Physicians' Desk Reference

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR), renamed Prescriber's Digital Reference after its physical publication was discontinued, is a compilation of manufacturers' prescribing information (

package insert) on prescription drugs, updated regularly and published by ConnectiveRx.[citation needed
]

History

The original PDR was titled Physicians' Desk Reference but was renamed because not all prescribers are

layman
. The book was distributed for free to all licensed medical doctors in America; only drugs which drug manufacturers paid to appear, appeared in the PDR, and no generic drugs were listed.

The 71st Edition, published in 2017, was the final hardcover edition, weighed in at 4.6 pounds (2.1 kg) and contained information on over 1,000 drugs.[1] Since then, the PDR has been available online for free.

The Physicians' Desk Reference was first published in 1947 by Medical Economics Inc., a magazine publisher founded by Lansing Chapman.[2] Medical Economics Inc. merged with Reinhold Publishing in 1966 to form Chapman-Reinhold.[3] Litton Industries, which owned the American Book Company, acquired Chapman-Reinhold in 1968.[4] Litton sold its publishing business to the International Thomson Organization (ITO) in 1981.[5]

ITO successor Thomson Reuters sold the Physicians' Desk Reference to Lee Equity Partners in 2009; Lee formed the new parent company PDR Network. Lee sold PDR Network to Genstar Capital in 2015.[6] Genstar merged PDR Network into the new company ConnectiveRx.[7]

About the PDR

The PDR material contained includes:

  • Comprehensive indexing (four sections)
    • by Manufacturer
    • Products (by company's or trademarked drug name)
    • Category index (for example, "antibiotics")
    • Generic/chemical index (non-trademark common drug names)
  • Color images of medications
  • Product information, consistent with FDA labeling
    • Chemical information
    • Function/action
    • Indications & Contraindications
    • Trial research, side effects, warnings

The PDR has several versions and related volumes:

  • PDR
  • PDR for Nonprescription Drugs, Dietary Supplements, and Herbs
  • PDR Drug Interactions and Side Effects Index
  • PDRhealth—Version in lay terms.
  • PDR Family Guide to Over-the-Counter Drugs—Lay term guide to non-prescription medication.
  • PDR for Ophthalmic Medicines
  • PDR Drug Guide for Mental Health Professionals
  • PDR for Herbal Medicines

References

  1. ISBN 978-1563638381
    .
  2. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved 2021-08-04.
  3. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved 2021-08-04.
  4. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved 2021-08-04.
  5. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original
    on 24 May 2015. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  6. ^ "Lee Equity Partners Sells PDR Network, LLC to Genstar Capital Affiliate" (Press release). 2015-12-04. Retrieved 2021-08-04.
  7. ^ "Our History". ConnectiveRx. Retrieved 2021-08-04.
  • PDR.Net—online version, free consumer drug and medical information site.
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