Okay, to explain why this med combo may not be working to bring you out of a depressive episode, I need to break the two down. Here we go:

- Lamotrigine (Lamictal) is indeed known to be effective in the PREVENTION and the clinical trials have shown the medication to be very good in the area of preventing a depressed state. However, there is controversy surrounding its effectiveness as a TREATMENT for episodes. If you're in a depressive state currently, I would personally recommend (as a starting base for medication) asking about SSRIs both safe for bipolar disorder and with low interactions with mood stabilising medication.

- Saphris (Can't remember drug name) is effective at treating mania and mixed episodes but once again not effective for DEPRESSED states.

There are medications (antidepressants) especially good at treating depressive states; the risk of them being a kick-start for a manic episode in Bipolar Patients. However this risk can be overcome with the correct dose and an additional mood stabiliser.

I'm currently on Quitiapine 300mg and Sertraline 150mg but cannot currently comment on their effectiveness as I have just been switched from Citalopram (which didn't work for me).

Regards
RB