PHYSICIANS’ DESK
REFERENCE
Information Literacy Session
By
Theresa Mastrodonato
How Is It Organized?
• Section 1: Manufacturers Index
• Lists all pharmaceutical manufacturers included
in the PDR including their address, what products
they manufacture and what page you can find
additional information about the product.
• Section 2: Brand and Generic Name Index
• Provides the page number for each product by
brand and generic name.
How Is It Organized?
• Section 3: Product Category Index
• This section lists the products by prescribing
category.
• Section 4: Product Identification Guide
• This section has full-color photos of the products
arranged alphabetically by manufacturer.
How Is It Organized?
• Section 5: Product Information
• This section is the main section of the book and
contains information on over 3000 pharmaceutical
products arranged alphabetically by
manufacturer.
• Section 6: Diagnostic Product Information
• This section provides information on diagnostic
guidelines, again arranged alphabetically by
manufacturer.
How Do You Use It?
• If you want information about Pfizer Drug Company, we can
look in Section 1 (Manufacturers Index) to find:
• Address:
235 East 42nd Street
New York, New York 10017
• Phone number:
800-438-1985
• Products Manufactured by Pfizer:
Aricept
Norvasc
Celebrex
Viagra
Lipitor
Zithromax
Let’s Look At Aricept
• Under Section 1, we found Pfizer and the product Aricept that
it produces. Section 1 provides 2 page listings for us on Aricept,
pages 331 and 2570.
• Page 331 shows us a full color photo of the 2 doses available for
Aricept (Section 4: Product Identification Guide).
• Page 2570 provides us with the actual product information for
Aricept (Section 5: Product Information).
What Information Is Available For
Aricept?
• Chemical name: donepezil hydrochloride
• Clinical Pharmacology
• Drug Interactions
• Adverse Reactions
• Dosage and Administration
• Clinical Trial Data
How Else Can The PDR Be
Searched?
• What if you didn’t know who made Aricept?
• You can look in Section 2 (Brand and Generic
Name Index) to find Aricept listed alphabetically.
• You would then be able to see that two companies
are listed for Aricept: Eisai and Pfizer.
• You can then go to Section 5: Product
Information and look up each manufacturer
and see their information on Aricept.
What Other Information Does The
PDR Contain?
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FDA Use-In-Pregnancy ratings list
Dosing Instructions in Spanish
Key to Controlled Substances Categories
Key to FDA Use-In-Pregnancy Ratings
Poison Control Centers
Drug Information Centers
U.S. Food and Drug Administration Telephone
Directory
• DEA Office Telephone Directory
• State AIDS Drug Assistance Programs
• Adverse Event Report Forms
Who Is The Target Audience?
• Doctors
• Physician Assistants
• Nurse Practitioners
• Medical Students/Residents
Should You Use The PDR?
• Advantages:
• Contains full-color photos
of drugs.
• Provides information about:
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Dosing,
Clinical Trials
Adverse Reactions
Drug Interactions
• Provides information about
Poison Control Centers
around the U.S.
• Disadvantages:
• Difficult to read and
understand unless you are a
doctor.
• Here is an example from the
product Aricept:
• Current theories on the
pathogenesis of the
cognitive signs and
symptoms of Alzheimer’s
Disease attribute some of
them to a deficiency of
cholinergic
neurotransmission (pg
2570).
Where Can I Find It?
• UB Library
• Science/Engineering Undergraduate Library Reference section: call
number RS75 .P5 (59th edition)
• Located in the Law Library Reference section: call number RS75 .P5
(58th and 59th editions)
• Health Sciences Library History of Medicine (non-circulating): Call
number QV 772 P578 (28th - 48th, 53rd - 54th, and 58th editions)
• Monroe County Library System at the following locations:
Central Library, Brighton Library, Chili Library, Webster
Library, and the Henrietta Library.
• You can also purchase the 59th (2005) edition through
http://www.amazon.com for $79 and it includes a CD-ROM
and online access to http://www.pdr.net
Is It Available On The Web?
• It is available at http://www.pdr.net
• However, it is available for FREE ONLY to
U.S.-based MDs, DOs, NPs and PAs in fulltime practice and to U.S. medical students
and residents.
• There is a free patient education site that
everyone else can access at
http://www.pdrhealth.com
Other Resources From PDR
• In addition to the Physicians’ Desk Reference, these
publications are also available:
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PDR Companion Guide
PDR Pharmacopeia Pocket Dosing Guide
PDR for Nutritional Supplements
PDR for Non-Prescription Drugs and Dietary Supplements
PDR for Herbal Medicines
PDR for Ophthalmic Medicines
PDR Medical Dictionary
PDR Drug Guide for Mental Health Professionals
PDR Month Prescribing Guide
References
• Physicians Desk Reference: 58th Edition
(2004). Montvale, NJ: Thomson PDR.