Physicians' Desk Reference

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 physicians and the reference is no longer a hardback book used on a desk. While marketed as a means of providing physicians with the full legally mandated information relevant to writing prescriptions, it was widely available in libraries and bookstores, was widely used by other medical specialists, and was sometimes valuable to the 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

Related references

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

^ Reference, Physicians Desk (13 December 2016). Physicians' Desk Reference. ISBN 978-1563638381.
^ "LANSING CHAPMAN, PUBLISHER, WAS 72; Board Chairman of Medical Economics Dies-President of Nightingale Press". The New York Times. 1960-08-18. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-08-04.
^ Carlson, Walter (1965-12-22). "Advertising: Merry Christmas, Mr. Media". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-08-04.
^ Reckert, Clare M. (1968-06-14). "Litton Seeks Chapman-Reinhold; Publisher in Accord". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-08-04.
^ Kleinfield, N. R. (1981-01-29). "Litton Plans Publishing Group Sale". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 24 May 2015. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
^ "Lee Equity Partners Sells PDR Network, LLC to Genstar Capital Affiliate" (Press release). 2015-12-04. Retrieved 2021-08-04.
^ "Our History". ConnectiveRx. Retrieved 2021-08-04.

External links

PDR.Net—online version, free consumer drug and medical information site.

[1] Reference, Physicians Desk (13 December 2016). Physicians' Desk Reference. ISBN 978-1563638381.

[2] "LANSING CHAPMAN, PUBLISHER, WAS 72; Board Chairman of Medical Economics Dies-President of Nightingale Press". The New York Times. 1960-08-18. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-08-04.

[3] Carlson, Walter (1965-12-22). "Advertising: Merry Christmas, Mr. Media". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-08-04.

[4] Reckert, Clare M. (1968-06-14). "Litton Seeks Chapman-Reinhold; Publisher in Accord". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-08-04.

[5] Kleinfield, N. R. (1981-01-29). "Litton Plans Publishing Group Sale". The New York Times. 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.

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