I'm bipolar and meds are no longer working...?

I've been on Lamictal for two to three years, and it worked great until about six months ago. Then I started getting depressed and having more manic symptoms. Now I'm almost desperate, but I'm confused about all the different meds out there. My therapist insists the meds are working, even though I know they aren't (3 suicide attempts in 6 months). The person who prescribes my Lamictal (psychiatric nurse practitioner--I won't see a psychiatrist) loves it and doesn't want to admit that it sometimes loses its effectiveness so blames it on my "environment." I want my "regular" doctor--my general physician--to take over my psychiatric meds, but need somewhere to start. Any ideas? Oh, I'm bipolar II with depression as the major problem.

Has anyone been on more than 200 mg. per day with better effects? I'm just wondering if a higher dose would work.

I have been taking Lamictal 200mg 2x day for about 3 years now. It has been working great, although there are times that sometimes I feel like my depression and hypomanic phases break through. When that happens, I take Zyprexa 2.5mg. It's a fast acting mood stabilizer and it can kind of kick things back into balance, so to speak. You need to be aware that your regular doctor will not have the knowledge that a psychiatrist will have. Why is it that you won't see one? It sounds like your psychiatric nurse isn't really listening to you anymore and it's making you more frustrated. In any case, talk to your regular doctor. You need to make sure that they feel comfortable doing this. Medication can stop working after a while, or you may be cycling into a depression that the medication isn't holding, so to speak (the medication might be working, you could be worse without it!). There are other things you can do too, besides medication, to help manage your symptoms. Check out the website. Dr. Phelps is one of the leading psychiatrists on Bipolar disorder and he seems to specialize in Bipolar II. I hope this helps, and I'm sorry that you have been feeling so bad lately. Good for you for trying to get help!

Talk to your doctor ASAP.
Good luck!!!

Please go to a PSYCHIATRIST and get proper treatment .. med do sometimes lose effectiveness over time and your really need evaluated by someone that knows what they are doing ...
most regular doctors won't have anything to do with psychiatric meds because that just not their specialty just as you wouldn't want your podiatrist work on your heart please don't insist a regular doctor deal with your psychiatric meds

You should consult your doctor because I think I may have the same thing yet I am not trying any suicide attempts. I want to help you but, I am not sure how. Maybe you could help me? by looking at the question I just posted.

Please see your doctor and tell her/him that you are going to end up killing yourself if you don't get new meds. I'm sure he/she will listen to that.

Pleeeasse see a psychiatrist! Medications sometimes do lose their effectiveness for people.
It's irresponsible for a psych NP or therapist to say that your meds are working if you've been suicidal multiple times while on them.
Ask your primary care doctor to make a new recommendation for a different psych practitioner. Primary care doctors don't usually like to prescribe or change psych meds as it is not their specialty. And you do need a specialist's attention. Don't delay, sometimes it can take weeks to get hooked up with a new one. Worst case scenario, you should go to the Emergency Dept and tell them how you're feeling and that you need help.

i am bipolar talk to me dogmicjoe@yahoo.com. hold on call 1800 suicide. also waht helps is walking alot. try writing down urfeelings. i know how u feel. hold on. go suicide.org

I took 300mg for a while, along with a couple other meds, and tried 400 mg but that was too much. Why don't you want to see a psychiatrist? From my experience they're more knowledgable than nurse practitioners, and both of them are better edjucated on mental illness than your "regular" doctor would be. Unless your reason for not seeing a psychiatrist is solely financial I would suggest at least consulting one.