Welcome to PC, CowOne...

Dealing with this stuff is frustrating...it usually takes a good long while before you and your pdoc work out a drug regimen that works for you.

First thing, Depakote is not indicated for bipolar depression. Depakote is good to treat mania, but an antidepressant is often used along with it to treat symptoms of depression. Another drug, Lamictal, has shown good results with mania and depression in bipolar disorder. Another drug, Seroquel, has recently been approved by the FDA for bipolar depression.

Please follow the basics...yes, it's really hard to do when you're depressed, but you gotta try, these will do you more good than drugs by themselves:

First, get eight hours of sleep, at night, every night. You have to keep your body rhythyms regular, and here's the place to start. Second, get thirty minutes of exercise every day. If you can get outside in the sun that's the best. Even if you just walk down to the corner and back a few times, it's critical that you do this. Good nutrition is also important...moderation in everything is the key. Are you in therapy? You will double your chances of recovery with both drug therapy and talk therapy. Also, find a support group in your area...go to www.DBSAlliance.org or www.nami.org to find a group in your area.

Good luck with what you are going through...there are lots of great people here to help you. Also, learn as much as you can about this disease. Knowledge is power!

DJ