1-800-SIDE EFFECTS

Reuters recently reported that some people are pushing for a side effect hotline that would allow patients to phone in particularly dicey drug complications free of charge.

“The 1-800-FDA-1088 number is part of the agency’s MedWatch program to monitor possible problems with drugs and devices. Consumers and doctors can also report concerns on the FDA’s website.

Last year, Congress required information on the program for print advertisements targeting consumers and called for the agency to study whether it should also be included in TV ads.”

The question is, would this hotline really get good use? And where do they plan to announce the hotline number in television commercials—at the end of the long litany of possible side effects? Some people feel that viewers would be to inundated with information during the commercial to remember the hotline number, but I think ultimately, the more avenues there are for people to provide feedback on their prescription medicine, the better.