I took citalopram about 10 years ago as like you, my GP at the time thought that I needed it. My acne was quite bad at the time and I don`t think that it really made any difference to my skin.

In terms of it`s effectiveness although it took a couple of weeks to take effect, I found that it did help to lift my mood as it dulled my thoughts. However in the long term it was not the answer for me as I needed to change my way of thinking and no anti-depressant can do that.

Interestingly enough, I was offered the chance to take an anti-depressant when I approached my GP about CBT back in October. I refused it as I did not class myself as being depressed - depression is a continuous state whereas my mood was and still is from time to time very changeable and dependant on how I perceive myself on any given day.

Not sure what your current situation is but if you are going through a tough time at the moment either with acne or anything else, try to keep your chin up. Nothing is permanent and things can and will get better.

Thankyou for replying How long were you on the citalopram for? Im easing myself in with 10mg just now, my doctor told me that it will get worse first and then calm down...I had a VERY bad day today at work and broke into tears, but I see mto struggle to sleep before a shift at work (I really on't know why this is) - I am actually hoping that with time these pills will help my sleep.

Im glad you never noticed any effect to your skin taking them, that was a little concern I had. I didn't want to take them, but the more I thought about it the more I believe that it could benefit me alot (I hope). I just seem to be spiralling out of control with my emotions and most days feel alone, like solitary, its horrible..and I know I should be thankful for having friends and family who love me but I really struggle to see/believe this and always feel that it would be so much easier if I just was not here. Its sad, and I don't want to feel like this...it seems to have stemmed from my acne but there must be more to it than that. The lack of sleep never helps.

Thanks, il try and keep my chin up, its just so hard sometimes, the slightest thing makes me emotional...I just don't feel as strong as I used to :/

I like how you say "nothing is permanent" - life is fleeting and I really wish I could try to pick myself up before I miss the moments in life that matter.

Thankyou for replying How long were you on the citalopram for? Im easing myself in with 10mg just now, my doctor told me that it will get worse first and then calm down...I had a VERY bad day today at work and broke into tears, but I see mto struggle to sleep before a shift at work (I really on't know why this is) - I am actually hoping that with time these pills will help my sleep.

Im glad you never noticed any effect to your skin taking them, that was a little concern I had. I didn't want to take them, but the more I thought about it the more I believe that it could benefit me alot (I hope). I just seem to be spiralling out of control with my emotions and most days feel alone, like solitary, its horrible..and I know I should be thankful for having friends and family who love me but I really struggle to see/believe this and always feel that it would be so much easier if I just was not here. Its sad, and I don't want to feel like this...it seems to have stemmed from my acne but there must be more to it than that. The lack of sleep never helps.

Thanks, il try and keep my chin up, its just so hard sometimes, the slightest thing makes me emotional...I just don't feel as strong as I used to :/

I like how you say "nothing is permanent" - life is fleeting and I really wish I could try to pick myself up before I miss the moments in life that matter.

 

Sorry for taking so long to reply.

I took citalopram (cipramil) for about a year. I started on 10mg and then went up to about 20mg after two weeks. When I came off it, I tapered down to 10mg and then 10mg every other day and then eventually stopped completely. I think it will really help you in your current situation as I found that when I took it, it "dulled" my thoughts. This may also help with the sleeping - very often being unable to sleep is due to being unable to stop thinking about things when you are trying to get to sleep.

I know it`s no consolation right now but I have been where you are right now myself - in my case I have felt like the most hideous and ugly person in the world and felt like I did not deserve to have girlfriends, friends or be loved. I have lost partners and friends in the past through isolating myself and truly regret it. You may feel undeserving of the love of your friends and family right now but trust me, it is not true. In addition, if you were not here they would most definitely miss you. On a positive note, the fact that you recognise how you feel and don`t want to feel like it is a step in the right direction. Acknowledging is the first part of challenging and ultimately overcoming your demons.

I hope things do get better for you soon. It is easier said than done but if you can, try not to isolate yourself - either spend as much time as you can with frineds and family or if that is not possible, try to at least do an activity that you enjoy. On the acne front, I am sure that you are doing everything possible anyway but just keep persevering. Acne is soooooo frustrating as there is not one specific cure and what works for one person does not work for someone else. There is no time frame but it is a condition that can and will get better - in the meantime, try as best as you can not to let it control your life. It`s a mistake that I have made and you only end up regretting the things you missed out on.

Thankyou for replying How long were you on the citalopram for? Im easing myself in with 10mg just now, my doctor told me that it will get worse first and then calm down...I had a VERY bad day today at work and broke into tears, but I see mto struggle to sleep before a shift at work (I really on't know why this is) - I am actually hoping that with time these pills will help my sleep.

