I've been on both lamictal and Depakote. Depakote has a lot of bad side effects like weight plus you need to get blood work done all the time from what i was told it can shut down your liver. Then i was put on lamictal which has fewer side-effects But they are both mood stabilizers which I hated I had no emotions and started cutting and burning myself just to feel pain But that me for some people they work great but i love my manic I lived with it my whole life and its who i am. The meds . I take now just bring it down abit I still cycle up and down and sometimes its hard but its my choice .You need to find what work for you to be level all the time or to ride the waves up and down or some where in between.