Also be careful of Depacote; yes it is a mood stabilizer but originally it was used as an anti-convulsant (they still do). I was on it for 2 complete months and was on the way to gaining 20 lbs. which I did not because I went off of it. My mom had to go on Depacote after Lithium which ruined her kidneys after being on it 20 yers; but it was the best 20 years she ever had. She had despised the Depacote because it caused her to gain 30 lbs.. She refused to take which became a constant struggle between her and the doctors. I've known 2 people who gained100 lbs. on it(since, lost it after going off). In addition, depacote causes extreme hair lost. I was losing it in hoards. Most of mine grew back but for a while I looked liked a porcupine. Doctors will deny all this. Just ask other patients who have taken it. I have a male friend who took it for 9 months and has a permanent bald spot in the back of his head and is not going to get a hair tranplant. I am currently taking lithium but on my next visit to my pdoc I'm going to ask him about two more Bi-polar meds that just came out.