How to Read a Medicine Strip and Box

A medicine pack carries more information than most people ever read — and every line is there for a reason. Here is what each part means, using an ordinary strip and box as the example.

The name and the composition

The large brand name on the front is the manufacturer’s brand. Below it, in smaller print, is the generic (composition) name — the actual medicine inside. Two brands with the same composition contain the same active ingredient, which is why a pharmacist can sometimes offer you an equivalent brand. If the composition line is missing or unreadable, do not buy the pack.

Batch, MFG and EXP

• B.No. / Batch No.: the production batch this pack came from. It is how a manufacturer traces a pack if there is ever a quality issue — and it is why we always ask you to keep the strip, not just the tablets.
• MFG: the manufacturing date.
• EXP: the expiry date, printed as month and year. As our guide to checking a medicine’s expiry date explains, EXP 08/2027 means valid through the end of August 2027.

The strip and the box should carry the same batch number. If they do not, the strip may have been repacked — ask at the counter before buying.

MRP and the manufacturer

MRP is the maximum retail price, inclusive of all taxes — no shop may legally charge above it. Below it you will find the manufacturer’s name and address, and often a customer-care number. A missing manufacturer address is a warning sign; see our guide to telling a genuine medicine from a fake one.

The schedule symbols

Look for a small box or line on the pack:

• Schedule H: a prescription is required by law — the pharmacy must not sell it without one.
• Schedule H1: a stricter list (including many antibiotics) — the sale must be recorded, and the prescription is kept on file.
• Schedule X: the strictest category, for medicines with high misuse risk.
• No schedule mark: generally an over-the-counter product, sold without a prescription.

These symbols are not decoration: they are the reason we sometimes have to ask for your prescription, even for a medicine you have bought before.

Storage instructions

“Store in a cool, dry place” means below 25°C, away from direct sunlight and humidity — not the bathroom cabinet, where steam and heat degrade medicines fastest. “Store at 2–8°C” means the fridge, never the freezer. If the pack says “protect from light”, keep it in its box, not loose on a shelf.

When in doubt, ask

If any line on a pack confuses you — a symbol you do not recognise, a date you cannot read, a strip that does not match its box — bring the pack to us at Elegant Pharma in JC Nagar and ask. Reading the label takes a minute; guessing takes longer to undo.

This article is general information only and is not medical advice.