Both boxes say Stona and mention cough and phlegm, so they can look like two versions of the same medicine. Stona Kyotan Capsules (ストナ去たんカプセル) is for phlegm and a cough with phlegm. Stona Plus Gel EX (ストナプラスジェルEX) is a combination cold medicine with additional cough, fever, pain and nasal-symptom ingredients.
I’m Irene, a Taiwan-born, Japan-licensed pharmacist working in a Japanese drugstore. Let’s compare these two boxes by symptoms, age and travel plans. Show the pharmacist any medicines you already take before choosing.
Checked on 13 October 2026. This guide covers these two Japanese products only, not the whole Stona range. Check the packaging and leaflet supplied with the medicine you buy.
- First: is this a suitable time to choose an OTC medicine?
- A quick way to narrow your choice at the shelf
- Kyotan Capsules: a focused phlegm medicine
- Plus Gel EX: more ingredients to consider
- Age and dose: the children’s age limits differ
- Other medicines, driving and breastfeeding
- When should you stop and seek advice?
- Sources and further reading
First: is this a suitable time to choose an OTC medicine?
- Seek urgent medical care for difficulty breathing, chest pain, blood in your phlegm, a rapidly worsening cough or feeling very unwell. Do not wait for the leaflet’s trial period to end.
- Ask a pharmacist before choosing if you are pregnant or might be pregnant, breastfeeding, receiving treatment, have a chronic condition or have had a medicine allergy. Plus Gel EX has more restrictions on other medicines and must not be taken before driving.
A quick way to narrow your choice at the shelf
- Mainly troublesome phlegm and a cough with phlegm: ask whether Stona Kyotan Capsules is suitable. It does not add the fever, pain and nasal-symptom ingredients found in the combination medicine.
- A cough with phlegm plus several cold symptoms, such as fever, sore throat or a runny nose: ask the pharmacist to check Stona Plus Gel EX, provided the age and safety requirements are met and you will not be driving.
- A dry cough, an unclear cause, or a plan to add another product to a cold medicine you already take: pause and ask for advice. Bring the existing medicine so the pharmacist can check suitability and duplication.
| Compare | Kyotan Capsules | Plus Gel EX |
|---|---|---|
| Labelled use | Phlegm and cough with phlegm | Multiple cold symptoms, including cough, phlegm, fever, pain and nasal symptoms |
| Minimum age | 8 | 12 |
| Ingredient distinction | L-carbocisteine + bromhexine | At the adult daily dose, the same amounts of those two, plus cough medicines, acetaminophen, an antihistamine and others |
| Dose at age 15+ | Two capsules, three times daily after meals | Two capsules, three times daily, preferably within 30 minutes after meals |
| Driving | No equivalent leaflet prohibition; fitness to drive and other medicines still matter | Do not drive or operate machinery after taking |
| No improvement | Stop and seek advice after 3–4 days | Stop and seek advice after 5–6 doses |
Kyotan Capsules: a focused phlegm medicine
Look for the full name ストナ去たんカプセル. It is a Class 2 OTC medicine, sold in packs of 18 or 36 capsules. Its labelled uses are phlegm and a cough with phlegm, not every type of cough.
The adult daily dose of six capsules contains L-carbocisteine 750 mg and bromhexine hydrochloride 12 mg to help clear phlegm. The leaflet notes that phlegm may temporarily increase after taking it.
Plus Gel EX: more ingredients to consider
Stona Plus Gel EX is a Designated Class 2 OTC medicine in packs of 12 or 24 cream-coloured soft capsules. Its labelled uses are relief of cold-related runny or blocked nose, sneezing, sore throat, cough, phlegm, chills, fever, headache, joint pain and muscle pain.
Its adult daily dose of six capsules contains the same amounts of L-carbocisteine (750 mg) and bromhexine hydrochloride (12 mg). It also contains cough medicines, acetaminophen and an antihistamine, among other ingredients. The extra ingredients and “EX” name do not establish stronger phlegm relief. Do not take the two products together.
