Reporting adverse reactions to prescribed drugs

[condor]

On the 'possible side effects' that a prescribed drug leaflet describes for the user - there is often a long list of ailments under the headings:-

common side effects occur in more than 1 in 100 patients
uncommon side effects occur in less than 1 in 100 patients
rare side effects occue in less than 1 in a 1000 patients

If you have an adverse side effect it's recommended that you see your GP for advice...who will then suggest an alternative. So far, so good.

What I'm interested in knowing is - are these adverse reactions ever reported back to the company that makes the pills? Putting more than 1 in a 100 implies it's still a very small number of patients that could be affected when the wording could also be read to mean nearly 90 in a 100 will suffer adverse side effects.
Presumably clinical trials have a cut off point before the drug is allowed to be licenced for use on patients. Is this regulalry checked up on? Are tests more rigorous for branded pills than the generic ones that are so much cheaper?

Thanks if anyone can help with my query

[condor]

Thanks for your replies

I spoke to the pharmacist yesterday and mentioned the adverse reaction and 'yellow card' reporting process. She gave me a pamphlet on it, that was available on the counter. She was very helpful and said she'd put a note on my records about not being given that drug again.