I had been on Depakote, almost a year and asked to be put on Lithium instead, it was great, the Depakote I did not like,it made me get tired and fat.
Lithium, I had minimal weight gain cause it did slightly slow down my thyroid function which Synthroid addressed
I stopped with Lithium cause the type of Bipolar that I am is BP-II (mild) which for me, the severe depression has been the serious issue so my pdoc had suggested I try Lamictal, it is known for it's antidepressant qualities but yet is not an AD, but an anti-convulsant like Depakote, Tegretol, and damn, I can' remember how to spell the other one.
Keeping in mind meds affect everyone differently so what may work for some may not work for the other, but I would highly recommend Lamictal for Bipolar-II. If you tend to have more of a mania/hypomania issue, Lamictal is good, but I'd go back to Lithobid if mania becomes an issue again.
Lithium was better for me than Depakote cause I was never zonked out while on it and was alert to drive and operate machinery, so it was an excellent drug for the manic end of things. When on Depakote they also had me first on Remeron, it knocked me out and robbed me of emotion, that was short lived, then they used Celexa for about 2 years along with the Depakote and then the Lithium, the Celexa konked out and that is when the pdoc asked me if I'd try Lamictal, I di not need to us an AD either
It is now a year and 2 months with Lamictal alone and it has been great, for anxiety I recently developed I am allowed to use 2 Klnopin a day and Ativan if I have problems getting to sleep, all together it works out.
Topamax didn't do a thing for me, even the pdoc agrred with me that for me it wasn't worth taking anymore, it did not reduce any weight like I had been so excited hearing about the claims it helps you lose or keep weight off.
I've been on all the SSRI's AD's over 4-5 years, naturally not taking them all during the same time, but the present combo I have been on has worked great for me, but everyone is different as well as their illness, so it is a matter of giving ones a try till it "fits", almost like trying on shoes at a shoe
store. For mania, the best is Lithium, it is known to have the best and longest track record over several decades now, comes in different strengths and formulations, I was given Lithobid, had no side effects at all, if so they were so mild I hardly noticed them My brother takes Lithocarbonate (Cam, is that the right spelling?) it is in different dose mg size than what mine came in, but he has been on it for over 30 years and it has been a miracle drug for him, he is Bipolar-I tending to have more violent type manic episodes, the Lithium nixxed that Hope I was helpful towards your questions.
Lamictal has an extremely rare chances of rashing, but if your pdoc titrates you gradually and you keep him or her up to date with any changes I do not forsee any major problems, but then again we are all different, and yet very same ;0

Take care,
"darkeyes"

In giving advice seek to help, not please your friend
SOLON