(depakote, lithium, tegretol) are the three classical musketeers to deal especially with mania/hypomania although supposidely they are called mood stabilizers. So if your pdoc advised you with it, it means you need it. i wouldn't stop it unless i substitute it for another MS.
some pdocs use instead antipsychotics like zyprexa, seroquel or risperidone to handle mania, while the 1st is a strong MS, the 2nd works as monotherapy, got AD properties in it and is a strong antimanic.