Medicines in Japan

What a medicine is called in Japan, whether you need a prescription, whether it is sold over the counter, and what you may bring into the country. Based on official data from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) and the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA).

By active ingredient160+ ingredients · 2,800+ products
Pain & fever12 ingredients · 437 products
NSAID / antiplatelet

Aspirin

Bayer Aspirin · Ecotrin

Prescription and OTCDesignated Class 2
Opioid (cough, pain)

Codeine (Tylenol #3, co-codamol)

Tylenol with Codeine · Tylenol #3 · ジヒドロコデインリン酸塩

Prescription and OTCDesignated Class 2⚠ Permit required (narcotic)
NSAID (pain, topical)

Diclofenac (Voltaren)

Voltaren gel · Cataflam · ボルタレン · ナボール

Prescription and OTCClass 2
NSAID analgesic

Ibuprofen

Advil · Motrin · ブルフェン

Prescription and OTCDesignated Class 2
NSAID analgesic

Loxoprofen

ロキソニン

Prescription and OTCClass 1 (pharmacist required)
Opioid analgesic (narcotic)

Morphine

MS Contin · Kadian · MSコンチン · MSツワイスロン

Prescription only⚠ Permit required (narcotic)
NSAID analgesic

Naproxen (Aleve)

Aleve · Naprosyn · ナイキサン

Prescription only
Opioid analgesic (narcotic)

Oxycodone (OxyContin)

OxyContin · Percocet · オキシコンチン · オキノーム

Prescription only⚠ Permit required (narcotic)
Opioid analgesic

Tramadol

Ultram · Ultracet · ツートラム · トラマール

Prescription only
Allergy10 ingredients · 326 products
Antihistamine (tablet, eye drops)

Epinastine (Alesion)

Elestat (eye drops) · Relestat · アレジオン · アレジオンLX

Prescription and OTCClass 2
Antihistamine (non-drowsy)

Fexofenadine

Allegra · Telfast · アレグラ

Prescription and OTCClass 2
Antihistamine (non-drowsy)

Loratadine (Claritin)

Claritin · Clarityn · クラリチン

Prescription and OTCClass 2
Cold, cough & asthma10 ingredients · 217 products
Smoking cessation

Nicotine patch and gum

NicoDerm CQ · Nicorette

Prescription and OTCClass 1 (pharmacist required)
Nasal decongestant

Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)

Sudafed · Claritin-D · ディレグラ

Prescription and OTCDesignated Class 2⚠ Permit required
Stomach & bowel10 ingredients · 216 products
Proton pump inhibitor (acid reducer)

Esomeprazole

Nexium · ネキシウム

Prescription only
H2 blocker (acid reducer)

Famotidine (Pepcid)

Pepcid AC · Pepcid · ガスター

Prescription and OTCClass 1 (pharmacist required)
Osmotic laxative

Magnesium oxide (laxative)

Phillips' Milk of Magnesia (similar) · Milk of Magnesia (similar) · マグミット

Prescription and OTCClass 3
Infections10 ingredients · 185 products
Penicillin antibiotic

Amoxicillin

Amoxil · サワシリン · ワイドシリン

Prescription only
Macrolide antibiotic

Clarithromycin (Biaxin)

Biaxin · Klaricid · クラリス · クラリシッド

Prescription only
Antibiotic / antiprotozoal

Metronidazole (Flagyl)

Flagyl · フラジール内服 · フラジール腟

Prescription only
Antifungal (athlete's foot, nail fungus)

Terbinafine (Lamisil)

Lamisil · ラミシール · ラミシール外用

Prescription and OTCDesignated Class 2
Mental health & sleep13 ingredients · 387 products
Benzodiazepine (anxiety)

Alprazolam (Xanax)

Xanax · コンスタン · ソラナックス

Prescription only⚠ Allowed within limits (psychotropic)
Benzodiazepine (seizures, panic)

Clonazepam (Klonopin)

Klonopin · Rivotril · ランドセン · リボトリール

Prescription only⚠ Allowed within limits (psychotropic)
Benzodiazepine (anxiety, muscle spasm)

Diazepam (Valium)

Valium · Diazemuls · セルシン · ホリゾン

Prescription only⚠ Allowed within limits (psychotropic)
Sleep hormone

Melatonin

Melatonin (supplement) · Circadin

Prescription only
Antidepressant (NaSSA)

Mirtazapine (Remeron)

Remeron · Zispin · リフレックス · レメロン

Prescription only
Antipsychotic / mood stabilizer

Quetiapine (Seroquel)

Seroquel · セロクエル · ビプレッソ徐放

Prescription only
Antidepressant (SSRI)

Sertraline (Zoloft)

Zoloft · Lustral · ジェイゾロフト

Prescription only
Sleep medicine

Zolpidem (Ambien)

