12 Must BUY Japanese Cold Medicines

 

A thorough guide to the best recommended cold medicines and how to choose them for your symptoms.

Introducing popular Japanese cold medicines for different symptoms, such as fevers, pain relief, sore throats, runny noses/stuffy noses, and coughs! A thorough guide to how to choose the right cold medicine, an explanation on the characteristics of popular products, dosage recommendations, and the age at which it should be taken.

Table of contents

• How to choose cold medicine
• [By symptom] 12 recommended Japanese cold medicines
  • Comprehensive cold medicine
  • Fever, sore throat, headache
  • Runny /stuffy nose
  • Cough /phlegm
• Cold medicine for children
• Concomitant medications (con-meds) for sore throat

How to choose cold medicine

① Choose ingredients that match your symptoms

In order for your body's immune system to fight the virus and quickly recover, it is important to take appropriate cold medicines that suit your symptoms, rest, and stay hydrated and well nourished. Choose a cold medicine with ingredients that suit your symptoms.

② Select by number of doses

Most cold medicines are taken in three doses a day, but it is easy to forget to take them during the day due to work or other reasons. If you often forget to take your medicine, we recommend choosing a long-acting cold medicine that only needs to be taken twice a day.

③ Select by age range

Age restrictions are set depending on the ingredients and amounts contained. If your small child is taking this medicine, please read the precautions on the medicine carefully before purchasing.

④ Select by medicine type

There are various types of Japanese cold medicines, including granules, microgranules, tablets, capsules, and syrups. Even the same powder type is classified into granules and finer granules based on size. Choose the type that is most comfortable for you.

⑤ Be careful of ingredients that make you sleepy

While the long-established "first-generation antihistamine ingredients" have excellent immediate and long-lasting effects, caution is necessary as they tend to cause drowsiness and dry mouth as side effects. Antihistamine ingredients are included in cold medicines, antitussive (cough suppressants) , and oral medicines for rhinitis (nasal congestion & inflammation).

[By symptom] 12 Japanese cold medicines

Comprehensive cold medicine

Comprehensive cold medicines contain various ingredients such as analgesics (pain relief), antipyretics (reduces fevers), antihistamines (allergy relief), and antitussives (cough suppressants) to relieve various cold symptoms. Comprehensive cold medicines have the advantage of alleviating a variety of symptoms with just one drug. Recommended for those looking for regular medicine.

• Japanese Product Name: パブロンゴールドA微粒 44包
• Medical Classification: Designated Class 2 OTC Drug
• Features: Contains 7 active ingredients. Granules are small and dissolve easily. The most cost-effective cold medicine in Taisho Pabron product line. * May cause drowsiness. Click to see comparison of the entire Pabron series!
• Symptoms: Relieves cold symptoms (cough, phlegm, sore throat, sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, chills, fever, headache, joint pain, muscle pain)
• Form: Granules, Tablets
• Age for Use: 12 years and older
• Dosage Frequency: 3 times a day

• Japanese Product Name: 新ルル-A錠s　135錠
• Medical Classification: Designated Class 2 OTC Drug
• Features: Contains acetaminophen and 8 other effective ingredients for cold symptoms. * May cause drowsiness. Click to see comparison of the entire New LULU cold medicine series!
• Symptoms: Relieves cold symptoms (runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, sore throat, cough, phlegm, chills, fever, headache, joint pain, muscle pain)
• Form: Tablets
• Age for Use: 12 years and older
• Dosage Frequency: 3 times a day

• Japanese Product Name: 新ジキニン顆粒 22包
• Medical Classification: Designated Class 2 OTC Drug
• Features: Comprehensive cold medicine containing licorice extract. * May cause drowsiness.
• Symptoms: Relieves cold symptoms (cough, fever, headache, runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, sore throat, phlegm, chills (fever and chills), joint pain, muscle pain).
• Form: Granules
• Age for Use: 12 years and older
• Dosage Frequency: 3 times a day

• Japanese Product Name: 持続性パブロン錠　30錠
• Medical Classification: Designated Class 2 OTC Drug
• Features: Long-acting cold medicine, taken twice daily. * May cause drowsiness.
• Symptoms: Relieves cold symptoms (sore throat, fever, runny nose, nasal congestion, cough, phlegm, chills, headache, joint pain, muscle pain, sneezing)
• Form: Capsules
• Age for Use: 15 years and older
• Dosage Frequency: 2 times a day

• Japanese Product Name: 葛根湯エキス顆粒 1.5gx21包
• Medical Classification: Class 2 OTC Drug
• Features: Suitable for early stages of a cold. Slight bitterness, easy to take.
• Symptoms: Cold, nasal coldness, headache, stiff shoulders, muscle pain, arm and shoulder pain
• Form: Granules
• Age for Use: 2 years and older
• Dosage Frequency: 3 times a day

Fever, sore throat, headache

Its antipyretic (reduces fever) and analgesic (pain relief) action improves sore throat, fever, chills, headache, joint pain, muscle pain, etc. We will introduce medicines that contain both fever reducing and painkillers such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen.

Non-drowsy Pain Reliever
Contains no drowsy substances (no sedatives), keeping you fully alert! Contains anti-inflammatory and analgesic ingredient Loxoprofen. Take 1 tablet per dose for effective relief of fever, headache, menstrual pain, and toothache. LOXONIN S is designed to be gentle on the stomach lining, reducing gastric burden.

