I am so happy after taking myself off ZORCOR in mid August 2007. ...

I am so happy after taking myself off ZORCOR in mid August 2007. I have my ankles back. They had been swollen. My knees were swollen and were so painful. Although I am 66, I have been active all my life in activities which included running(now walking) aerobic dancing, swimming, hiking to name a few. In June 2006 following a strenuous down hill hike, I experienced knee pain and swelling. I was taking 10 mg. of Zorcor at that time. I went to see an orthopedic doctor and he gave me an injection of steroid in the knee joint. It did relieve the pain. Then the right knee started. My knees were so painful, that I could not sleep, I had difficulty doing stairs. In fact I began walking backwards down steps so the knees would not bear the weight. It was after I was advised to increase the dose to 20mg.that the addtional side effects began. I was having difficulty standing from a seated position and even purchased a sofa that was more firm so I could rise from it. I could not sleep,I had shoulder and arm weakness and lethargy set in. Normally I am active from 6:30 AM until 10:30 PM still working and very involved in my community as well as hobbies. At 20 mg. I was tired, losing interest and was content to be a couch potato. So I went on the internet and read everything I could find on Zorcor. I noted that I had 5 of the 7 major side effects which included itching skin, particularly from the knees down, itching,scalp, trigger fingers (thumb index and middle fingers were locking as much as 3 times a week. Just touching my legs to put on body lotion was painful. I felt as though I was getting the flu, just really down(depressed) and tired. I decided to stop the ZORCOR so I could sleep. Within 3 days I found that the pain in my knees was gone. I had my ankles back (no swelling). It has been six weeks since stopping Zorcor and I am back to my former self. I will never take STATINS again! I will continue to exercise and maintain a diet rich in fiber and fruits and veggies. Quality of life still vies for Quanity in my book.