ADHD Medication in Japan: What's Legal, Limited, or Banned

ADHD medication in Japan splits into four tracks. Adderall and Dexedrine (amphetamine) are banned outright - no prescription exception, no certificate, no threshold. Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta) is legal within a threshold: 2.16 g total without a certificate; more, or an injectable form, needs a doctor's certificate in advance. Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) is approved but a stimulant raw material, needing Narcotics Control Department (NCD) permission no matter the amount. For ongoing treatment here, Concerta, Strattera (atomoxetine), and Intuniv (guanfacine) are all prescribed - Concerta only via a government registration system, currently short-supplied nationwide.

Four different systems apply depending on the specific drug you're carrying, not the condition you're treating. The table below lines up where each one actually sits.

Methylphenidate sits on Japan's official psychotropic threshold list, the same system that limits drugs like Ambien and Xanax. The figure is 2.16 g total, non-injectable, before any certificate is required - the total in what you're carrying, not a per-day figure. Above that, above a 1-month supply, or if injectable, you need a doctor's certificate arranged in advance; contact the certificate desk for your case. Third-party sites often misquote these thresholds - zolpidem is a common example, sometimes given as 1.8 g when the official NCD figure is 300 mg - so confirm with MHLW, not a blog post, including this one.

If you're moving to Japan rather than visiting, importing your own supply only gets you so far - a prescription issued outside Japan cannot be filled here, period, so ongoing treatment means seeing a doctor. Methylphenidate is dispensed under a government registration system covering the prescriber, the pharmacy, and the patient; a Concerta prescription can't simply move to any pharmacy. Non-stimulant options are simpler: atomoxetine (Strattera) and guanfacine (Intuniv) skip that step and move through the ordinary 処方箋 (prescription) and dispensing pharmacy.

Carry documentation, not just medication - a doctor's letter, a copy of your prescription, and your お薬手帳 (medication notebook) if you keep one all help at customs and your first Japan appointment. The same core system - allowances, certificates once you exceed them, flagged ingredients - comes up across other medications too: see our guides to insulin, birth control, or Sudafed and Japan's pseudoephedrine limits. For fuller mechanics, see the health guide; if relocating, the moving to Japan guide covers insurance and the rest of the setup.