Product information checked: 17 September 2026
“Could you bring me Alinamin from Japan?” At the shelf, you find A, A50, EX PLUS, alpha and GOLD. Use the first three minutes to understand the differences, then match the real package photo. This guide compares five Japanese tablet products, whether you are shopping for yourself or looking for the exact one your family requested.
Let’s look at this shelf together
I’m Irene, a pharmacist from Taiwan working in Japan. Let’s break this shelf into smaller choices: A or A50, EX PLUS or alpha, then the different formula and schedule of GOLD. If someone sent you a photo, start there. The extra words on a box can mean a different product, not simply a better gift.
Choose in 3 minutes: which situation sounds like yours?
Start with your situation, then compare the practical difference. If someone sent a product name, match that exact version.
A / A50
A combines B vitamins with calcium pantothenate. A50 puts more B1 in each tablet; adults take 1–2 tablets once daily. Their maximum adult daily B1 totals are the same.
EX PLUS
The manufacturer highlights everyday fatigue affecting these areas. It combines B1, B6, B12 and vitamin E; adults take it once daily.
EX PLUS α
Alpha adds B2, which supports energy metabolism; the manufacturer also highlights physical fatigue. The schedule is the same. This is a formula difference, not a necessary upgrade.
MEDICAL GOLD
This is the situation highlighted by the manufacturer. GOLD uses active B6 and mecobalamin B12, among other differences. Adults take it three times daily—consider that routine too.
Irene’s tip: Uses overlap: EX PLUS and alpha also list low back pain. These are not a mild-to-severe effectiveness ranking. All five are Class 3 OTC medicines. Only A has doses for ages 7–14; the other four are for ages 15+. Full doses follow below.
Product photos: Alinamin Pharmaceutical. Not shown to scale; sources are at the end.
Match the five Japanese names to the packages
Save this box comparison before your drugstore visit. At the shelf, match the full Japanese name, then check the form and pack size. Photos are not to scale; image size does not show pack size.
Read the full name before the pack size. The symbol α means alpha, not A. メディカルゴールド identifies MEDICAL GOLD. Use the box and bottle together to recognize the product.
アリナミンA
Look for: A
アリナミンA50
Look for: A50
アリナミンEXプラス
Look for: EXプラス
アリナミンEXプラスα
Look for: EXプラスα
アリナミンメディカルゴールド
Look for: メディカルゴールド
Product photos: Alinamin Pharmaceutical. Photos are not shown to scale; sources are at the end.
Ingredients: three differences worth understanding
1. A vs A50: look beyond the number
At the maximum adult daily amount, A (3 tablets) and A50 (2 tablets) both provide 100 mg of fursultiamine, a B1 derivative. A has larger amounts of B2, B6 and B12 at that daily amount, plus calcium pantothenate. A50 concentrates 50 mg of fursultiamine into each tablet. This helps you compare a fewer-tablet B1 formula with a different combination of vitamins.
2. EX PLUS vs alpha: the added active B2
Both have the same amounts of B1, B6, B12, vitamin E, calcium pantothenate and gamma-oryzanol at the maximum adult daily amount. Alpha additionally lists 10 mg of B2 as an active ingredient, involved in energy metabolism. That is a formula difference, not proof of a better result for everyone. EX PLUS also lists B2 among its additives; “not an active ingredient” does not mean completely absent.
3. GOLD: different vitamin forms and a different schedule
GOLD uses pyridoxal phosphate hydrate for B6 and mecobalamin for B12; the other four use pyridoxine hydrochloride and cyanocobalamin. GOLD also contains natural-form vitamin E and folic acid. One tablet three times a day replaces the once-daily schedule. Its former Japanese name was アリナミンEXゴールド; look for メディカルゴールド on the current product.
| Product | Maximum adult daily amount | B1 derivative | B6 | B12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 3 tablets | 100 mg | 20 mg | 60 μg |
| A50 | 2 tablets | 100 mg | 10 mg | 20 μg |
| EX PLUS | 3 tablets | 100 mg | 100 mg | 1,500 μg |
| EX PLUS α | 3 tablets | 100 mg | 100 mg | 1,500 μg |
| MEDICAL GOLD | 3 tablets, in 3 doses | 100 mg | Active form, 60 mg | Mecobalamin 1,500 μg |
These are totals at the daily maximum, not amounts per tablet or instructions to always take the maximum. B1 is expressed as fursultiamine. EX PLUS and alpha use the dl-alpha form of vitamin E; GOLD uses the natural d-alpha form.
