In this article, I will introduce over-the-counter medicines that foreign tourists often buy as souvenirs from Japan.
*If you buy OTC medicines in Japan as souvenirs and bring them back to your country, don’t buy a lot of them. If you clearly buy OTC medicines more than you need, you will be suspected of reselling or commercial purposes.
①Vitamin preparation
・Arinamin EX PLUS (Class 3 medicine)
【Efficacy】
1. Alleviation of the following symptoms Asthenopia, muscle pain/joint pain (stiff shoulder, low back pain, frozen shoulder, etc.), neuralgia, numbness in limbs
2. Supplementation with vitamin B1B6B12 when: During physical fatigue, during and after illness, when physical strength is low, during pregnancy and lactation
【Dosage】
Take the following amount with water or hot water immediately after eating without chewing.
15 years and older: 2 to 3 tablets at a time, once a day
Under 15: Do not take.
【Product features】
・In addition to the anti-fatigue ingredient “fursultiamine”, it contains vitamins B6 and B12 that are involved in maintaining nerve function. It works well for eyestrain, stiff shoulders, and lower back pain.
・Contains calcium pantothenate, which is involved in every metabolism, vitamin E, which is involved in blood circulation in every part of the body, and gamma oryzanol, which helps the functions of vitamins B1, B6, and B12.
・Recommended for those who are tired and have pain in their eyes, shoulders, or lower back.
・It can be taken from 15 years old and above, and works well with once a day.
【Company official website】 https://alinamin.jp/lineup/alinaminexplus.html
・Papa jelly (Designated class 2 medicine)
【Efficacy】
Nutritional support, nourishment tonic, and weak constitution for infants and children during the growth period, unbalanced diet, during and after illness, anorexia, malnutrition, febrile wasting disease, etc.
【Dosage】
Take 2 tablets for adults (15 years old and over) and 1 tablet for children (1 to 14 years old) once a day as needed.
Do not give to infants (under 1 year old).
【Product features】
Papa Jelly 5 is a strawberry-flavored sweet jelly vitamin preparation containing vitamins A, B6, C, D2, E and calcium pantothenate that can be easily chewed and taken.
For nutritional support during the growth period, for children who tend to eat unbalanced meals, and when exhausted due to fever or diarrhea such as colds.
It’s soft, so it’s recommended for elderly people who don’t like hard things.
【Company official website】 https://papa-ohki.com/item/jelly5/
②Cold medicine
・Pabron gold A granules (Designated class 2 medicine)
【Efficacy】
Alleviation of cold symptoms (cough, phlegm, sore throat, sneezing, runny nose, stuffy nose, chills, fever, headache, joint pain, muscle pain)
【Dosage】
Please take the following amount three times a day with water or lukewarm water, preferably within 30 minutes after meals.
・15 years old and over: 1 packet at a time, 3 times a day
・12 to 14 years old: 2/3 packet once, 3 times a day
・Under 12: Do not take.
【Product features】
・Guaifenesin helps excretion of causative substances attached to the throat and relieves cold symptoms.
・Easy-to-swallow fine granules with good melting and flavor.
【Company official website】 https://www.catalog-taisho.com/category/02/001/04515/
・Ryukakusan Direct (Class 3 medicine)
【Efficacy】
Phlegm, cough, hoarseness, sore throat, and throat discomfort due to inflammation of the throat
【Dosage】
Take the following amount without water. Take at least 2 hours between doses.
・Adults (15 years old and over): 1 packet at a time, 6 times a day
・11 to 15 years old: 2/3 packets at a time, 6 times a day
・7 to 11 years old: 1/2 packet at a time, 6 times a day
・3 to 7 years old: 1/3 packet at a time, 6 times a day
・Under 3 years: Do not take
【Product features】
・Can be taken anytime, anywhere without water.
・The finely powdered herbal ingredients act directly on the mucous membrane of the throat, and are effective for coughing, sputum, hoarseness and throat discomfort caused by inflammation of the throat.
・Contains no drowsy ingredients.
【Company official website】 https://www.ryukakusan.co.jp/direct
③Pain reliever
・Eve quick headache medicine (Designated class 2 medicine)
【Efficacy】
・Pain relief for headache, stiff shoulder pain, toothache, menstrual pain (menstrual pain), sore throat, joint pain, muscle pain, neuralgia, back pain, pain after tooth extraction, bruise pain, ear pain, fracture pain, sprain pain, trauma pain
・Antipyretic for chills and fever
【Dosage】
Take the following doses up to 3 times a day, avoiding fasting as much as possible, and take with water or lukewarm water. Take at least 4 hours between doses.
・Adults (15 years old and over): 2 tablets at a time
・Under 15: Do not take
【Product features】
・Unique formula designed for fast relief from headaches
・Contains magnesium oxide, which is a gastrointestinal ingredient (antacid), and is gentle on the stomach.
【Company official website】 https://www.ssp.co.jp/product/all/eveq/
・Salonpas Ae (Class 3 medicine)
【Efficacy】
Stiff shoulders, back pain, muscle pain, muscle fatigue, bruises, sprains, joint pain, frostbite
【Dosage】
Apply it to the affected area several times a day.
【Product features】
・Salonpas Ae contains vitamin E, which promotes blood circulation, and methyl salicylate, which suppresses inflammation and relieves pain.
・Salonpas Ae is an anti-inflammatory analgesic for external use that uses a high-molecular absorber as a base to absorb perspiration and suppress skin irritation.
【Company official website】 https://www.hisamitsu.co.jp/healthcare/products/001.html
・Roihi tsubo plaster (Class 3 medicine)
【Efficacy】
Stiff shoulder, back pain, bruise, sprain, joint pain, muscle pain, muscle fatigue, frostbite, fracture pain
【Product features】
・It is easy to apply and has a round shape with a diameter of 2.8 cm that is effective for pinpointing.
・Nonylic acid vanillyl amide, which resembles a chili pepper component, promotes blood circulation in the affected area with a dry, warm sensation.
・It is beige in color and is inconspicuous.
・It does not come off even when you move vigorously, and it is so comfortable that you forget you have it on.
・The rayon cloth used is water-resistant and does not get dirty easily.
【Company official website】 https://www.roihi.com/tubokou.html
This article continues up to Part 2. ⇒ https://drastalk.com/japanese-otc-medicines-popular-with-foreigners-part-2/