For me, Depakote was the best at controlling mania and rapid cycling. It didn't do much for depression, though - if anything, I felt more depressed. But, if you are taking other meds for the depression, it could be a really beneficial addition.

As far as side effects, I didn't have many other than some cognitive difficulty (memory problems, slower processing, etc.). Some gain weight on it, but I actually lost a bit since I didn't eat as much.