except for the hair loss."