The other ingredients per adult daily dose are dihydrocodeine phosphate 24 mg, dl-methylephedrine hydrochloride 60 mg, noscapine 48 mg, acetaminophen 900 mg, diphenylpyraline hydrochloride 4 mg, anhydrous caffeine 50 mg, riboflavin (vitamin B2) 12 mg and hesperidin 90 mg. The caffeine does not override the warning about drowsiness and driving.
Age and dose: the children’s age limits differ
- Kyotan Capsules: age 15 and over, two capsules per dose; ages 8–14, one capsule per dose. Take three times daily after meals. Do not give to children under 8.
- Plus Gel EX: age 15 and over, two capsules per dose; ages 12–14, one capsule per dose. Take three times daily, preferably within 30 minutes after meals. Do not give to children under 12.
An adult must supervise children’s use. Push each capsule out of its blister before swallowing; never swallow the blister sheet. Do not increase the dose or frequency. Store in a cool, dry place away from sunlight and children, keep in the original container and do not use after expiry.
Other medicines, driving and breastfeeding
- Kyotan Capsules: do not combine with other cough/expectorant medicines or cold medicines. Do not take it if you have had an allergy to the product or its ingredients. Consult first if receiving treatment, pregnant or possibly pregnant, older, previously allergic to medicines, or if you have a high fever, heart disease or liver disease.
- Plus Gel EX: do not combine with other cold medicines, fever/pain medicines, sedatives, cough/expectorant medicines or oral antihistamine-containing products, including some rhinitis, motion-sickness and allergy medicines. Different brand names do not make a combination suitable.
- Plus Gel EX: do not take it if you have had an allergy to it or its ingredients, or asthma triggered by this or another cold medicine or fever/pain medicine. Do not drive or operate machinery after taking it. Avoid alcohol before and after use, and do not exceed the dose or take it long term.
- Plus Gel EX: its leaflet does not allow taking it while continuing to breastfeed; discuss a suitable option with a doctor or pharmacist first. Consult before use if receiving medical or dental treatment, pregnant or possibly pregnant, older, previously allergic to medicines, or experiencing a high fever or difficulty urinating.
- Plus Gel EX: consult first if you have a thyroid disorder, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, liver or kidney disease, a stomach or duodenal ulcer, glaucoma, impaired respiratory function, obstructive sleep apnoea or obesity.
The Kyotan leaflet does not carry the same driving prohibition as Plus Gel EX. That is not a guarantee that every person will be fit to drive. Do not drive if you feel unwell, have a headache or develop other symptoms; other medicines also need to be considered.
When should you stop and seek advice?
- Kyotan Capsules: if symptoms do not improve after 3–4 days, stop and take the leaflet to a doctor or pharmacist.
- Plus Gel EX: stop and seek advice if symptoms do not improve after 5–6 doses. That means doses, not days; do not turn it into a week-long trial.
Stop and seek advice for a rash, redness, itching, nausea, vomiting or loss of appetite with either medicine. Also stop for abdominal pain, headache or blood in the phlegm with Kyotan, or dizziness, difficulty urinating or an excessive drop in body temperature with Plus Gel EX. Persistent or worsening diarrhoea or dry mouth with Kyotan, or constipation, dry mouth or drowsiness with Plus Gel EX, also requires stopping and seeking advice.
Get medical help immediately for breathing difficulty, confusion, or a widespread rash with high fever, red eyes or sore/eroded lips after taking either medicine. Stop taking the medicine and seek immediate medical care for yellow skin or eyes or dark brown urine. Plus Gel EX additionally warns of serious kidney, lung and breathing reactions. Read the enclosed leaflet for the full symptom list.
Keep two points in mind: for phlegm and a cough with phlegm, first check whether Kyotan is suitable; for several cold symptoms together, assess Plus Gel EX. Do not combine them, and remember that their stop-and-seek-advice time limits differ.
Sources and further reading
Sato: Stona Kyotan Capsules · Japanese leaflet
Sato: Stona Plus Gel EX and Japanese leaflet · NHS: when to seek help for a cough
