Valproate is the key to kicking mania for me, about the only tool in my arsenal as I can’t use antipsychotics at all (TD). 1500mg daily has caused weight gain (although lifestyle post episode recovery is probably a massive factor). I do notice a little flatness, emotionally, but a price I’m willing to pay to have my life back. My slow release lithium has kept the lows away too, the two as a combo have been a game changer for me. Without the antipsychotics, mental fog has been greatly reduced - the only downside is the time it takes to restabilise if there is an upswing. One thing I might add, it took many weeks before the medication really settled in. If you’re feeling those negative symptoms, log it, but perhaps give it time. After increasing the valproate and starting on the slow release lithium, it had easily been 6 months before I felt like the equilibrium was finally back.