Poll: Most Americans don’t know they can report bad drug reactions

A new Consumer Reports poll shows that one in six Americans who have ever taken a prescription drug experienced a side effect serious enough to send them to the doctor or hospital, but the majority of consumers don't know they can report these side effects to the FDA, which is responsible for tracking drug safety problems.

To help make the public aware of the FDA's reporting program for drug side effects—known as MedWatch—Consumers Union today gave the FDA a petition signed by nearly 56,000 consumers asking that a toll-free number and website be included in all TV drug ads so people can easily report their serious side effects to the agency.

Of the consumers polled, eight in 10 (81 percent) said they had seen or heard an advertisement for prescription drugs within the past 30 days. Among them, virtually all—98 percent—viewed an ad on television. When asked if they think prescription drug advertising should include information to report an adverse drug reaction to the FDA, 87 percent of consumers said TV ads should contain the information, and 90 percent said print ads should do the same.

For more information, read the poll and the petition to the FDA, see Adwatch—our video series on the facts behind the drug ads, and watch our animated drug safety video, "The Drugs I Need."

Comments

[Brian]

That is some pretty useful information. If more people knew that they could report bad side effects, then some of the harmful medicines out there could be taken off the market and replaced with medicines that aren't going to have the same bad side effects.

[WEL]

MAXIDEX WARNING

I had eye surgery and in the post-op pack was MAXIDEX(dexamethasone) drops by ALCON LABS.

Two days later I was BLIND

Use Google and enter EPOCRATES MAXIDEX REACTION to verify

[WEL]

MAXIDEX WARNING

I had eye surgery and in the post-op pack was MAXIDEX(dexamethasone) drops by ALCON LABS.

Two days later I was BLIND

Use Google and enter EPOCRATES MAXIDEX REACTION to verify