"18 years.  i switched to pristiq after paxil and wellbutrin.  i took a gene sight test that predicted me to have the least amount of side affects with pristiq (which i highly recommend). i had almost no side effects.  after the pristiq started to kick in i felt alright, not too great or severely depressed.  i did feel well enough to go to school (i couldn&#039;t on paxil).  however after about a month i noticed a shift; i felt a lot better than usual at times and at others i felt depressed.  i also have had racing thoughts and mood swings become more common. i became worried i had bi polar disorder. i told my psychiatrist this and he believed it was coming from pristiq. coming off has been a hard.  my mind has been in a fog, hot flashes, flu like symptoms"