View source for Physicians' Desk Reference

{{Short description|Compilation of prescribing information for prescription drugs}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Refimprove|date=August 2022}}

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 drug]]s, updated regularly and published by [[ConnectiveRx]].{{fact|date=August 2022}}

==History==
The original PDR was titled ''Physicians' Desk Reference'' but was renamed because not all prescribers are [[physician]]s 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 [[Library|libraries]] and [[bookstore]]s, 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 {{convert|4.6|lb}} and contained information on over 1,000 drugs.<ref>{{Cite book|isbn=978-1563638381|title=Physicians' Desk Reference|last1=Reference|first1=Physicians Desk|date=13 December 2016}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news| issn = 0362-4331| title = LANSING CHAPMAN, PUBLISHER, WAS 72; Board Chairman of Medical Economics Dies-President of Nightingale Press | work = The New York Times| accessdate = 2021-08-04| date = 1960-08-18| url = https://www.nytimes.com/1960/08/18/archives/lansing-chapman-publisher-was-72-board-chairman-of-medical.html}}</ref> Medical Economics Inc. merged with Reinhold Publishing in 1966 to form Chapman-Reinhold.<ref>{{Cite news| issn = 0362-4331| last = Carlson| first = Walter| title = Advertising: Merry Christmas, Mr. Media| work = The New York Times| accessdate = 2021-08-04| date = 1965-12-22| url = https://www.nytimes.com/1965/12/22/archives/advertising-merry-christmas-mr-media.html}}</ref> [[Litton Industries]], which owned the [[American Book Company (1890)|American Book Company]], acquired Chapman-Reinhold in 1968.<ref>{{Cite news| issn = 0362-4331| last = Reckert| first = Clare M.| title = Litton Seeks Chapman-Reinhold; Publisher in Accord| work = The New York Times| accessdate = 2021-08-04| date = 1968-06-14| url = https://www.nytimes.com/1968/06/14/archives/litton-seeks-chapmanreinhold-publisher-in-accord.html}}</ref> Litton sold its publishing business to the [[International Thomson Organization]] (ITO) in 1981.<ref>{{Cite news| issn = 0362-4331| last = Kleinfield| first = N. R.| title = Litton Plans Publishing Group Sale| work = The New York Times| access-date = 2019-11-11| date = 1981-01-29| url = https://www.nytimes.com/1981/01/29/business/litton-plans-publishing-group-sale.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524090946/https://www.nytimes.com/1981/01/29/business/litton-plans-publishing-group-sale.html |archive-date=24 May 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite press release| title = Lee Equity Partners Sells PDR Network, LLC to Genstar Capital Affiliate| accessdate = 2021-08-04| date = 2015-12-04| url = https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151204005274/en/Lee-Equity-Partners-Sells-PDR-Network-LLC-to-Genstar-Capital-Affiliate}}</ref> Genstar merged PDR Network into the new company ConnectiveRx.<ref>{{Cite web| title = Our History| publisher = ConnectiveRx| access-date = 2021-08-04| url = https://www.connectiverx.com/our-history}}</ref>

==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''
* ''PDR''health—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== 
{{reflist|1}}

==External links==
*[http://www.pdr.net PDR.Net]—online version, free consumer drug and medical information site.

[[Category:Medical manuals]]
[[Category:Thomson Reuters]]
[[Category:Pharmacology literature]]