"i&#039;ve been taking pristiq for almost a year.  i feel the best i&#039;ve ever felt.  i have had a huge spike in cholesterol and am on medicine now to control.  it is a recognized side effect. if i miss one day, i&#039;m really messed up emotionally and physically.  my head feels funny and i have uncontrollable sadness and anxiety.  once i take the medicine at my next dose all those feelings go away.  if i ever need or decide to go off this medicine i will make sure to take it extremely slow."