How to take it: amount per dose and frequency
Swallow all five with water or warm water immediately after a meal; do not chew. Choose one meal for the once-daily products. GOLD is taken after breakfast, lunch and dinner.
| Product | Ages 15+: amount per dose | Times per day | Under 15 |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1–3 tablets | 1 | See the age table below |
| A50 | 1–2 tablets | 1 | Do not use |
| EX PLUS / α | 2–3 tablets | 1 | Do not use |
| MEDICAL GOLD | 1 tablet | 3 | Do not use |
| A only: age | Amount per dose | Times per day |
|---|---|---|
| 11–14 years | 1–2 tablets | 1 |
| 7–10 years | 1 tablet | 1 |
| Under 7 | Do not use | — |
Children need adult supervision. Do not take all three daily GOLD tablets together. Recheck the schedule when changing products, and do not combine different Alinamin formulas on your own.
A few checks before buying and after use
- Receiving treatment, taking medicines or high-dose vitamins? Check combinations first. EX PLUS, alpha and GOLD specifically require prior consultation for people receiving treatment or with a medicine-allergy history. The A and A50 manufacturer FAQs also direct prescription-medicine questions to the dispensing pharmacy.
- No improvement after about one month? Stop and take the leaflet to a doctor or pharmacist. A higher dose or more expensive product is not a substitute for checking the cause.
- Rash, itching, nausea or other possible side effects? Stop and seek advice. Persistent or worsening loose stools or diarrhea also need review. EX PLUS, alpha and GOLD warn about menstrual changes; prolonged bleeding requires consultation. Read the full leaflet.
- Will you finish a large bottle? Use these bottled products promptly, aiming for within six months of opening and before expiry. Mark the opening date, keep the original bottle closed and protect it from heat, damp and sunlight.
At the shelf: make the last check simple
- Match the name: if your family asked for EX PLUS, find that first. Explain the differences before replacing it with alpha or GOLD.
- Check age and schedule: once or three times daily is a real practical difference.
- Then compare pack sizes: compare prices for the same product and tablet count, and consider how much will actually be used.
The right box leaves more time for your trip
Save the package photo and ask 「この商品はありますか？」 — “Do you have this product?” Once the formula and schedule make sense, you can spend less time decoding the shelf and more time enjoying Japan.
Questions before you buy or use it
Is A50 simply a stronger A?
No. The maximum adult daily amounts both provide 100 mg of the B1 derivative, but the tablet counts, other vitamins, calcium pantothenate and age limits differ.
What changes from EX PLUS to alpha?
At the maximum daily amount of three tablets, alpha adds 10 mg of B2 as an active ingredient. The other listed active amounts match. EX PLUS also contains B2 as an additive; it is not completely absent.
Can I take three GOLD tablets together?
No. For ages 15 and older, take one tablet three times daily immediately after meals. Do not use the once-daily schedule of the other four products.
Can children take these products?
Only A has child doses: ages 7–10 take one tablet and ages 11–14 take one or two tablets, once daily immediately after a meal, under adult supervision. Do not give A under age 7 or the other four under age 15.
Can it turn urine yellow?
The A, A50 and alpha leaflets mention yellow urine from B2; the GOLD leaflet mentions folic acid. These product-specific notes do not explain every urine-color change and should not automatically be applied to EX PLUS.
Can I add it to another B-vitamin product?
Do not stack formulas on your own. Check overlapping ingredients and other medicines with a doctor or pharmacist first.
Sources and photo credits
Product facts and directions refer to the Japanese products. Official photographs support the comparisons and package identification in this guide; the package artwork has not been redrawn. Match the full Japanese name and the leaflet supplied with your pack, as designs and sizes can change.
