Your shopping list says “Alinamin EX Plus”, but recognising the bottle is only half the job. What is it used for? What is in it? And how often do you take it? Here is a practical guide to this exact Japanese product.
Bring home the right product—and clear directions.
I’m Irene, a Taiwanese pharmacist working in Japan. EX Plus is a Japanese Class 3 OTC medicine, not simply a food supplement. Start with its labelled uses, including eye strain and shoulder or lower-back symptoms. You do not need to memorise every vitamin to understand the choice.
Three-minute guide: does the labelled use match your need?
Eye strain is a labelled use
The core B₁, B₆ and B₁₂ formula is used for relief of eye strain. That does not mean it treats every red or painful eye, or sudden vision changes.
Match the symptom—not a lifestyle label
Labelled uses include muscle/joint pain such as shoulder stiffness, lower-back pain and frozen shoulder, plus neuralgia and numbness in the hands and feet. Desk work is a relatable setting, not a diagnosis.
Vitamin supplementation is a separate use
It also supplies B₁, B₆ and B₁₂ during physical fatigue, weakness during/after illness, and pregnancy or breastfeeding. It is not a caffeine stimulant or a way to replace sleep and push through a trip.
Ages 15+: 2–3 tablets once daily, immediately after a meal. Keep that sentence with the product. If buying for a parent, match their requested name and intended use; age alone is not a reason to take it.
Recognise the box: EX PLUS, without α or Gold
アリナミンEXプラス
Look for EX PLUS
Product photo: Alinamin Pharmaceutical. Photos are not shown to scale. Sources are listed at the end.
The full Japanese name is アリナミンEXプラス. The photo shows a white box, red cap and gold EX PLUS lettering; this example contains 180 tablets. Pack size varies. If the name adds α or says メディカルゴールド, it is a different formula.
What do the vitamins contribute?
| Ingredient | Per 3 tablets: maximum adult daily dose | What it helps explain |
|---|---|---|
| Fursultiamine (B₁ derivative) | 100 mg | The manufacturer highlights its absorption; part of the core B₁/B₆/B₁₂ formula |
| Pyridoxine hydrochloride (B₆) | 100 mg | One of the core B vitamins |
| Cyanocobalamin (B₁₂) | 1,500 micrograms | One of the core B vitamins |
| Tocopherol calcium succinate (vitamin E) | 103.58 mg, equivalent to 100 mg dl-α-tocopheryl succinate | The manufacturer relates vitamin E to peripheral circulation |
| Calcium pantothenate | 30 mg | Related to coenzyme A and energy production |
| Gamma-oryzanol | 10 mg | An additional active ingredient |
These amounts are for three tablets, not an instruction for everyone to take three. The labelled dose is 2–3 tablets once daily. Formula explanations do not establish that a particular pain is caused by a vitamin deficiency or guarantee a personal result. EX Plus contains no caffeine.
How to take it: once daily, not after every meal
| Age | Per dose | Frequency and timing |
|---|---|---|
| 15+ | 2–3 tablets | Once daily, immediately after a meal |
| Under 15 | Do not take | — |
Swallow with water or warm water; do not chew. Choose a meal you can remember consistently. “Once daily” does not mean 2–3 tablets after breakfast, lunch and dinner. Extra walking or fatigue is not a reason to exceed the labelled dose.
Small or large bottle? Consider use and storage
A 180-tablet bottle is roughly 90 days at two tablets daily or 60 days at three. That is pack-size arithmetic, not a recommended treatment length. After opening, use promptly, with six months as the guide, and never beyond the expiry date. Write the opening date on the box and bottle. The largest bottle is not automatically the best first purchase.
How long should you take it—and when should you stop?
- No improvement after about one month: stop and consult a doctor, pharmacist or registered OTC seller. Sudden, severe or worsening symptoms need assessment sooner.
- Medical treatment or medicine-allergy history: seek advice before use. Check overlaps with other B-vitamin or vitamin products rather than stacking several bottles.
- Possible side effects: stop and seek advice for rash, itching, nausea, vomiting, mouth ulcers or stomach discomfort. Persistent or worsening loose stools, diarrhoea or constipation also require stopping and seeking advice.
- Menstrual changes: periods may start earlier or bleeding may be slightly heavier. Seek advice if bleeding continues for a long time.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: vitamin B₁/B₆/B₁₂ supplementation during these periods is a labelled use. Follow the dose and consider individual circumstances; this does not make unlimited combinations of vitamin products appropriate.
The manufacturer FAQ allows continued use according to directions when symptoms improve or for the labelled vitamin-supplementation purpose. That does not remove the one-month review point for symptoms that fail to improve. EX Plus is not another name for an immediate painkiller, or a way to ignore sudden severe pain during a trip.
Three final checks at the shelf
Exact product
Match アリナミンEXプラス. α and Medical Gold have different formulas.
Person and purpose
Ages 15+, with a need matching the labelled symptoms or vitamin-supplementation uses. A gift recipient’s age alone is not enough.
Keep the directions
Keep the box and “2–3 tablets once daily, immediately after a meal”. Close the bottle tightly, protect from heat/moisture and keep it in its original container.
Still deciding between EX Plus, EX Plus α and Medical Gold? See the three-product Alinamin comparison. This page is the focused EX Plus shopping and use guide.
Questions before you buy or use it
Can I take EX Plus every day?
Use the labelled dose for symptom relief or the listed vitamin-supplementation purposes. If symptoms do not improve after about one month, stop and seek advice. Continued use does not mean ongoing symptoms never need reassessment.
Before or after food?
Immediately after a meal, swallowed with water or warm water without chewing. Ages 15+ take 2–3 tablets once daily, not after all three meals.
Can a 14-year-old take a smaller dose?
No. The label says not to use EX Plus under age 15. Reducing the dose is not a labelled child-use option.
Does it contain caffeine, and must I avoid evening use?
EX Plus has no caffeine. Its directions specify once daily immediately after a meal, without requiring breakfast. Caffeine-free does not guarantee that no individual will experience sleep-related or other discomfort.
How long can I keep an opened bottle?
The leaflet says to use promptly after opening, with six months as a guide, and not beyond the expiry date. Record the opening date, close tightly and store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Keep the original container.
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.
