SSRIs in Japan: Import Rules, Brands and Refills

Q: Are SSRIs legal in Japan?

Yes. SSRIs are prescription-only medicines in Japan and are not classed as narcotics, psychotropics or stimulants. Carrying them in is allowed for personal use, provided you meet the quantity and documentation conditions.

Q: Is Prozac available in Japan?

Prozac (fluoxetine) is not approved or sold in Japan. You can import a personal supply, but no local pharmacy can refill it.

Quick reference

Drug class: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
Controlled substance: No. Not classed as a narcotic, psychotropic or stimulant in Japan. Prescription-only.
Prescription required: Yes. A local prescription is needed for any refill in Japan.
Available locally: Sertraline: yes (Jzoloft). Escitalopram: yes (Lexapro). Paroxetine: yes (Paxil). Fluvoxamine: yes (Depromel or Luvox). Fluoxetine (Prozac): not approved or sold in Japan. Citalopram: not approved or sold in Japan.
Storage: Oral SSRIs need no cold chain. Follow the storage line on your pharmacy label.
Max supply to carry: Up to one month of prescription medicine without a Yunyu Kakunin-sho; more needs one.
Key document: Prescription copy and doctor's letter; Yunyu Kakunin-sho only above the standard allowance.
Emergency alternative: A local doctor decides any switch; sertraline, escitalopram, paroxetine and fluvoxamine are the SSRIs sold in Japan.

SSRI options in Japan

Active ingredient	Available locally?	Local brand(s)	Controlled status	Prescription required?	Max supply
Sertraline	Yes	Jzoloft	Not controlled	Yes	Up to 1 month without a certificate
Escitalopram	Yes	Lexapro	Not controlled	Yes	Up to 1 month without a certificate
Paroxetine	Yes	Paxil	Not controlled	Yes	Up to 1 month without a certificate
Fluvoxamine	Yes	Depromel or Luvox	Not controlled	Yes	Up to 1 month without a certificate
Fluoxetine	No	None (Prozac not approved or sold in Japan)	Not controlled	Yes (in your home country)	Up to 1 month without a certificate
Citalopram	No	None (not approved or sold in Japan)	Not controlled	Yes (in your home country)	Up to 1 month without a certificate

Taking SSRIs to Japan: what changes

Japan sells four SSRIs: sertraline (Jzoloft), escitalopram (Lexapro), paroxetine (Paxil) and fluvoxamine (Depromel or Luvox). Fluoxetine (Prozac) and citalopram are not approved or sold in Japan^[9], so neither can be refilled locally.

SSRIs are prescription-only medicines in Japan^[9] and are not classed as narcotics, psychotropics or stimulants^[10], so the main travel issue is supply continuity rather than permits. Quantity and documentation are the two variables to plan.

Medical disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your prescribing doctor before travelling with medication, particularly regarding supply quantities, storage requirements, and import documentation.

Documentation for travelling to Japan with SSRIs

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) regulates medicine imports. Narcotics need advance permission and amphetamine stimulants such as Adderall are banned, but psychotropics can be carried without permission within per-substance quantity limits^[3]. SSRIs are not in those categories, so no permit applies within the standard allowance. Read Japan's medication rules before you pack.

What your doctor's letter must include

Your full name, each medication by INN and brand name, dose and frequency, quantity carried, one-word condition, and the doctor's signature and registration number on clinic letterhead. If you take more than one SSRI or other medicines, list each one. Carry a copy of the prescription as well.

If you take only sertraline, escitalopram, paroxetine or fluvoxamine, the same documents apply. Fluoxetine and citalopram follow the same import rules, but nothing can be bought locally, so complete paperwork matters more. Anything above the standard allowance needs a Yunyu Kakunin-sho^[1], which is an import confirmation you apply for before departure^[6]. Since 1 July 2025, applications for personal use are made online by default through MHLW's Import Confirmation Information System (医薬品等輸入確認情報システム)^[7]. Postal applications are now the exception. Start with the Kinki Regional Bureau's personal-use application page. Apply at least two weeks before you travel^[8].^[5]

The regional bureau that handles your application depends on the customs office where you enter Japan. For Narita or Haneda (Tokyo and Yokohama customs), it is the Kanto-Shin'etsu Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare, +81-48-740-0800. For Kansai, Chubu Centrair or Fukuoka (Osaka, Kobe, Nagoya and Moji customs), it is the Kinki Regional Bureau, +81-6-6942-4096^[11]. If you arrive at Naha, confirm the responsible office on the regional bureau's page before you apply.

Questions to ask your prescriber before you travel

Bring this list to your appointment.

If my SSRI is not sold in Japan, what is the plan for when my supply runs out?
If a local doctor changes my medication, which dose decisions should they make, and what history should they know?
Can my letter list the INN, brand name, dose, daily frequency, quantity, your registration number and clinic letterhead?
If my trip is long enough to need an import certificate, can your office support the application?
How can I reach you or your clinic from Japan if I have side effects or run short?
How should I handle dose timing across the time-zone change?

How much SSRI to bring

You can bring up to a one-month supply of prescription medication without a Yunyu Kakunin-sho (import certificate)^[2]. Still carry your prescription copy and doctor's letter. The medicine must be for your personal use only. The same rule applies to medication mailed to Japan^[2]. Count your trip days, add a buffer for delays, and apply for the certificate if the total exceeds the allowance.

Split your supply

Carry your main supply in hand luggage and a backup in checked luggage. Keep both in original packaging with pharmacy labels, alongside your prescription copy.

