Understanding Medicine in Japan

1. For sore throat:
   1. Azunol Gargling Liquid 4% (Shiori) – to suppress inflammation, promotes wound healing
      Active ingredient: Sodium gualenate hydrate [Pregnancy Safe – 5 UKB]
   2. SP Troches 0.25 mg Meiji (Shiori)
      Active ingredient: Dequalinium chloride [Pregnancy Safe – 5 20 UKB]
   3. Tranexamic Acid
      1. Tablets (Shiori) – suppress allergic/inflammatory reaction, e.g., tonsilitis
         Active ingredient: Tranexamic acid
      2. Capsule (Shiori) – stop bleeding and suppress allergic/inflammatory reaction
         Active ingredient: Tranexamic acid [Pregnancy Safe – 20 NGT]
2. For cough:
   1. Medicon (Shiori) – for antitussive (inhibits cough reflex)
      Active ingredient: Dextromethorphan hydrobromide hydrate [Pregnancy Safe – 5 UKB]
3. For severe cough:
   1. Huscode Combination Syrup (Shiori) – dilates the bronchi to sedate coughing
      Active ingredient: Dihydrocodeine phosphate, dl-Methylephedrine hydrochloride, Chlorpheniramine maleate
      1. Symproic Tablets (Shiori) – to alleviate constipation when drinking Huscode
4. For expectorant/mucolytics, loosen/breaking phlegm
   1. Ambroxol Hydrocholoride Tablets (Shiori) – enhance production of lung mucus
      Active ingredient: Ambroxol hydrochloride
   2. Bromhexine (Shiori) – increase serous secretion, loosen sputum
      Active ingredient: Bromhexine hydrochloride [Pregnancy Safe – 5 UKB]
   3. Carbocisteine (Shiori) – a mucolytic that reduces the viscosity of sputum
      Active ingredient: L-Carbocisteine [Pregnancy Safe – 20 NGT]
5. For allergy:
   1. Bilanoa (Shiori) – allergic rhinitis – antihistamine, relieves nasal symptoms (sneezing, runny nose, stuffed nose) e.g., due to mites & house dust
      Active ingredient: Bilastine
   2. Desalex (Shiori) – allergic rhinitis – antihistamine
      Active ingredient: Desloratadine [Pregnancy Safe – 5 UKB]
   3. Montelukast (Shiori) – bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis – antileukotrienes
      Active ingredient: Montelukast sodium [Pregnancy Safe – 5 UKB ]
   4. Tsumura #95 (Shiori) – cough & bronchial asthma
      Active ingredient: Gokoto [Pregnancy Safe – 5 UKB ]
   5. Tsumura #29 (Shiori) – to treat obstructive phlegm, bronchitis, and bronchial asthma
      Active ingredient: Bakumondoto [Pregnancy Safe – 20 UKB]
6. For nasal congestion:
   1. Tsumura #2 (Shiori) – to treat nasal congestion, empyema and chronic rhinitis
      Active ingredient: Kakkontokasenkyushin’i
7. For eye infections, e.g., conjunctivitis and hordeolum (sty)
   1. Bestron for Ophthalmic 0.5% (Shiori) – inhibits synthesis of bacterial cell wall, and shows antibacterial action
      Active ingredient: Cefmenoxime hydrochloride [Pregnancy Safe – 20 KJM]
8. Others (not yet tried):
   1. Isodine Gargle Solution 7% (Shiori) – disinfects bacteria, fungus and virus in the throat and the mouth.
      Active ingredient: Povidone-Iodine

Terminologies

1. antihistamine:
   block the effects of histamine, a chemical released by the body during allergic reactions
2. antileukotrienes:
   either blocking the effects of leukotrienes or inhibiting their production
   • Leukotrienes
     inflammatory molecules that contribute to conditions like asthma and allergies

Active Ingredients (Personal interest)

1. L-Carbocisteine
   • Carbocisteine:
     a mucolytic that reduces the viscosity of sputum
2. Tranexamic Acid
   • to treat heavy menstrual bleeding in women
   • stop bleeding and suppress allergic/inflammatory reaction
3. Montelukast sodium
   • bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis – antileukotrienes