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
• Features: Cold medicine for the whole family, from children to adults
• Symptoms: Alleviation of cold symptoms (cough, phlegm, sore throat, sneezing, runny nose, stuffy nose, chills, fever, headache, joint pain, muscle pain)
• Dosage form: Fine granules/tablets
• Administration age: 1 year old or older (fine granules), 5 years old or older (tablets)
• Number of doses: 3 times a day
• Reference price: 2200 yen
  *Drowsiness etc. may occur.

• Japanese product name: パブロンSα微粒 26包
• Features: Cold medicine for the whole family, from children to adults
• Symptoms: Alleviation of cold symptoms (cough, phlegm, sore throat, sneezing, runny nose, stuffy nose, chills, fever, headache, joint pain, muscle pain)
• Dosage form: Fine granules/tablets
• Administration age: 1 year old or older (fine granules), 5 years old or older (tablets)
• Number of doses: 3 times a day
• Reference price: 2200 yen
  *Drowsiness etc. may occur.

• Japanese product name: 新ルル-A錠s 150錠
• Characteristics: Small sugar-coated tablets that are easy to swallow. Contains all 8 active ingredients
• Symptoms: Alleviation of cold symptoms (runny nose, stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, cough, phlegm, chills, fever, headache, joint pain, muscle pain)
• Dosage form: Tablets
• Age for use: 12 years and older
• Number of doses: 3 times a day
• Reference price: 3100 yen
  *Drowsiness etc. may occur.

• Japanese product name: 新ジキニン顆粒 22包
• Features: Comprehensive cold medicine containing licorice extract
• Symptoms: Relief of cold symptoms (cough, fever, headache, runny nose, stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, phlegm, chills, fever, joint pain, muscle pain).
• Dosage form: Granules
• Age of use: 12 years and older
• Number of doses: 3 times a day
• Reference price: 2400 yen
  *Drowsiness etc. may occur.

• Japanese product name: プレコール持続性カプセル 36カプセル
• Characteristics: Long-Acting, lasting cold medicine that can be taken twice a day.
• Symptoms: Relief of cold symptoms (sore throat, fever, runny nose, stuffy nose, cough, phlegm, chills, headache, joint pain, muscle pain, sneezing)
• Dosage form: Capsules
• Age of use: 15 years and older
• Number of doses: twice a day
• Reference price: 2100 yen
  *Drowsiness etc. may occur.

• Japanese product name: 葛根湯エキス顆粒 1.5gx21包
• Characteristics: Works at the beginning of a cold. Easy to drink with only a slight bitter flavour.
• Symptoms: Cold, blocked & runny nose, headache, stiff shoulders, muscle pain, shoulder/upper body pain
• Dosage form: Granules
• Age of use: 2 years and older
• Number of doses: 3 times a day
• Reference price: 1300 yen

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.

• Japanese product name: ベンザブロックL錠 45錠
• Characteristics: For painful colds especially concerning a sore throat! Small and easy to drink.
• Symptoms: Relief of cold symptoms (sore throat, fever, blocked nose, runny nose, chills, headache, joint pain, muscle pain, cough, sneezing)
• Dosage form: Tablets
• Age of use: 15 years and older
• Number of doses: 3 times a day
• Reference price: 1650 yen
  *Drowsiness etc. may occur.

• Japanese product name: イブクイック頭痛薬DX 40錠
• Characteristics: Contains maximum amount of ibuprofen + ingredients that protect the stomach
• Symptoms: Headache, stiff shoulders, toothache, menstrual pain, sore throat, joint pain, muscle pain, neuralgia, lower back pain, pain after tooth extraction, bruise pain, ear pain, nerve pain, fracture pain, sprain pain, trauma pain, chills, and fever relief.
• Dosage form: Tablets
• Age of use: 15 years and older
• Number of doses: 3 times a day
• Reference price: 1680 yen
  *Drowsiness etc. may occur.

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: ストナジェルサイナスEX 30CP
• Japanese product name: Stona Gel Sinus EX 30CP
• Characteristics: Quick-dissolving liquid capsules. Cold medicine specializing in nasal symptoms.
• Symptoms: Alleviation of cold symptoms (runny nose, stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, cough, phlegm, chills, fever, headache, joint pain, muscle pain)
• Dosage form: Gel Capsules
• Age of use: 15 years and older
• Number of doses: 3 times a day
• Reference price: 2100 yen
  *Drowsiness etc. may occur.

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
• Characteristics: Sugar-coated tablets containing antitussive (cough suppressants) ingredients
• Symptoms: Cough/phlegm
• Dosage form: Fine grains/tablets
• Age of use: 12 years and older
• Number of doses: 3 times a day
• Reference price: 1500 yen
  *Drowsiness etc. may occur.

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: ムヒのこどもかぜ 顆粒 12包
• Characteristics: A flavor/taste that is easy for children to drink.
• Symptoms: Alleviation of cold symptoms (runny nose, stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, cough, phlegm, chills, fever, headache, joint pain, muscle pain)
• Dosage form: Granules
• Age of use: 1 year old or older
• Number of doses: 3 times a day
• Reference price: 1200 yen
  *Drowsiness etc. may occur.

• Japanese product name: 小児用バファリン チュアブル 12錠
• Features: Chewable type that is easy on the stomach and can be taken without water
• Symptoms: (1) Chills and fever relief (2) Toothache, pain after tooth extraction, headache, bruise pain, sore throat, ear pain, joint pain, nerve pain, lower back pain, muscle pain, stiff shoulder pain, fracture pain, pain from sprains, menstrual pain and trauma pain
• Dosage form: Tablets
• Age of use: 13 to under 15 years old
• Number of doses: 3 times a day
• Reference price: 650 yen

*Product information listed in this article is subject to change. The latest information is based on the manufacturer's official website.