At first Lithium was alright, helping to "stabilize" my "moodiness." By the time it reached 1800 mg. however, I was 0.1 over normal level and became a zombie with a persistent hand tremor.

Even if no mood stabilizer helps me (I am schizophrenic anyway) I would recommend Depakote over Lithium. That may seem bad, but in my own experience, I had less mental blockage and only slight tremors that happen every so often. But it did make me gain weight. So, it's up to you to pick your poison. 50% of all manic depressives respond to Lithium and Lithium alone. My dad is one. So, go ahead and try Lithium, just be cautious, and if you suspect that the Lithium isn't all it's cracked up to be, switch to Depakote.