Hi all!
A reminder that I’m pretty much the furthest thing from a doctor – in the same way that the Dad from my Big Fat Greek Wedding puts Windex on everything.. I’m the same way with paw paw cream ( rash under the nose? Paw Paw! Tumor bulging out from your forehead? Also Paw Paw!)
If bringing your own drugs from home – MAKE SURE ALL MEDICATION IS ALLOWED IN JAPAN. If not, you will need to apply for special permission. Also, to avoid any confusion or hold-ups, ALWAYS keep medication (and vitamins) in their original packaging – also anything that might be seen as suspicious such as baby formula (you don’t want to be carrying random packets of white powder when travelling overseas.)
So I can’t recommend medication at all ( I also don’t know what you or your children will react to and in what way…) but I can share the most popular brands in Japan.
I talk about it in my What to Pack blog post, but I do recommend bringing medication from home wherever possible.
For every item you want to pack though, you will need to check if that medication is allowed in Japan. I don’t want anyone getting into some serious legal trouble. Some of the medications not allowed can surprise you – for example, at the time of typing right now. Claritin-D, Codral Cold & Flu (or anything with pseudoephedrine) is not allowed without prior permission and some Vicks Inhalers are also not allowed. Also items containing codeine are often not allowed , such as Panadeine Forte. Best to check which, even over the counter meds are allowed in Japan, here to be sure – even for something you may not think twice about – better safe than sorry.
See here for information on taking ADHD medication into Japan.
I recommend going to a drug store for assistance and you’ll find that the staff behind the medicine counter will speak at least “medical English” (and written English is understood even more widely so, when in doubt, write it down) but if you are stuck.. here is a short vocab list that you can point to:
Fever 熱
Pain 痛み
Headache 頭痛
Blocked/Congested Nose 鼻詰まり
Rash 発疹
Diaper Rash おむつかぶれ
Constipated 便秘. (I actually have a blog post on how to talk about some awkward things like constipation in Japanese. You may like to have a read.)
便秘薬はありますか？ (bempiyaku wa arimasu ka?) = Do you have medicine for constipation?*
*For children’s constipation medicine ask for 子供用の便秘薬 ( kodomoyou no benpiyaku ).
Basically if you need to ask for a children’s version or a ‘for a child version of ANYTHING put “kodomoyou no” at the beginning. Another example? Children’s fork ? = kodomoyou no foorku
＊In the past, I have bought a product called “Easy Fibre” in a Japanese drugstore and popped it in my kid’s soup of even in with the cornflakes. It’s a tasteless powder.
And if you have…err …the opposite problem?
下痢になりました (geri ni narimashita) = I have diarrhea. * This is very unfortunately if your name is GARY because the pronounciating in Japanese is pretty much the same.*
下痢どめの薬はありますか？ (geri dome no kusuri wa arimasuka?) = Do you have medicine to stop diarrhea ?
*Just touching on a little cultural difference here (regardless of whether you agree of disagree with this approach, I believe this tip will help you with the desired result).. in Japan, “teething” isn’t really seen as something to be medicated. So if you announce that you baby is teething to a Japanese doctor or chemist they will probably recommend a teething toy or a cold towel for a baby to chew on and that is about it. So… if you would like medication – I recommend asking for pain relief instead.)
Most common / popular children’s medicine for fevers and pain relief in Japan (ask at the drugstore if these are right for you and your family)
Children’s Bufferin CII for fevers and pain (fruit flavoured tablets)
Bufferin CII ingredients and dosage ENGLISH info via the Lion Corporation website here.
Children’s Bufferin Kids’ Syrup “Netsu” for fevers (strawberry flavoured liquid)
Bufferin Kids NETSU Syrup ingredients and dosage ENGLISH info via the Lion Corporation website here.
Children’s Bufferin Kids’ Syrup “Kaze” for colds (strawberry or peach flavoured liquid)
Bufferin Kids KAZE Syrup ingredients and dosage ENGLISH info via the Lion Corporation website here.
This is a popular travel sickness medication. It is only for children 5 years + and please talk to the staff at the drugstore about dosage and any allergies.
Although it is not an over the counter medication: if you are looking for Migraine Medication called Sumatriptin in Japan – it is sold as Imigran (Glaxo Smith Kline) – and you can make an appointment with a doctor at Tokyo Medical and Surgical Clinic and request a prescription (if you forgot to bring from home or you have run out of your own supply.)
If you have a dairy intolerance of any sort, please also note that medications like “Lactaid” aren’t easy to get in Japan. Lactase enzyme supplements are only available by medical prescription in japan.
