I was on Depakote for several years, and the first month I was on it I got so sick on my period it was like having the flu. Believe it or not, these flu-like symptoms continued until the day I went into menopause about 5 years after I went off it! I now say that 'side-effects are forever!' I don't know if I had any other specific side-effects from Depakote, but I can tell you that between it, prozac, klonopin, xanax and topamax I was so sick I was mostly bedridden for about 5 years.

Topamax gave me such terrible muscle tremors in my forearm that I could watch the muscles shake back and forth. It was absolutely unreal. Topamax is also known for severe memory loss, and based on my researching it, I found that it's referred to as 'dope-amax' by doctors because people have been known to forget even their own names on it. I went off it after watching my muscles shake when I was driving one day.

I eventually went off all meds due to the nasty side-effects, and for the last 9+ years having been using the natural mineral supplement lithium orotate to control my hypomania. Lithium orotate isn't a drug. It's an over-the-counter supplement that contains a small amount of elemental lithium that is very easily absorbed by the body. I can honestly say that about the only symptoms of hypomania I now have is being a bit wound up with some extra energy, and not being able to get to sleep at night which is usually when I decide that I might be hypomanic so I take another dose of lithium orotate and a few hours later am able to get at least a few hours of decent sleep. Before when I was on meds, I had the racing mind, and wouldn't sleep but a few minutes for up to 10 days so you can imagine what a blessing the lithium orotate has been in my life.

I also use amino acids to control the depression. I take 5-htp, DL-phenylalanine for depression and GABA for hypomania and anxiety as GABA is one of the premier anxiety amino acids. 5-htp is used by the brain to produce serotonin, and DL-pheylalanine [DLPA] is used to produce dopamine and norepinephrine. I find that if I don't take the DLPA, I'm depressed regardless of how much 5-htp I take. DLPA gives that 'life is good' feeling.

Here are some articles on treating amino acid therapy, a brain function questionnaire showing the emotions and feelings associated with various neurotransmitters and an article about the differences between lithium carbonate, the drug and the mineral supplement lithium orotate.

http://drjolee.com/Brain-Function-Questionnaire.pdf

Amino Acid Therapy for Depression and Anxiety

https://www.integrativepsychiatry.ne...epression.html

Lithium Orotate The Safe, Unique Mineral with Multiple Uses