Packing and storing SSRIs for travel

Keep tablets and capsules in original pharmacy packaging, with the label showing your name, INN and dose. Avoid decanting into pill organisers for the journey. Oral SSRIs do not need cold-chain storage, so follow the storage line on your label. If you use a liquid formulation, check its label for storage and discard instructions. Japanese summers are hot and humid, so keep the supply out of parked cars and direct sun.

Airport security with SSRIs

Keep your SSRIs in hand luggage so they stay with you during delays. Show the original packaging and prescription copy if an officer asks. Tablets and capsules are solids. A liquid formulation falls under the liquid medication rules of your departure airport's security agency and your airline, so check both before packing.

Customs and import rules for SSRIs in Japan

Customs allows personal-use prescription medicine if it is not in a prohibited or restricted class^[2]. SSRIs are not classed as narcotics, psychotropics or stimulants in Japan^[10]. Embassy guidance advises carrying a prescription copy and a letter stating the purpose^[1], even for unrestricted medicine. Quantities above the one-month allowance need a Yunyu Kakunin-sho before customs will clear them^[6]. See our dedicated SSRI travel guide for more practical information on import requirements.

Keep every medicine in original packaging

Japan treats stimulants such as methamphetamine as prohibited. Labelled original packaging lets customs distinguish your SSRI from restricted medicines in seconds. If you carry other medicines alongside it, check each one against MHLW rules.

SSRI availability in Japan

Sertraline, escitalopram, paroxetine and fluvoxamine are sold in Japan^[9], each through a local prescription. Sertraline is sold as Jzoloft, paroxetine as Paxil, and fluvoxamine as Depromel or Luvox^[9]. Escitalopram is sold as Lexapro^[9]. Fluoxetine and citalopram are not approved or sold in Japan^[9], so a local doctor cannot dispense them.

Prices vary by active ingredient and by brand versus generic. Visitors without Japanese public insurance should ask the clinic and pharmacy for a total first, and check travel insurance terms for outpatient cover.

Pharmacy phrases in Japanese

Show these at the pharmacy counter when asking about SSRI options.

“選択的セロトニン再取り込み阻害薬（SSRI）を服用しています。日本で使える薬を教えてください。”

I take an SSRI. Which options are available in Japan?

“この薬のジェネリック医薬品はありますか。”

Is there a generic version of this medicine?

“この薬（箱を見せる）を取り扱っていますか。”

Do you carry this medicine? (show the box)

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Finding a doctor who can prescribe SSRIs in Japan

Local prescriptions come through a local doctor^[9]. Embassy websites list English-speaking doctors^[1], which helps with the first consultation. Ask your home prescriber about a telehealth review during a long stay. Related guidance is in our anxiety disorder in Japan guide.

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Storing SSRIs while in Japan

Keep your supply in original packaging in a drawer or bag, away from windows, bathrooms and cooking areas. Rainy-season and summer humidity can damage loose tablets and blister strips. A hotel power cut does not affect oral SSRIs. Keep the pharmacy label with the medicine at all times.

What to do if something goes wrong with your SSRI in Japan

If medication is lost, stolen or damaged, photograph your labels and prescription copy, then contact your prescriber for a replacement letter. Your embassy can point you to English-speaking doctors. SSRIs are not narcotics, so no police report is needed for import purposes, though one helps for insurance claims. Do not stop abruptly without medical advice.

Only a local doctor can decide whether to switch medication, and the decision belongs with them. The SSRIs sold in Japan are sertraline, escitalopram, paroxetine and fluvoxamine (Depromel or Luvox)^[9]. Tell the doctor your current ingredient, dose and how long you have taken it.

Emergency phrases in Japanese

“抗うつ薬が必要です。”

I need my antidepressant medication.

“毎日この薬を飲んでいます。”

I take this medicine every day.

“医師を呼んでください。”

Please call a doctor.

“一番近い病院か24時間営業の薬局はどこですか。”

Where is the nearest hospital or 24-hour pharmacy?

Dial 119 for an ambulance and 110 for police. Say "kyukyusha" (ambulance) and give your location.

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Frequently asked questions

Are SSRIs legal in Japan?

Yes. SSRIs are prescription-only medicines in Japan^[9] and are not classed as narcotics, psychotropics or stimulants^[10]. Carrying them in is allowed for personal use, provided you meet the quantity and documentation conditions.

Can I bring SSRIs into Japan?

Yes, for personal use, in original packaging with a prescription copy and doctor's letter. Quantities above the standard allowance need a Yunyu Kakunin-sho, applied for online before you leave^[1]^[5].

Which SSRIs are available in Japan?

Sertraline (Jzoloft), escitalopram (Lexapro), paroxetine (Paxil) and fluvoxamine (Depromel or Luvox) are sold locally^[9]. Each needs a local prescription^[9]. Fluoxetine and citalopram are not approved or sold in Japan^[9].

Is Prozac available in Japan?

Prozac (fluoxetine) is not approved or sold in Japan^[9]. You can import a personal supply, but no local pharmacy can refill it.

Is Zoloft sold in Japan?

Sertraline is sold in Japan, written locally as Jzoloft. It needs a local prescription for refills.

Do I need a doctor's letter to fly with SSRIs?

A letter is not an import permit, but embassy guidance recommends carrying a prescription copy and a letter stating the purpose. Include INN, dose and quantity so customs can match them to your packaging.

What if I run out of SSRIs in Japan?

See a local doctor promptly, bring your packaging and letter, and expect to pay full price if you lack Japanese insurance. A refill is only possible for the four marketed SSRIs, so contact your prescriber early if you take fluoxetine or citalopram. Only a local doctor can decide whether to switch you to a different SSRI.

SSRIs in Japan: Import Rules, Local Brands and Refill Access