"i am on the 500 x 2 er and people tell me i&#039;m alot more calmer and they see the change, i guess i was on the depressed side of the spectrum. it may also be that i am on celexa as well. at first i was severely drowsy, but after about seven months in it kicks in. as far as weight gain goes same there no changes. hair loss? was already losing it. i have been on lithium and that didn&#039;t work, tried tegretrol as well, come to find out i am allergic, so if i can feel normal and blood tests on liver and kidney comes back fine, hey i will give depakote 2 big thumbs up with a normal life."