Hi hon,

As mentioned in the other thread, I'm on Depakote for severe bipolar I. I told my pdoc about my fears and concerns and he told me he wanted to try Depakote with me specifically because I manifest mostly mixed state episodes and it is supposed to be top-notch in dealing with those.

I have noticed a tendency to retain water and an increase in appetite -- both of which are probably famous in the anecdotal "depabloat" reports of how it makes people gain weight. BUT after nearly 4 weeks I am also starting to notice my moods are a GREAT DEAL more stable than they were for several months before I started on it. There is far less anxiety and while I'm still troubled by intermittent insomnia, overall I'm sleeping more and sleeping better -- I'm even dreaming again, which means I'm getting REM sleep.

OK, so I'm going to have to watch what I eat a little more closely, eat more healthy things, and get some regular exercise. OR ELSE perhaps give up all efforts to reclaim my once hard-won (in 2002) and now-lost (last year) and thus coveted size 4, and resign myself to becoming "Rubenesque" -- gaining some pounds and turning into a zaftig size 12-14 for the rest of my life. Is all that really so bad? To me it seems a small price to pay for mental health, for stability, for being able to be functional and not be freaking out over everything constantly or eating myself up with anxiety and racing thoughts.

Granted, if my hair was coming out in real HANDFULS on a daily basis, or my liver functions were shot, of course I'd be concerned and demanding a different Rx. But a few extra pounds and a little evening puffiness I can deal with -- so long as it doesn't become something ridiculous like doubling my size or developing diabetes or whatnot! My teenage daughter was on it for awhile, it never made her gain an ounce ... so maybe if you're younger and your metabolism hasn't hit the infamous mid-30s slow-down, you're in the clear ...

I feel very fortunate to be experiencing some stability already after just 4 weeks of trying this medication. Many people have to go through tons of meds before they find something that works for them. I say go for it -- give the Depakote a shot. See if it will help more than it will harm, or whether it will even harm at all.