Glossary
Rx meaning on a prescription and a medicine label Where the symbol sits, what must follow it, and what Rx, NRx and XRx mean on a strip.
Two letters at the top of the medicines list on every prescription pad, and the same two letters in the corner of many medicine strips. Here is what each use means in India, and what the rules say must come after the symbol.
Published · Last reviewed · 3 min read
- On a prescription, ℞ heads the list of medicines; the sample format in the Telemedicine Practice Guidelines 2020 puts it there.
- On a medicine label, Rule 97 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 requires Rx for Schedule H, a red Rx for Schedule H1, NRx in red where narcotic or psychotropic law also applies, and XRx in red for Schedule X.
- After the ℞, the 2002 conduct regulations ask for generic names, legibly and preferably in capitals.
Rx, often written ℞, is the symbol that opens the medicines section of a prescription; in India the same symbol also marks the label of medicines that may be sold only on a doctor's prescription. On a pad it tells the chemist where the doctor's orders begin. On a strip it tells the chemist the medicine needs a prescription. None of the Indian rules we checked spells out what the letters stand for; they fix where the symbol goes and what comes with it.
What does Rx mean on a prescription?
It marks the start of the medicines. The sample prescription format in Annexure 2 of the Telemedicine Practice Guidelines, 25 March 2020 (Appendix 5 of the 2002 conduct regulations), puts the doctor's name, qualification and registration number at the top, then the patient's details, complaints, history, findings and diagnosis, and then a ℞ above the numbered medicine lines. Each line reads: "NAME OF MEDICINE (in capital letters only with generic name) drug form, strength, frequency of administration & duration". The page ends with the doctor's signature and stamp.
What does Rx mean on a medicine label?
That the medicine is prescription-only. Rule 97(1) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 sets the labels:
| Symbol | Medicine contains | Label also says |
|---|---|---|
| Rx, top left corner | A Schedule H substance | "Schedule H drug- Warning: To be sold by retail on the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner only" |
| NRx in red, top left | A Schedule H substance also under the NDPS Act, 1985 | The same Schedule H warning |
| XRx in red, top left | A Schedule X substance | "Schedule X drug -Warning: To be sold by retail on the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner only" |
| Rx in red, top left | A Schedule H1 substance | A red-bordered box: not to be sold by retail without the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner |
What must follow the Rx on an Indian prescription?
Generic names, written clearly. Clause 1.5 of the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002, as substituted in October 2016, says "Every physician should prescribe drugs with generic names legibly and preferably in capital letters". Clause 1.4.1 asks for the doctor's registration number on all prescriptions, and clause 3.7.2 for the doctor's name and designation in full with registration particulars on the letterhead. For a Schedule H, H1 or X medicine to be sold, Rule 65(10) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules asks that the prescription be in writing, signed with the doctor's usual signature and dated, name the patient with their address, and state the total amount to be supplied and the dose. Our post on generic name prescription rules covers clause 1.5 in detail.
What does that look like on a clinic pad?
Take Sunrise Clinic, a sample single-doctor clinic. Its pad carries the doctor's name, degrees and council registration number in the header. Below the patient's name, age and date come the complaints and diagnosis, then the ℞, then each medicine in capitals by generic name with form, strength, frequency and duration on one line, and the signature at the foot. Our free prescription pad maker builds a header like that in the browser.
Vitels prints the prescription on the clinic's own letterhead, A4 or A5, with the doctor's registration number required on the print and no vendor branding. See e-prescription software, and e-prescription for the electronic side.
Questions
What is the full form of Rx?
No Indian rule we checked defines it. Indian law uses Rx as a symbol: on prescriptions it heads the medicines, and on labels under Rule 97 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules it marks prescription-only medicines.
What does Rx mean on a medicine strip?
That the medicine contains a Schedule H substance and may be sold by retail only on a registered medical practitioner's prescription. A red Rx marks Schedule H1, and the label then carries a warning in a red-bordered box.
What is the difference between Rx, NRx and XRx?
Under Rule 97(1): Rx is for Schedule H, NRx in red for Schedule H substances that also fall under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, and XRx in red for Schedule X. Each is shown in the top left corner of the label.
Is Rx compulsory on a prescription?
We found no rule that requires the symbol itself. What the rules require is the content: the doctor's name and registration number, generic names written legibly, and for scheduled medicines a signed, dated prescription naming the patient.
Sources
- Board of Governors in supersession of the Medical Council of India, Telemedicine Practice Guidelines, 25 March 2020 (Appendix 5 of the 2002 regulations), Annexure 2: Sample Prescription Format (MoHFW, eSanjeevani) (accessed 27 Oct 2026)
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules, 1945, as amended up to 31 December 2016, Rules 65(9)-(10) and 97(1) (CDSCO) (accessed 27 Oct 2026)
- Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002, amended up to 8 October 2016, clauses 1.4.1, 1.5 and 3.7.2 (NMC) (accessed 27 Oct 2026)
This is operational guidance for clinics, not legal or clinical advice. Confirm with your state drugs controller or medical council.
Drafted with AI assistance; every fact checked against the sources listed; reviewed by Shaurya Pratap Singh.