Depakote for me is a tough medicine. Without it I get hypomanic. No good.
With it I feel like I am in the twilight zone. Hard to feel good etc. etc.

But the good thing with Depakote is that I do not get into any trouble. That is the price you pay.

Having been on it for two years there has been weight gain. It seems the longer that I have been on it, the more tolerable the side effects have become.

My advice at this point is that you should at least give it a longer chance.

Good Luck