- Psychiatric scales designed to measure past compliance, side-effects, and your bipolar symptoms will be administered. (See the Attached Schedule of Events for a list of all Procedures required during the study) Patients, who continue to meet all inclusion and exclusion criteria, will return for a baseline visit (Visit 2). At this visit you will discontinue valproic acid and begin taking Depakote ER the following day. The total daily dose will be adjusted to be 8-20% higher than your original valproic acid dose, at the discretion of the Investigator, in order to reach therapeutic levels. Rating scales will be administered and the study drug (Depakote ER) will be dispensed.