XR made a world of difference for me. I was able to get to work at a much better time, was overall more focused and was able to gradually wean off high-dose depakote (which I hated). When I had to be on very high doses I was sedated again but at normal doses I did great with it.

When XR came out and was rumored to be less sedating I begged to be put on it. My pdoc usually doesn't let me try new meds because I have had too many bad reactions but she gave in and I started when it was so new that I had to go to 3 pharmacies to even find it.