A shopping request for “the little pink constipation pills” can leave you facing BEAULUCK A and Soft. Ask for the full name first: both are stimulant laxatives, but their active ingredients, minimum ages and administration precautions differ. The word “Soft” alone cannot tell you whether the medicine is suitable.
I'm Irene, a Taiwan-born pharmacist licensed in Japan and working in a Japanese drugstore. I'll help you tell BEAULUCK A and BEAULUCK Soft apart, then check the easily missed empty-stomach, milk and antacid instructions.
Sources checked: 13 October 2026. This guide compares Japanese-market ビューラックA and ビューラック・ソフト, both Class 2 OTC medicines. Read the latest full label supplied with the product you buy.
- Before choosing a laxative
- Three differences to check on the shelf
- Why the milligram numbers are not a strength ranking
- How much? Once daily for both products
- Taking A: whole tablets on an empty stomach
- Taking Soft: at bedtime or on an empty stomach
- When to stop and get advice
- Two common shopping questions
- Official sources and image credits
Before choosing a laxative
For both products, do not take another laxative at the same time, and do not take large doses. Consult a doctor, pharmacist or registered medicine seller before use if you are receiving medical treatment, pregnant or possibly pregnant, or have severe abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting. With those symptoms, pause the shopping comparison and get advice first.
If travel has disrupted your bowel routine and you are unsure whether medicine is needed, start with the travel-constipation guide. Attractive packaging or a large box is not a reason to turn a laxative into a daily supplement.
Three differences to check on the shelf
| Product / Japanese name | Active ingredient | Minimum age | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEAULUCK A / ビューラックA | Bisacodyl | 11; separate dose for ages 11–14 | Enteric-coated tablets: swallow whole; milk and antacid spacing matters |
| BEAULUCK Soft / ビューラック・ソフト | Sodium picosulfate hydrate | 15 | A different active ingredient; still a stimulant laxative |
For a specific shopping request, match the full name and photograph. If choosing for yourself, have a pharmacist check your symptoms, age and other medicines before selecting a formula. A's children's dose does not apply to Soft, and equal tablet counts do not establish equivalent doses between the products.
Why the milligram numbers are not a strength ranking
The following amounts are in 3 tablets, the maximum daily dose for ages 15 and over. The maximum is not the starting dose.
| Product | Active ingredient in 3 tablets |
|---|---|
| BEAULUCK A | Bisacodyl 15 mg |
| BEAULUCK Soft | Sodium picosulfate hydrate 7.5 mg |
Bisacodyl stimulates the colon's lining and the defecation reflex. Soft's ingredient is activated by bacteria in the colon before promoting bowel movement. Because these are different ingredients, 15 mg versus 7.5 mg does not mean that A is twice as strong or Soft is a half-dose version. Both are labelled for constipation and associated symptoms such as abdominal bloating; weight loss and “detox” are not their purposes.
How much? Once daily for both products
These are amounts per dose; both medicines are taken once daily. Start with the lowest dose for your age, then adjust gradually within the labelled range according to your bowel movements and condition.
| Age | BEAULUCK A per dose | BEAULUCK Soft per dose |
|---|---|---|
| 15 and over | 2–3 tablets; start with 2 | 2–3 tablets; start with 2 |
| 11–14 | 1–2 tablets; start with 1 | Do not take |
| Under 11 | Do not take | Do not take |
Children aged 11–14 must take A under a parent's guidance and supervision. A listed children's dose is not a reason to skip checking the child's symptoms and other medicines.
Taking A: whole tablets on an empty stomach
- Check whether you have already taken A, Soft or another laxative that day; do not duplicate them.
- Take the age-appropriate dose of A at bedtime, on an empty stomach, with water or lukewarm water.
- A is enteric-coated: swallow the tablets whole. Do not chew, split or crush them.
- Do not take A within one hour after drinking milk or taking an antacid. If you use stomach medicine, ask a pharmacist whether it is an antacid.
Taking Soft: at bedtime or on an empty stomach
Soft's label says to take it at bedtime, or on an empty stomach, with water or lukewarm water, without chewing, once daily. Its leaflet does not list A's milk/antacid spacing rule, but that does not establish compatibility with every other medicine. People receiving medical treatment must consult before taking either product.
For either product, push the tablets out of the PTP blister strip before swallowing them. Never swallow a cut-out blister compartment with the tablet inside; it can injure the oesophagus.
When to stop and get advice
Stop immediately and take the leaflet to a doctor, pharmacist or registered medicine seller if severe abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting develops. Stop and consult if diarrhoea persists or worsens. If constipation has not improved after about one week of use, stop and seek advice. This is not a reason to wait a week with worsening symptoms, or to keep taking tablets until the box is empty.
Keep the original packaging and leaflet. Store away from sunlight in a cool, dry place out of children's reach, and do not transfer tablets into another container. Consider your actual needs before choosing a large pack, and check the expiry date.
Two common shopping questions
Do “pink pills” mean COLAC?
The nickname is too vague. BEAULUCK, COLAC and other products may have pink packaging or tablets, but their brand, complete formula and directions still need separate checks. If the request says COLAC, use the COLAC versus COLAC II guide rather than substituting a product from this page.
Can I take Soft every day without concern?
“Soft” does not make it a supplement or remove its stimulant action. It is a medicine with dose limits, possible adverse effects and a stop-and-consult point. If you repeatedly need laxatives or your bowel pattern keeps changing, get the cause assessed rather than continually switching pink boxes.
Official sources and image credits
- Kokando Pharmaceutical: BEAULUCK A product information and Japanese leaflet.
- Kokando Pharmaceutical: BEAULUCK Soft product information and Japanese leaflet.
- Product photographs come from those manufacturer pages for package and dosage-form identification. This guide does not replace an individual medicine assessment.
