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."