We agree with Jones and Oddis that the PDR is, in essence, a collection of medication package inserts organized in reference format and that the FDA plays a key role in the content of the information contained therein. We believe that we made these points in our article. The purpose of our article was to define and update limitations (Oddis lists several critiques from before 1975) because the PDR, despite its deficiencies, remains a preferred source of drug information for most physicians.
The other sources of drug information mentioned in the above letters, Drug Facts and Comparisons and AHFS Drug Information, are excellent resources that are updated annually. A comparative analysis of these and other sources of drug information, including the PDR, would likely provide useful results.
However, even if we assume that these drug information references, as well as others, such as the AMA Drug Evaluations, offer more comprehensive