Can I ask how pristiq helped? I'm really struggling and am not against medication. I've been on effexor 75 mg for 11 years (I think I started higher but 75 mg worked for most of that time). I don’t remember any side effects to speak of. This summer I thought I could go down to 37.5 (tapered). I'm back at 75 and not doing well. It's been 6 weeks. I tried to increase by 37.5 (on pharmacist ok). The 4th day I felt great but on the 5th day the shaking, muscle tension, anxiety, strange thoughts started (they seemed to come from my upper back and neck). I don’t have a dr so I'll head back to emerg. I know medication can help and if I can get to feeling better, I won't try to get off. I think I'm just looking for encouragement.