Codeine and dihydrocodeine in Japanese cold and cough medicine

What they are called on Japanese boxes

How codeine and dihydrocodeine is written on Japanese boxes, with the official English name from the JAN database or the Japanese Pharmacopoeia.

Japanese cold and cough medicines name the salt: ジヒドロコデインリン酸塩 (dihydrocodeine phosphate) or コデインリン酸塩水和物 (codeine phosphate hydrate).

Codeine and dihydrocodeine in Japanese products

The amount of codeine and dihydrocodeine per dose and per day, as each package insert sets it.

On 3 October 2026, PMDA's search of OTC package inserts returned 2 products containing codeine (excluding dihydrocodeine) and 397 containing dihydrocodeine.

Each package insert sets its own dose. Follow the directions and dosage on the box you buy.

Bought with a check in Japan (要確認)

From 1 May 2026, medicines taken by mouth that contain codeine and dihydrocodeine are designated abuse-prevention medicines (指定濫用防止医薬品).

• What the shop checks before selling medicine with codeine and dihydrocodeine: age, pack size and ID

Bringing them into Japan

Japan lists codeine as a narcotic. Substances containing 1% or less of codeine or its salt are excluded; a prescribed medicine above that needs permission obtained before you enter Japan.

• Medicines that are banned or need permission in Japan
• How much medicine you can bring into Japan

Taking it home

What the official customs pages say about codeine and dihydrocodeine. Check them before you fly.

• South Korea: The Korea Customs Service lists codeine and dihydrocodeine as narcotics, and allylisopropylacetylurea, bromovalerylurea and dextromethorphan as psychotropic drugs. It warns that medicine containing narcotic-class ingredients can be punished under the Narcotics Control Act when brought in from abroad, even if it was sold there.
• Taiwan: Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration asks travellers to avoid buying and bringing back medicine containing ingredients that are controlled drugs in Taiwan. Its schedule of controlled drugs lists codeine and dihydrocodeine preparations by their content per 100 millilitres or 100 grams.
• Mainland China: China's catalogue of narcotic drugs (2013 edition) lists codeine and dihydrocodeine, including their salts and single-ingredient preparations.
• Hong Kong (codeine): Since 26 January 2024, all medicines containing less than 0.2% codeine are Part 1 Schedule 1 poisons. Medicine classed as a dangerous drug, an antibiotic or a Part 1 poison needs a doctor's prescription to be carried in or out.

• Taking Japanese medicine home: the limits in South Korea, Taiwan, mainland China and Hong Kong

Source: Korea Customs Service — Narcotics and psychotropic ingredients (마약류 성분 목록) · Korea Customs Service — Press release, 17 July 2025 (보도자료) · Korea Customs Service — Check the ingredients of medicine you bring in (의약품 성분 확인) · Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) — TFDA news, 25 June 2025 · Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) — Controlled drugs: schedules and items (管制藥品分級及品項) · National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) — Catalogue of narcotic drugs, 2013 edition (麻醉药品品种目录) · Drug Office, Department of Health, Hong Kong — Drug Office: frequently asked questions (常見問題) · Customs and Excise Department, Hong Kong — Press release on medicines carried by passengers, 6 January 2023

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