On 8/1/09 I entered the ER with unremitting high fever and was di...

On 8/1/09 I entered the ER with unremitting high fever and was diagnosed with a UTI. My EKG was normal. The doctor wanted to give me Levaquin and said it was a broad-spectrum antibiotic and there "no side-effects." I said I wanted to be informed before I took the med- wanted to know the action and side-effects. The nurse said I could look up the drug on the Internet when I got home - their info was in the computer and they could not print out a fact sheet. The doctor said that I could take the prescription to a pharmacist after discharge, and he would explain everything in detail. I asked if he would substitute a different antibiotic - the answer was "No, this is what you need.This is a crowd-pleaser - you only have to take it once a day. " In desperation to feel better, I took the initial dose. Within 1/2 - 3/4 hour, I experienced an irregular heart beat, ringing in my ears and head "fullness." I was no longer hooked up to the monitor, so asked the nurse if she would reattach me. Her response - "Everyone has irregular beats, your EKG was normal." I would not let her take out my IV until my symptoms had abated (within 3/4 hour). Having found out by the lab that I did NOT have a UTI, 2 days later I called the ER (to see what they would say),and they said to continue taking the Levaquin - that's what the doctor had wanted me to take Clueless, totally clueless. Needless to say, I only took one dose and will never take another dose and now have it as an ALLERGY, to make sure I never get it!