The second prescription is the prescription, which is given after the first prescription. After studying the symptomatology of the patient, the remedy is selected on the basis of symptom similarity. This remedy is the first prescription, and after its administration to patient, it produces some effects or response. It may alter the symptom picture either by relieving some symptoms, worsening of some, or by producing new sympoms. In response to this, the physician must respond by giving second prescription.

If the first prescription produces some beneficial effect on the patient by disappearance of symptoms as per Hering's Law of Cure, then the second prescription must be repetition of the first one. The second prescription in this case must be given after the first prescription has completed its action, to remove some trivial symptoms, which usually remain after extinguish of peculiar, quare and rare symptoms.

In some patients after the first prescription, the case comes to standstill without any proper response. In such case time should be given for the return of original symptoms, whose appearance indicate that the main prescription is acting and is the correct remedy. Hence the first prescription should also be the second one.

If on giving first prescription, a new symptomatology appears, then a careful study is to be made as to whether the appeared new symptoms are due to the proving of the remedy (symptoms due to drug action) or the symptoms suffered by patient before the present condition. If old symptoms experienced by the patient in his past life have appeared, then the remedy is in proper track, and the second prescription should be the same but after the completion of action of the first one.

If the remedy being the correct one fails to elicit proper reaction in the patient, then the potency of the remedy should be changed to obtain the results.

If the new symptomatology in response to the first prescription is not due to pathogenesis of remedy or the reappeared old symptoms, then it means that the first prescription was wrong one, and has deviated the direction of disease. For this the second prescription should be an antidote.

When the first prescription is a wrongly selected remedy, then the second prescription should be a new remedy, which should be given after restudying the case.

If in a case there is recurrence of an acute exacerbation of underlying chronic condition for eg. Recurring attacks of cold, then the second prescription should be a complementary remedy to the first prescription, given to remove the underlying chronic condition. Eg. Calcarea Carb. is given as a complementary remedy along with Belladonna.