The pink Norshin Pure box is not only for period pain. Its Japanese label also includes headache and fever. The more important shelf question is which formula you are holding: regular Pure and Otona Pure contain ibuprofen, while children's Pure and Norshin Acetaminophen use acetaminophen. Similar branding does not mean interchangeable tablets.
I'm Irene, a Taiwan-born, Japan-licensed pharmacist working in a Japanese drugstore. With Norshin, I'd start with the person's age and whether a sedating ingredient or caffeine fits their plans, then check the exact Japanese name.
Japanese-market product pages and leaflets checked: 13 October 2026. This comparison covers the four products below, not every Norshin medicine.
Do not combine these products with each other, another pain/fever medicine, a cold medicine or a sedative. None of these four is for children under seven; regular Pure and Otona Pure are only for ages 15 and over. Do not use any of them if a painkiller or cold medicine has previously triggered asthma, or if you are allergic to its ingredients. Read the pack leaflet before use.
The quickest way to tell them apart
| Product name (Japanese shelf name) | Formula and labelled age | What changes your choice |
|---|---|---|
| Norshin Pure（ノーシンピュア） | Ibuprofen combination; ages 15+ | Contains caffeine and a sedating pain-relief adjunct. No driving or operating machinery after taking it. |
| Otona Norshin Pure（オトナノーシンピュア） | Ibuprofen combination; ages 15+ | Same ibuprofen dose as Pure, with an added stomach-protective ingredient. It still has the same driving restriction. |
| Children's Norshin Pure（小中学生用ノーシンピュア） | Acetaminophen combination; ages 7–14 | A different medicine from adult Pure. Contains caffeine and the sedating adjunct; follow the child's age band. |
| Norshin Acetaminophen Tablets（ノーシンアセトアミノフェン錠） | Acetaminophen only; ages 7+ | No caffeine or sedative adjunct. The tablet count differs between ages 7–14 and 15+. |
Is Otona Pure stronger than regular Pure?
Not on the basis of its ibuprofen amount. For ages 15+, one two-tablet dose of either product contains ibuprofen 150 mg, allylisopropylacetylurea 60 mg and anhydrous caffeine 80 mg. Otona Pure additionally contains dried aluminium hydroxide gel 66.7 mg per two tablets. This added stomach-protective ingredient does not remove the leaflet's stomach-ulcer, bleeding or other precautions. Neither is a caffeine-free or non-sedating choice.
Children's Pure is not a smaller dose of the adult ibuprofen formula. The two-tablet dose for ages 11–14 contains acetaminophen 200 mg, allylisopropylacetylurea 30 mg and anhydrous caffeine 40 mg; the one-tablet dose for ages 7–10 contains half of each amount. Do not halve an adult Pure dose to make a child's medicine. Children must take their labelled product under a parent or guardian's supervision.
Norshin Acetaminophen Tablets contain one active ingredient: acetaminophen, also called paracetamol. The labelled single dose supplies 300 mg for ages 15+ and 150 mg for ages 7–14. “No sedating ingredient” is not a guarantee of no adverse effects: the leaflet still lists dizziness and other reactions. Pregnancy, liver disease and use with other medicines still need checking.
How many tablets, and how often?
The amounts below are per dose, not per day. For all four products: leave at least four hours between doses, take no more than three doses in a day, and avoid taking on an empty stomach where possible. Do not increase the amount because the pain persists.
| Product | Age for this dose | Tablets per dose |
|---|---|---|
| Norshin Pure | 15+ only | 2 tablets; maximum 3 doses/day |
| Otona Norshin Pure | 15+ only | 2 tablets; maximum 3 doses/day |
| Children's Norshin Pure | 7–10 | 1 tablet; maximum 3 doses/day |
| Children's Norshin Pure | 11–14 | 2 tablets; maximum 3 doses/day |
| Norshin Acetaminophen Tablets | 7–14 | 1 tablet; maximum 3 doses/day |
| Norshin Acetaminophen Tablets | 15+ | 2 tablets; maximum 3 doses/day |
Under seven: do not use any product in this comparison. Under 15: do not use regular Pure or Otona Pure. The children's Pure leaflet provides doses only for ages 7–14. Follow the directions for the exact product rather than transferring a dose from another box.
Three checks before each dose
- Read the full product name and age band. Check any medicines already taken for pain, fever, colds or sleep; do not stack them with Norshin.
- If using a blister pack, push the tablet through the foil and remove it completely. Never swallow a piece of the blister sheet. Keep the original packaging and leaflet.
- Note the time and tablet count. Wait at least four hours before another dose, and stay within three doses for the day.
Driving, pregnancy and when to stop
Pure, Otona Pure and children's Pure can cause drowsiness. Their leaflets prohibit driving or operating machinery after a dose, and also prohibit combining with motion-sickness medicines. The acetaminophen-only product has no sedative adjunct, but do not drive if you feel dizzy or unwell. All four prohibit alcohol before or after taking them and warn against long-term continuous use.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before use if you are receiving medical or dental treatment, may be pregnant, have a medicine-allergy history, or have heart, kidney, liver or ulcer problems. Pure and Otona Pure also require consultation during breastfeeding and for the other conditions listed in their leaflets. Do not take Pure or Otona Pure within the 12 weeks before your expected delivery date. Do not automatically substitute the acetaminophen product during pregnancy without advice.
If symptoms have not improved after five or six doses, stop and consult a doctor or pharmacist; this means doses, not five or six days. Stop earlier for suspected adverse effects. Seek urgent medical care for breathing difficulty, a severe rash with fever or blisters, chest pain, sudden weakness or trouble speaking. Do not keep switching painkillers to postpone evaluation.
My shelf shortcut: age first, then ingredients. Otona adds an ingredient but not more ibuprofen; children's Pure is a different combination; acetaminophen-only avoids caffeine and the sedative adjunct. The most suitable box is the one whose directions and precautions fit the person, not the one with the most “adult” name.
Official Japanese sources
- ARAX product pages: Pure, Otona Pure, Children’s Pure and Acetaminophen Tablets.
- ARAX: Pure leaflet and Otona Pure leaflet.
- ARAX: Children's Pure leaflet and Acetaminophen Tablets leaflet.
This guide helps identify Japanese OTC products; it does not diagnose pain or replace advice about your own medicines. Formulas and packaging can change, so check the leaflet supplied with your purchase.
