This is the most important list you should keep in mind regarding medications in Japan. This list is not exhaustive, but you should never bring these medicines or medicines that contain one or more of these components, as you will eventually be arrested and Japan will not take the punishment for illegal drugs lightly. Basically, most people in the West take 1000 mg of acetaminophen at a time. This is where things start to get complicated. There are several medications in the United States and other Western countries that are completely legal and include narcotics in their prescriptions, but it`s a little different in Japan. Decisions regarding drugs or prescription drugs that can be imported into Japan are made exclusively by the Japanese government and are subject to the control of the Japanese Drug Law. Many common and over-the-counter medications in the United States are illegal in Japan. It doesn`t matter if you have a valid U.S. prescription for a drug that is illegal in Japan: if you bring it with you, you risk being arrested and detained by Japanese authorities. The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Japan do not maintain an exhaustive list of prohibited drugs or ingredients.

Complete information is only available from the Japanese government and is subject to change without notice. All travelers are advised to check the website of the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW), including the FAQ, or email yakkan@mhlw.go.jp before traveling to Japan. Although an over-the-counter drug like Tylenol is common in the United States, it may not be in a foreign country. So always check the rules of the country you`re traveling to before packing or shipping things. You can usually find out what`s legal and what`s not by Googling the local embassy or referring to the official U.S. State Department embassy list. You don`t want to find out the hard way that you should have left your cold and sinus medicine at home. „Tylenol” does not contain this. It contains paracetamol. Your article would discourage travellers from bringing regular Tylenol, which is not true. But what if you have a legal prescription? Refer to Japan`s list, which identifies Lomotil as a banned substance in Japan.

But Lomotil is not an over-the-counter drug, so why is it listed? I am neither a doctor nor a pharmacist, but I have prescribed this medication daily for a necessary condition. So I can`t travel to Japan or even through Japan even if a doctor has prescribed it? It would be great if you could clarify that for me. And I am sure that there are other drugs of this type that also fall into this category for different countries. I assume the $64 million issue is about drugs required by law. Thank you. The information contained in this guide does not constitute legal advice and is subject to change in accordance with the latest laws and regulations of the Japanese government. We recommend that you contact the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare or any other official institution listed below for the latest information. I then mentioned this in Japan: „Many common and over-the-counter drugs in the United States are illegal in Japan. It doesn`t matter if you have a valid U.S. prescription for an illegal drug in Japan: if you bring it with you, you risk being arrested and detained by Japanese authorities.

@Grace, read the 5th paragraph where Johnny mentions Japan. A legal prescription for a prohibited drug does not allow its introduction. Period. Years ago, my husband was taking ADHD medication and we booked a trip to Japan. Several months later, I read an article about a person arrested in another country (not Japan), which led me to research Japan`s restrictions. That`s when I found out my husband`s medication wasn`t legal. Since he hadn`t found a better legal drug in Japan at the time (he now has), we cancelled this cruise. We hope to go to Japan one day. This list is by no means definitive, and you should contact the nearest Japanese embassy or consulate to Japan to ensure that any medications you plan to bring into Japan are legal. Some associations, such as the Epileptic Association of America, have comparable lists of drugs that are legal to import into Japan. Antipsychotics cannot be sent to Japan and you may need to provide a prescription from your doctor, even if the amount of antipsychotics you bring into Japan does not exceed the allowable limit.

You are allowed to bring a two-month supply of over-the-counter medications as long as they are legal in Japan (e.g., acetaminophen). Heroin, cocaine, MDMA, opium, cannabis, and stimulants, including some over-the-counter and prescription drugs commonly used in the United States, are strictly prohibited and can be smuggled into Japan. Be careful as commonly used inhalers and some allergy and sinus medications such as Actifed, Sudafed and Vicks inhalers contain stimulants. There are no exceptions to the importation of these banned drugs in Japan, even if the drugs are legally purchased outside Japan and even if they are accompanied by customs declaration forms and copies of prescriptions. But since the ingredient is the same (acetaminophen), you can follow the dosage recommended by your doctor in your country. Some common medications/ingredients that are illegal in Japan include: opium, cannabis, and stimulants (amphetamines, methamphetamines), including some medications used to treat ADHD (such as Adderall, Vyvanse, and Dexedrine) are strictly prohibited and can be smuggled into Japan. The same classifications and restrictions that apply to the importation of medicines into Japan also apply to the shipment of medicines to Japan. It is illegal to send banned drugs to Japan, and if you do, the items will be confiscated and will not be sent to you. Depending on the type of medication, you may face more serious consequences, including expulsion.

In Japan (if you are Japanese), you usually take one (200 mg) every 6 hours up to a maximum of twice a day. „Q&A for those bringing medicine to Japan”: WORD(149KB) PDF(529KB) (For headache, fever, etc. *Please check online what you need) For more information on importing medicines into Japan and how to obtain a „Yakkan Shoumei” certificate, please visit the website of the Ministry of Health, of Work and Welfare and send an e-mail to yakkan@mhlw.go.jp. You should get travel insurance before coming to Japan, but if not, you should think that you will end up paying at least 5,000 JPY (about 50 USD) just to see a doctor. But it really depends on your situation, so unfortunately, I can`t say exactly how much you would pay. Be careful, as commonly used inhalers and some over-the-counter allergy and sinus medications such as Actifed, Sudafed, and Vicks inhalers contain stimulants, making them prohibited items. There you go! If you`re afraid to speak Japanese, some pharmacists will speak English when you`re in Tokyo, so don`t be shy and try asking them in English. Your health is more important than anything else! Overview Although the JET program covers much, if not most, of the costs of moving and settling in Japan, there are some. The following provides a basic framework that summarizes what can be brought into Japan without special permission (see Yakkan Shomei above). Note that the above rules and exceptions based on prohibited ingredients still apply.

Basically, the procedures are the same as for drugs and quasi-drugs. In the UK, most people take 200-400mg, so you can take 2 at a time if that`s the dosage you`re used to. (I took 400 mg at a time and was fine.) Japan has well-stocked pharmacies in most major metropolitan areas, so relief from minor health issues (such as coughs and sore throats) is often within reach. Parapharmacy (薬局 yakkyoku / ドラッグストア doraggu-sutoa) Contact for medicines, quasi-medicines, cosmetics and medical devices Regardless of the above description, you cannot import prohibited or controlled narcotics, psychotropic drugs into Japan. I think it is also sold in the United States? It is very popular among the Japanese and is usually the easiest find in a store. Be aware that foreign prescriptions are not recognized in Japan – if your prescription needs are greater than you can bring (even with a Yakkan Shomei), you will need to consult a local healthcare provider.