Im glad you never noticed any effect to your skin taking them, that was a little concern I had. I didn't want to take them, but the more I thought about it the more I believe that it could benefit me alot (I hope). I just seem to be spiralling out of control with my emotions and most days feel alone, like solitary, its horrible..and I know I should be thankful for having friends and family who love me but I really struggle to see/believe this and always feel that it would be so much easier if I just was not here. Its sad, and I don't want to feel like this...it seems to have stemmed from my acne but there must be more to it than that. The lack of sleep never helps.

Thanks, il try and keep my chin up, its just so hard sometimes, the slightest thing makes me emotional...I just don't feel as strong as I used to :/

I like how you say "nothing is permanent" - life is fleeting and I really wish I could try to pick myself up before I miss the moments in life that matter.

 

Sorry for taking so long to reply.

I took citalopram (cipramil) for about a year. I started on 10mg and then went up to about 20mg after two weeks. When I came off it, I tapered down to 10mg and then 10mg every other day and then eventually stopped completely. I think it will really help you in your current situation as I found that when I took it, it "dulled" my thoughts. This may also help with the sleeping - very often being unable to sleep is due to being unable to stop thinking about things when you are trying to get to sleep.

I know it`s no consolation right now but I have been where you are right now myself - in my case I have felt like the most hideous and ugly person in the world and felt like I did not deserve to have girlfriends, friends or be loved. I have lost partners and friends in the past through isolating myself and truly regret it. You may feel undeserving of the love of your friends and family right now but trust me, it is not true. In addition, if you were not here they would most definitely miss you. On a positive note, the fact that you recognise how you feel and don`t want to feel like it is a step in the right direction. Acknowledging is the first part of challenging and ultimately overcoming your demons.

I hope things do get better for you soon. It is easier said than done but if you can, try not to isolate yourself - either spend as much time as you can with frineds and family or if that is not possible, try to at least do an activity that you enjoy. On the acne front, I am sure that you are doing everything possible anyway but just keep persevering. Acne is soooooo frustrating as there is not one specific cure and what works for one person does not work for someone else. There is no time frame but it is a condition that can and will get better - in the meantime, try as best as you can not to let it control your life. It`s a mistake that I have made and you only end up regretting the things you missed out on.

 

Don't worry. Im very sporadic with my replies aswell haha! A year seems like a short time, shorter than other people I have spoke to about anti-depressants anyway (I know a few people at my work who have been on them for over 10 years) Im glad you managed to wean yourself off them. I have been on these for about 16 days or something now, Im on 20mg but honestly at first I do think I experienced a worsening of anxiety/depression. It was quite horrible actually and I broke down at work, that horrible gut wrenching crying you know.

I hate the fact Im on them though, HATE it. I really don't want to be on them and when I go back to the doctor I want to tell her that I want to come off them, I know deep down I just want them to help me with my sleeping but I only have sleeping problems whenever I have work the next day (could be my anxious about my skin or getting up so goddamn early - 4.45am)

I will tell I feel EXACTLY like how you described there, exactly. I feel disgusting, I truly don't like my face, I avoid mirrors like the plague and yesterday I went ut for a meal with a couple friends but I literally had to be forced into it and persuaded for about an hour. I try and tell myself that Im trying the best I can, but this week that has been far from the truth...obviusly I over-indulged a bit too much since its Christmas, now I feel like a total failure and a fuck-up and just can't be arsed with life right now, I want to curl up in a little ball and hide for a week or so just until my guilt dissapears. Its a shit cycle and if Im not focusing on my skin I focus on my body, and how "fat" I see that it is...thats just because of my history with eating though. But Im experiencing a break-out atm and I am guessing its the amount of sugar Ive consumed from Christmas junk or the pro-biotics which I started to take, its one of them lol.

Sorry for the total depressive post :/

Hi There,

I just found this post and thought I'd share my experience with you too in regards to the Citalopram...

I've suffered from acne on and off since about the age of 15 ... I am now almost 25. I have previously taken lymecycline and tetracycline antibiotics along side using Panoxyl 10% aquagel and the results were great, my skin became clear, although still oily but I didn't mind that as I had no acne.

My GP recommended to stop using each of the above antibiotics after 6 months incase my body became 'immune' to them, and I am now taking Oxytetracycline, which I have been taking since October 2012. This hasn't been as effective as the previous two I was taking, and since the Panoxyl is no longer available I started using Quinoderm 10% and also their facewash too.

I became quite depressed about life, myself and just everything in general recently and so visited my GP, who recommended I start taking a low dose of Citalopram - 10mg per day, and said this would not interfere with the Oxytetracycline.

The Citalopram kicked in after two weeks and I started to feel a lot better, however all of a sudden my acne got 10 times worse around that time, and I have been getting large cystic spots and ones under the skin!

I am convinced it is because of the citalopram as my acne has not been this bad in a long time and now I have gone back to feeling pretty awful about myself.

I am now starting to take 10mg every other day, I hope this makes a difference to both.

It really feels like I can't win at all!

My GP has prescribed azeliac acid 15% gel which I will start using next week, I am a bit sceptical about this as I have read alot reviews which says it has made peoples acne alot worse