• Japanese Product Name: ロキソニンＳ　12錠
• Medical Classification: Class 1 OTC Drug
• Effects: Chills, fever, headache, menstrual pain, toothache, post-tooth extraction pain, sore throat, back pain, joint pain, neuralgia, muscle pain, shoulder stiffness, earache, bruise pain, fracture pain, sprain pain, wound pain
• Form: Tablets
• Age for Use: 15 years and older
• Dosage Frequency: Up to 2 times a day

• Japanese Product Name: イブスリーショットプレミアム 60錠
• Medical Classification: Designated Class 2 OTC Drug
• Features: Contains no drowsy components! Combines ibuprofen and acetaminophen for fast and effective treatment of "headache, menstrual pain, shoulder and back pain." Includes gastric protective ingredient (antacid). Click for full EVE series comparison!
• Symptoms: Headache, stiff shoulders, toothache, menstrual pain, sore throat, joint pain, muscle pain, neuralgia, back pain, post-tooth extraction pain, bruise pain, earache, fracture pain, sprain pain, wound pain relief, chills, and fever relief
• Form: Tablets
• Age for Use: 15 years and older
• Dosage Frequency: 3 times a day

• Japanese Product Name: ベンザブロックL錠 45錠
• Medical Classification: Designated Class 2 OTC Drug
• Features: Cold relief specifically for sore throats! Small tablets are easy to swallow. * May cause drowsiness.
• Symptoms: Relieves cold symptoms (sore throat, fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, chills, headache, joint pain, muscle pain, cough, sneezing)
• Form: Tablets
• Age for Use: 15 years and older
• Dosage Frequency: 3 times a day

Runny Noses & Blocked Noses

Introducing a cold medicine that contains Dihydrocodeine Phosphate and dl-Methylephedrine Hydrochloride, which suppress symptoms such as runny nose, stuffy/blocked nose, and sneezing.

• Japanese Product Name: ナザール スプレー ポンプ 30mL
• Medical Classification: Class 2 OTC Drug
• Features: Antihistamine nasal spray provides rapid local relief with minimal side effects. Contains active ingredients: Naphazoline Hydrochloride (relieves nasal congestion), Chlorpheniramine Maleate (suppresses runny nose), and Chloride (keeps nasal mucosa clean). Non-backflow nozzle makes it easy to use on the go.
• Symptoms: Relieves the following symptoms caused by allergic rhinitis, acute rhinitis, or sinusitis: nasal congestion, runny nose (excess nasal discharge), sneezing
• Form: Spray
• Age for Use: 7 years and older
• Dosage Frequency: Up to 6 times a day

• Japanese Product Name: ストナジェルサイナスEX 30CP
• Medical Classification: Designated Class 2 OTC Drug
• Features: Fast-dissolving liquid capsules specifically targeting nasal symptoms. * May cause drowsiness.
• Symptoms: Relieves cold symptoms (runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, sore throat, cough, phlegm, chills (fever), fever, headache, joint pain, muscle pain)
• Form: Gel capsules
• Age for Use: 15 years and older
• Dosage Frequency: 3 times a day

Coughs & Phlegm

Introducing cold medicine that contains dihydrocodeine phosphate, an ingredient that acts on the central nervous system to relieve a painful coughs, and dl-methylephedrine hydrochloride, an ingredient that promotes the emission of phlegm from the body.

• Japanese Product Name: エスエスブロン錠 84錠
• Medical Classification: Class 2 OTC Drug
• Features: Sugar-coated tablets containing a cough suppressant. * May cause drowsiness.
• Symptoms: Cough / Phlegm
• Form: Granules / Tablets
• Age for Use: 12 years and older
• Dosage Frequency: 3 times a day

• Japanese Product Name: メジコンせき止め錠Ｐｒｏ　＜２０錠＞
• Medical Classification: Class 2 OTC Drug
• Features: Contains Dextromethorphan, a central cough suppressant that works by inhibiting the cough center in the medulla. * May cause drowsiness.
• Symptoms: Cough suppressant
• Form: Tablets
• Age for Use: 15 years and older
• Dosage Frequency: 3 times a day

Cold Medicine for Children

For children, please be careful as there are several ingredients that cannot be used. People under the age of 15 should choose medicines for children that are labeled as “小児用pediatric use.'' For medicines that can be taken by both adults and children, the dosage limits may be different so please follow the guidelines for each age.

• Japanese Product Name: パブロンキッズ かぜ微粒 12包
• Medical Classification: Class 2 OTC Drug
• Features: Suitable for children aged 1 and up! Strawberry flavor that children love. Does not contain caffeine or dl-methylephedrine hydrochloride, which can interfere with children's sleep.
• Symptoms: Relieves cold symptoms (cough, runny nose, fever, sore throat, sneezing, phlegm, nasal congestion, chills (fever-induced), headache, joint pain, muscle pain)
• Form: Granules・Tablets
• Age for Use: 1 to under 7 years ※ Different dosage for different age groups
• Dosage Frequency: 3 times a day
• Other formulations or capacities in the same series ※ Cold tablets suitable for ages 5 and up
  Taisho Pabron Kids Cold Tablets 12 Packs ▶︎

• Japanese Product Name: ムヒのこどもかぜ 顆粒 12包
• Medical Classification: Class 2 OTC Drug
• Features: Flavor suitable for children. * May cause drowsiness.
• Symptoms: Relieves cold symptoms (runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, sore throat, cough, phlegm, chills, fever, headache, joint pain, muscle pain)
• Form: Granules
• Age for Use: 1 to under 11 years
• Dosage Frequency: 3 times a day

• Japanese Product Name: 小児用バファリン チュアブル 12錠
• Medical Classification: Class 2 OTC Drug
• Features: Gentle on the stomach and intestines, chewable, and can be taken without water.
• Symptoms: (1) Chills and fever (2) Toothache, post-extraction pain, headache, bruise pain, sore throat, earache, joint pain, neuralgia, back pain, muscle pain, shoulder pain, fracture pain, sprain relief, menstrual pain, injury
• Form: Tablets
• Age for Use: 3 to under 15 years
• Dosage Frequency: 3 times a day

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