Your shopping list says “EBIOS”, but the Japanese drugstore has two yellow boxes. エビオス錠 is the original yeast tablet. エビオス整腸薬 is a different intestinal regulator. The difference is more than pack size: the ingredients, uses and tablet counts change too.
Pick the type first. Choose the pack size second.
I’m Irene, a Taiwanese pharmacist working in Japan. If you are buying for someone else, match the full name they asked for. If you are choosing for yourself, start with the problem: a heavy stomach after meals, or constipation and loose stools? Here is the quick way to tell these two apart.
Your three-minute choice: what do you need?
Look at original EBIOS tablets
Dried brewer’s yeast is the active ingredient. Labelled uses include stomach heaviness, indigestion, poor appetite and nutritional support. This is not simply a lactic-acid-bacteria supplement.
Look at EBIOS intestinal regulator
This formula contains 3 types of bacteria, dried yeast and vitamins B₁ and B₂. Its labelled uses focus on bowel regularity, constipation, bloating and loose stools. Find “整腸薬” on the box.
Both are designated quasi-drugs in Japan. Neither is for children under 5. More tablets or more types of bacteria do not establish that one is stronger; choose by the labelled use.
Save these box photos for the drugstore
エビオス錠2000錠
Look for エビオス錠
エビオス整腸薬
Look for エビオス整腸薬
Product photos: Asahi Group Foods. Photos are not shown to scale. Sources are listed at the end.
Use colour as a clue, then read the name. The original box has “胃腸を元気に・栄養補給” (stomach and nutritional support). The intestinal version says “整腸薬・便通を整える” (intestinal regulator; helps regulate bowel movements). Do not swap them just because both say EBIOS.
Bottle or pouch? Compare size after choosing the type
Original EBIOS comes in bottles and pouches. The 300-tablet pouch shown here is a portable pack, not a third formula. “錠” means tablets, not days. At the labelled dose for ages 15 and over—30 tablets a day—300 tablets last about 10 days. Younger age groups have different doses, so the same calculation does not apply to everyone.
What changes in the formula, and why does it matter?
| Compare | Original EBIOS tablets | EBIOS intestinal regulator |
|---|---|---|
| Main formula | Dried brewer’s yeast | 3 bacterial ingredients + dried yeast + vitamins B₁ and B₂ |
| Amount in the adult daily dose | 7,125 mg dried yeast in 30 tablets | Bifidobacteria, faecalis bacteria and acidophilus bacteria: 40 mg each; dried yeast: 2,025 mg in 18 tablets |
| How this helps you choose | Start with its labelled stomach symptoms and nutritional-support uses | Start with its labelled bowel-regularity, constipation and loose-stool uses |
| Easy misunderstanding | Brewer’s yeast does not mean a live probiotic or beer | The presence of yeast does not mean you use the original product’s dose |
The intestinal formula also supplies thiamine nitrate 1.125 mg and riboflavin (B₂) 2.25 mg per adult daily dose of 18 tablets. Original EBIOS contains yeast-derived B vitamins, amino acids and minerals. A long ingredient list does not make either product a substitute for balanced meals or prescribed treatment.
How many tablets? Read the age and the amount per dose
Both products are taken three times daily after meals. Original EBIOS specifies water or lukewarm water. The tables below show tablets per dose, not the daily total.
| Age | Original EBIOS: tablets per dose |
|---|---|
| 15 and over | 10 |
| 11–14 | 8 |
| 7–10 | 5 |
| 5–6 | 3 |
| Under 5 | Do not use |
| Age | Intestinal regulator: tablets per dose |
|---|---|
| 15 and over | 6 |
| 11–14 | 4 |
| 8–10 | 3 |
| 5–7 | 2 |
| Under 5 | Do not use |
Age 7 is an easy point to mix up: the original dose is 5 tablets, while the intestinal regulator dose is 2 tablets. Children must take them under adult supervision. Do not crush tablets or invent a smaller dose for a child under 5; both labels exclude this age group and warn about choking.
Long-term use, purines and other medicines
- No improvement after about one month? Both labels say to stop and consult a doctor, pharmacist or registered OTC seller, taking the box with you. Do not keep increasing the dose.
- Receiving medical treatment? Check before starting. Whether another medicine can be combined depends on the actual product; a one-hour gap is not a universal solution.
- On a purine-restricted diet? Original EBIOS contains about 113.3 mg of purines per adult daily dose of 30 tablets, based on an analysis example. If you have gout, high uric acid or have been told to limit purines, ask your doctor first.
- Allergies or new symptoms? Check ingredients and additives; both formulas contain lactose hydrate. Stop and seek advice if you develop an unusual reaction.
Keep shopping simple, and make checks where they matter.
The key is the right product, labelled use and age group. Medical treatment or special dietary restrictions call for an individual check. If you develop marked abdominal pain, fever or persistent vomiting during your trip, seek medical care instead of relying on these products.
At the shelf: four quick checks
Original or intestinal regulator?
Match the full Japanese name on your list. Yellow packaging and the EBIOS logo alone are not enough.
Stomach discomfort or bowel regularity?
Compare your need with the labelled uses, rather than choosing by a “stronger” claim.
Check the age and dose
Both start at age 5, but the age bands and tablet counts differ.
Then choose bottle or pouch
Check tablet count, expiry and how easy the pack is to carry. Save the box photos above for a quick shelf check.
Also comparing other brands? See the Biofermin guide or Wakamoto comparison. Start with what each product is for before comparing brand names.
Questions before you buy or use it
Is original EBIOS a probiotic?
Original EBIOS uses dried brewer’s yeast as its active ingredient; it is not a live lactic-acid-bacteria probiotic. EBIOS intestinal regulator is a separate product with three bacterial ingredients, dried yeast and vitamins.
Can I crush the tablets for a child under 5?
No. Both labels say not to use the products in children under 5 and warn about choking. Crushing tablets or reducing the dose is not a labelled exception.
Can I take EBIOS for a long time?
Follow the current pack directions and review whether you still need it. If symptoms do not improve after about one month, stop and seek advice for either product. Long-term use does not mean symptoms never need reassessment.
Why is there no paper leaflet or plastic cap wrap in my new bottle?
From June 2024, Asahi began phasing in packaging changes for certain bottled products, including removal of the internal leaflet and plastic cap wrapping, with information on the outer box and revised seals. Their absence alone does not prove a product is counterfeit; also check the full name, seal, expiry and seller.
Can I take other medicines if I leave a one-hour gap?
There is no fixed spacing rule that works for every medicine. If you are receiving medical treatment, the labels advise consulting a doctor, pharmacist or registered OTC seller before use.
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.
