Product information checked: 18 September 2026
A cold during a Japan trip—or a request to buy a familiar medicine for home—can leave you facing several similar orange Lulu boxes. Match the full name, then check the formula and age limit. This guide compares three familiar Lulu A products plus Lulu A Premium, launched on 31 August 2026.
Start with the words after “Lulu A”
I’m Irene, a Taiwanese pharmacist working in Japan. These are combination cold medicines with overlapping uses. Gold, DX and Premium are not automatic upgrades for everyone. The exact request, symptoms, age and whether you need to drive today matter more than a shiny box.
A quick guide to the differences
A Tablets s
Eight active ingredients for multiple cold symptoms, including fever/pain, runny nose, cough and phlegm. The starting comparison formula here; for ages 12+.
GOLD s
The manufacturer highlights these symptoms. Compared with A Tablets s, it uses bromhexine for phlegm and adds belladonna alkaloids to reduce nasal discharge. Ages 12+.
GOLD DXα
Adds tranexamic acid and changes the cough-suppressant formula. It has labelled doses from age 7, with smaller amounts for children. Check the whole safety profile, not age alone.
PREMIUM
Compared with DXα, adult daily amounts of tranexamic acid and belladonna alkaloids are higher, and there is no caffeine active ingredient. Ages 7+. It still has a no-driving warning.
Keep in mind: all four are designated Class 2 OTC medicines for the same 11 cold symptoms. The highlighted symptoms and ingredient differences do not prove which will work best for you.
Match four similar-looking boxes
Save this section for the shelf. Match the full Japanese name, age and tablet count. Lulu Attack (ルルアタック) and other Lulu products are outside this comparison.
新ルル-A錠s
Look for -A錠s
新ルルAゴールドs
Look for ゴールドs
新ルルAゴールドDXα
Look for DXα
ルルAプレミアム
Look for プレミアム
Product photos: Daiichi Sankyo Healthcare. Photos are not shown to scale. Sources are listed at the end.
The images show outer boxes for bottled tablets. Premium also has a PTP blister version; match the requested packaging too. Gold s is not Gold DXα, and Premium is not simply DXα with a new name. The same adult tablet count does not mean the same formula.
Ingredients: understand why the formulas differ
All four contain acetaminophen for fever and pain, clemastine for symptoms such as runny nose and sneezing, and dl-methylephedrine for cough. They combine several functions in one product. If you have only one symptom, a pharmacist or registered seller can help compare a more focused option.
| Ingredient / role | A Tablets s | GOLD s | DXα | PREMIUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acetaminophen | 900 mg | 900 mg | 900 mg | 900 mg |
| Clemastine fumarate | 1.34 mg | 1.34 mg | 1.34 mg | 1.34 mg |
| dl-Methylephedrine HCl | 60 mg | 60 mg | 60 mg | 60 mg |
| Tranexamic acid | — | — | 420 mg | 750 mg |
| Belladonna alkaloids | — | 0.3 mg | 0.3 mg | 0.6 mg |
| Bromhexine HCl | — | 12 mg | 12 mg | 12 mg |
| Other cough suppressants | Dihydrocodeine phosphate 24 mg + noscapine 48 mg | Same as A Tablets s | Dextromethorphan HBr hydrate 48 mg | Dextromethorphan HBr hydrate 48 mg |
| Other active ingredients | Potassium guaiacolsulfonate 240 mg; caffeine 75 mg; benfotiamine 24 mg | Caffeine 75 mg; benfotiamine 24 mg | Caffeine 60 mg | — |
All amounts are for the adult daily total of nine tablets, not one tablet or one dose. A dash means it is not listed as an active ingredient. Gold s changes the phlegm ingredient and adds belladonna; DXα changes the cough formula and adds tranexamic acid; Premium changes some amounts and removes caffeine. More milligrams do not establish proportionally greater relief.
Directions: pay attention to the 11- and 12-year boundaries
| Age | A Tablets s / Gold s per dose | DXα / Premium per dose |
|---|---|---|
| 15+ | 3 tablets | 3 tablets |
| 12–14 | 2 tablets | 2 tablets |
| 11 | Do not use | 2 tablets |
| 7–10 | Do not use | 1 tablet |
| Under 7 | Do not use | Do not use |
For eligible ages, take the listed amount three times daily, preferably within 30 minutes after meals, with water or warm water. An adult must supervise children. Do not invent a smaller dose for a child below the minimum age or take extra/double doses.
Before use: driving, alcohol and duplicate medicines
- Do not drive or operate machinery after taking any of the four. Drowsiness can occur, and some formulas also list visual effects. A trial dose at night or feeling alert does not cancel the warning.
- Do not drink alcohol before or after taking them. Do not use long term or exceed the dose. These products are not for preventing a cold.
- Do not combine with another cold remedy, fever/pain medicine (including EVE), sedative, cough/phlegm medicine or oral antihistamine such as some allergy, rhinitis and motion-sickness medicines. Gold s, DXα and Premium also prohibit gastrointestinal antispasmodic medicines; DXα and Premium additionally prohibit other oral tranexamic-acid products.
- Do not use if you have had an allergic reaction to its ingredients or asthma triggered by a cold medicine or fever/pain medicine. Seek advice first for pregnancy/possible pregnancy, ongoing treatment, older age, drug-allergy history, high fever or difficulty urinating.
- Get advice first for thyroid disease, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, liver/kidney disease, stomach/duodenal ulcer or glaucoma. A Tablets s and Gold s additionally flag impaired breathing, sleep apnoea and obesity; DXα and Premium flag thrombosis or risk of thrombosis.
- Breastfeeding: do not combine it with A Tablets s or Gold s. For DXα or Premium, seek advice before use. Do not change your breastfeeding plan on your own to fit a medicine purchase.
When to stop: doses, not days
Stop and seek advice if there is no improvement after 5–6 doses—not after 5–6 days. Stop for suspected reactions such as a rash, nausea/vomiting, dizziness or difficulty urinating. Breathing difficulty or rapidly worsening severe symptoms need urgent medical care. Persistent or worsening drowsiness, dry mouth, constipation or blurred vision also calls for advice.
Keep bottled tablets dry, tightly closed and in their original container. Do not handle them with wet hands. Use within 12 months of opening and before the printed expiry date; writing the opening date on the box makes this easier to track.
Check today’s plans as well as the box
My final check is simple: the exact name, the right age, and whether you can follow the no-driving and no-alcohol rules. If you have already taken a cold or pain medicine, check before adding Lulu. Leave some room in the itinerary for rest too.
Questions before you buy or use it
Does caffeine-free Premium mean no drowsiness?
No. Premium still contains clemastine and has an explicit no-driving/no-machinery warning. Having no caffeine active ingredient does not mean it cannot cause drowsiness.
Which of these has a dose for an 11-year-old?
DXα and Premium list two tablets per dose for ages 11–14, three times daily, preferably within 30 minutes after meals. A Tablets s and Gold s are not for under-12s. Check other precautions and supervise the child.
Can I add EVE for pain?
Do not combine them. All four already contain a fever/pain ingredient, and their leaflets prohibit other fever/pain medicines. Seek advice if symptoms remain troublesome.
Should I wait 5–6 days before asking for help?
No. The label says 5–6 doses without improvement. Seek help earlier for severe symptoms or suspected adverse reactions.
Sources and photo credits
Based on Japanese manufacturer information. English names help you read this guide; match the full Japanese name when shopping. Official photos retain the original packaging artwork. Read the current leaflet supplied with your pack before use.
