this interests me muchly - i currently take 2500mg depakote a day and have done since 2003. i've never felt any effects whatsoever so i can only assume i'd be an absolute nightmare without it. i never experienced any weight gain, sedation or other side effects - and i find that compared to stuff like quetiapine or other stuff i get given when i go seriously manic its positively pleasant due to its lack of noticeable sideeffects...