I have been on both.

Depakote: Puked my guts out for a solid 10 days. Hair loss, bruising, mega-sedation (constant oversleeping, which did not make my employer happy!).

Topamax: Significant weight loss. One day my entire food intake for the day was a donut hole (a little mini-donut). I felt like I had just finished a 7-course gourmet meal, and I couldn't eat another thing. Didn't do a thing for my mood, unfortunately.

So, those are my experiences ... but they are just my experiences .... everyone reacts differently to everything. The first 3 weeks I was on Effexor, I had to be peeled off the ceiling -- I'm not usually manic, but I got a taste of it then. (Ick, btw!) Other people I know who have started Effexor have had incredible lethargy and tiredness. So, bottom line, as always -- you don't know how you'll react till you try it.

Good luck.

Candy