When I was on depakote I always had levels done after any dose change and at least every 6 months. It's a "therapeutic dosage" med so if there isn't a blood level they don't know if it can be working. For me this was the only way to know I metabolized it really fast and needed a high dose to have any real effect. It also can mess up liver enzymes and those should be tested routinely. I don't know why your pdoc would say otherwise; I thought what was done with me was standard.