If your main concern is a bloated, gassy feeling, Gaspitan a is a medicine to discuss with the pharmacist. The 18- and 36-tablet boxes contain the same formula; choose the pack size, not a supposed stronger version. It is for ages 15 and over, and the tablets must be chewed or dissolved in the mouth.
I'm Irene, a Taiwanese-born, Japanese-licensed pharmacist working in a Japanese drugstore. When your travel trousers suddenly feel tight after a meal, a shelf full of stomach medicines can be confusing. Let's start with what this particular box is designed to do.
Is this the right sort of stomach medicine?
Gaspitan a (ガスピタンa) is a Japanese Class 3 OTC medicine for regulating bowel movements, abdominal bloating, loose stools and constipation. Its distinctive combination is an antifoaming ingredient, a digestive enzyme and three bacterial ingredients. It is not simply a probiotic supplement, and its listed uses do not include heartburn or acid reflux.
That distinction matters more than the number of ingredients. A medicine chosen for excess stomach acid is not automatically the right answer to a gassy feeling. Equally, abdominal pain is not proof that gas is the cause.
Seek urgent medical care rather than trying this medicine for sudden severe abdominal pain, vomiting blood or serious breathing difficulty with a swollen abdomen. Bloating with vomiting, fever, abdominal pain or inability to pass stool or gas also needs prompt medical assessment. Recurrent bloating, unexplained weight loss or blood in the stool deserves a medical review rather than repeated self-treatment.
18 or 36 tablets: what actually changes?
| Choice | What you get | What does not change |
|---|---|---|
| 18-tablet box | Six days at the labelled three-tablet daily dose | Formula, tablet strength and age limit |
| 36-tablet box | Twelve days at the labelled three-tablet daily dose | Formula, tablet strength and age limit |
These are pack-duration calculations, not a recommended course or a reason to keep taking an unnecessary medicine. Both are yoghurt-flavoured chewable tablets according to Kobayashi. Water-free administration is handy away from your hotel, but the flavour does not make them sweets for children.
What is in the daily dose?
The following amounts are for three tablets, the full adult daily dose, not one tablet.
| Active ingredient | Amount in 3 tablets | Why it is included |
|---|---|---|
| Lactomin, faecalis bacteria | 24 mg | Helps regulate the intestinal environment |
| Lactomin, acidophilus bacteria | 54 mg | Helps regulate the intestinal environment |
| Bifidobacteria | 24 mg | Helps regulate the intestinal environment |
| Cellulase AP3 | 180 mg | Breaks down dietary fibre; the manufacturer describes this as helping suppress gas formation |
| Dimethylpolysiloxane | 180 mg | Antifoaming action breaks up accumulated gas bubbles |
The bacterial amounts are labelled in milligrams. They are not counts of live organisms and should not be compared with another product's CFU number as if the units were interchangeable. More ingredients also do not establish that this is better than every intestinal regulator.
How to take Gaspitan a
- Check that the user is at least 15 years old. Children under 15 must not take it.
- Push one tablet out of the blister. Never swallow any part of the packaging.
- Take one tablet three times a day, before meals or between meals. Here, “between meals” means roughly two to three hours after eating, not while eating.
- Chew the tablet thoroughly or let it dissolve in the mouth. Do not swallow it whole as an ordinary tablet.
Keep it in its original packaging in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and children's reach. Do not transfer it to another container or use it after the expiry date.
Before starting, and when to stop
Ask a doctor, pharmacist or registered OTC medicine seller before use if you are receiving medical treatment or have had an allergic reaction to a medicine or similar product. Bring a list of medicines and supplements so they can check whether another digestive product duplicates what you are taking.
Kobayashi’s product FAQ says that anyone pregnant or possibly pregnant must consult a doctor, pharmacist or registered OTC medicine seller before use. It also recommends consultation before use while breastfeeding.
The Japanese leaflet does not list a specific driving prohibition or named medicine combinations. That absence is not a guarantee that every combination is suitable: have a pharmacist check other medicines, rather than assuming “Class 3” means unrestricted use.
- Stop immediately and consult if a rash, skin redness or itching appears after taking it.
- Stop and consult if diarrhoea persists or worsens.
- If symptoms have not improved after about two weeks, stop and consult, bringing the box. Do not wait two weeks when symptoms are severe or concerning.
My shelf-side takeaway
Choose Gaspitan for its gas-focused formula and chew-or-dissolve format, not because the larger box looks stronger. Check your symptoms first, then age, other medicines and the meal timing. If the real question is choosing a broader intestinal regulator, that is a separate comparison worth discussing with the pharmacist.
Sources
- Kobayashi: Gaspitan a product information and current pack sizes
- Kobayashi: Japanese package leaflet
- Kobayashi: Gaspitan product explanation
- NHS: bloating and warning symptoms
Product information checked on 15 October 2026. This guide explains the Japanese label; follow the leaflet supplied with your own pack and seek individual advice when needed.