Ambien · Stilnoct · マイスリー

Prescription only⚠ Allowed within limits (psychotropic)
ADHD & controlled substances10 ingredients · 117 products
Anxiolytic (thienodiazepine)

Etizolam (Depas)

デパス

Prescription only⚠ Allowed within limits (psychotropic)
Benzodiazepine (anxiety)

Lorazepam (Ativan)

Ativan · ワイパックス

Prescription only⚠ Allowed within limits (psychotropic)
Cannabinoid

Medical cannabis / THC

Medical marijuana · Marinol (dronabinol)

Not approved in Japan⚠ Permit required (narcotic)
Wakefulness-promoting agent

Modafinil (Provigil)

Provigil · モディオダール

Prescription only⚠ Allowed within limits (psychotropic)
Sleep medicine (benzodiazepine)

Triazolam (Halcion)

Halcion · ハルシオン

Prescription only⚠ Allowed within limits (psychotropic)
Chronic conditions13 ingredients · 442 products
Blood pressure medicine (calcium channel blocker)

Amlodipine

Norvasc · Istin · アムロジン · ノルバスク

Prescription only
Anticoagulant (blood thinner)

Apixaban (Eliquis)

Eliquis · エリキュース

Prescription only
Cholesterol medicine (statin)

Atorvastatin

Lipitor · リピトール

Prescription only
Diabetes / heart failure medicine (SGLT2 inhibitor)

Empagliflozin (Jardiance)

Jardiance · ジャディアンス

Prescription only
Blood pressure medicine (ARB)

Losartan (Cozaar)

Cozaar · Hyzaar · ニューロタン

Prescription only
Type 2 diabetes medicine (biguanide)

Metformin

Glucophage · Fortamet · メトグルコ · グリコラン

Prescription only
Epilepsy10 ingredients · 170 products
Antiepileptic (benzodiazepine)

Clobazam (Onfi, Frisium)

Onfi · Sympazan · マイスタン

Prescription only⚠ Allowed within limits (psychotropic)
Women's health10 ingredients · 51 products
Endometriosis treatment

Dienogest (Visanne)

Visanne (via Zalkya) · ディナゲスト

Prescription only
Skin13 ingredients · 119 products
Acne / rosacea (topical)

Azelaic acid

Finacea · Azelex

Not approved in Japan
Acne treatment (topical)

Benzoyl peroxide (Bepio)

PanOxyl · Benzac · ベピオ · ベピオウォッシュ

Prescription only
Moisturizer / bruise treatment

Heparinoid cream (Hirudoid)

Hirudoid · ヒルドイド · ヒルドイドソフト

Prescription and OTCClass 2
Skin lightening (melasma, dark spots)

Hydroquinone cream

Tri-Luma (combination) · Hydroquinone 4%

Not approved in Japan
Tetracycline antibiotic (acne)

Minocycline (Minocin)

Minocin · Solodyn · ミノマイシン

Prescription only
Cosmetic medicine10 ingredients · 36 products
Hair loss & ED10 ingredients · 49 products
Hair regrowth (topical)

Minoxidil (Rogaine)

Rogaine · Regaine

OTC onlyClass 1 (pharmacist required)
Erectile dysfunction medicine

Sildenafil (Viagra)

Viagra · Viagra Connect · バイアグラ

Prescription only
Erectile dysfunction / prostate medicine

Tadalafil (Cialis)

Cialis · シアリス · ザルティア

Prescription only
Travel medicine10 ingredients · 11 products
Tetracycline antibiotic / malaria prevention

Doxycycline (Vibramycin)

Vibramycin · Doryx · ビブラマイシン

Prescription only
Kampo (herbal)13 ingredients · 113 products
Popular OTC brands10
Class 1 (pharmacist required)

Loxonin S

Headache, menstrual pain, toothache, back pain and fever

第一三共ヘルスケア

Designated Class 2

EVE A

Headache, menstrual pain, toothache and fever

エスエス製薬

Designated Class 2

Bufferin A

Headache, menstrual pain, joint pain and fever

ライオン

Class 2

Tylenol A

Headache, menstrual pain, toothache and fever

アリナミン製薬

Designated Class 2

Pabron Gold A

Cold symptoms: cough, phlegm, sore throat, runny nose, fever, headache

大正製薬

Class 2

Allegra FX

Runny nose, congestion and sneezing from pollen or house dust

久光製薬

Class 1 (pharmacist required)

Gaster 10

Stomach pain, heartburn, bloating and nausea

第一三共ヘルスケア

Class 2

Seirogan

Loose stools, diarrhea, and stomach upset from food or water

大幸薬品

Class 2

Ohta's Isan

Upset stomach from overeating or drinking, a heavy feeling in the stomach, heartburn, and general stomach discomfort

太田胃散

Designated quasi-drug

Shin Biofermin S

Regulating the bowel: bloating, loose stools and constipation

ビオフェルミン製薬