Lulu Attack in Japan: EX, EX Premium, NX, CX and FXa Compared
Nine Lulu medicines, one brand. Here's which painkiller each one uses, what sets each one apart, and who can take them.
ルル (Lulu) comes in a lot of boxes: Lulu Attack EX, EX Premium, NX Premium, CX Premium, FXa, then Lulu A Premium, New Lulu A Gold DX α, and Lulu Direct S. Same brand, similar boxes. The ingredients are not the same.
This page lines up the 9 Lulu products listed on OTC Guide Japan, using their Japanese package inserts, which OTC Guide Japan has translated into English. Two of the 9 are the same medicine in different packs (Lulu A Premium in a bottle and in a PTP sheet).
Quick summary
- Lulu Attack EX, EX Premium, NX Premium, CX Premium: ibuprofen cold medicines, for ages 15 and up only. Don't take them for more than 5 days.
- Lulu Attack FXa: acetaminophen plus isopropylantipyrine. Its insert calls it a pyrine-type cold medicine. Ages 7 and up.
- Lulu A Premium and New Lulu A Gold DX α: acetaminophen cold medicines. Ages 7 and up.
- Lulu Direct S: a cough and phlegm medicine with no painkiller. Ages 12 and up.
- All 9 are Designated Class 2 and abuse-prevention designated, so expect a few questions when you buy them.
Lulu Attack EX vs EX Premium vs NX vs CX
These four all use ibuprofen. Each package insert names the kind of cold it's aimed at:
Lulu Attack EXルルアタックEX
Sore throat and fever
Ibuprofen 450 mg/day · 15+
Ibuprofen plus tranexamic acid.
Lulu Attack EX PremiumルルアタックEXプレミアム
Sore throat and fever
Ibuprofen 600 mg/day · 15+
More ibuprofen than EX. Adds caffeine.
Lulu Attack NX PremiumルルアタックNXプレミアム
Runny or stuffy nose
Ibuprofen 450 mg/day · 15+
Adds isopropamide iodide, which the insert says holds back a runny nose.
Lulu Attack CX PremiumルルアタックCXプレミアム
Cough and phlegm
Ibuprofen 600 mg/day · 15+
Adds L-carbocisteine for phlegm and noscapine for cough.
Amounts are per adult daily dose, from each package insert. Every ingredient is listed on each product page.
Lulu Attack EX or EX Premium: What Actually Changes
These two get mixed up the most. The main differences:
- More ibuprofen in EX Premium: 600 mg a day, against 450 mg in EX.
- EX has a phlegm ingredient (bromhexine). EX Premium has caffeine.
- Tablets: EX is 2 at a time, EX Premium is 3 at a time, both 3 times a day.
FXa, Lulu A, and Direct S: The Other Lulu Boxes
Lulu Attack FXaルルアタックFXa
Fever and chills
Acetaminophen + isopropylantipyrine · 7+
Two painkillers. The insert calls it a pyrine-type (ピリン系) cold medicine.
New Lulu A Gold DX α新ルルAゴールドDXα
Sore throat, fever, runny or stuffy nose, cough, and phlegm
Acetaminophen 900 mg/day · 7+
Tranexamic acid 420 mg/day. Has caffeine.
Lulu A PremiumルルAプレミアム
Sore throat, fever, runny or stuffy nose, cough, and phlegm
Acetaminophen 900 mg/day · 7+
Tranexamic acid 750 mg/day, more than Gold DX α. Comes in a bottle or a PTP sheet.
Lulu Direct SルルダイレクトS錠
Cough and phlegm
No painkiller · 12+
A cough and phlegm medicine, not a general cold medicine.
Amounts are per adult daily dose. Every ingredient is listed on each product page.
Lulu Attack EX Dosage, and the Rest
- Lulu Attack EX, NX Premium, FXa: adults take 2 tablets, 3 times a day.
- Lulu Attack EX Premium, CX Premium, Lulu A Premium, New Lulu A Gold DX α: adults take 3 tablets, 3 times a day.
- Lulu Direct S: adults take 2 tablets, 3 times a day after meals. Ages 12 to 14 take 1 tablet.
- Children: FXa is 1 tablet for ages 7 to 14. Lulu A Premium and New Lulu A Gold DX α are 2 tablets for ages 11 to 14 and 1 tablet for ages 7 to 10. Children should take under adult supervision.
For the cold medicines: take within 30 minutes after a meal if possible, with water or lukewarm water.
Main Warnings on the Lulu Boxes
- No doubling up: while taking the cold medicines, don't take other cold medicines, pain relievers or fever reducers, sedatives, cough and phlegm medicines, or oral antihistamines (rhinitis, motion sickness, or allergy medicines). For Lulu Direct S, the list is other cough and phlegm medicines, cold medicines, sedatives, and oral antihistamines.
- Drowsiness: don't operate vehicles or machinery after taking any of them.
- Alcohol: the cold medicines say not to drink before or after taking them.
- Breastfeeding: the four Lulu Attack ibuprofen tablets and Lulu Direct S list it under "do not." For FXa, Lulu A Premium, and New Lulu A Gold DX α, talk to a doctor, pharmacist, or registered salesperson first.
- How long: the four Lulu Attack ibuprofen tablets say not to take them for more than 5 days. The others say not to take them for a long time.
- Dose: don't take more than the stated amount.
Tap a product name above for its full warnings in English, including who shouldn't take it and the rare serious side effects to watch for.
Buying Lulu: Expect a Few Questions
All 9 are Designated Class 2 medicines (指定第2類医薬品). They also contain at least one ingredient on Japan's abuse-prevention list: dihydrocodeine, dl-methylephedrine, or dextromethorphan. A pharmacist or registered salesperson checks before selling them, for example whether the medicine is for your own use, and they're sold one box per purchase. Our guide to abuse-prevention designated medicines explains why.
Words on the box
- 総合かぜ薬 (sōgō kaze-gusuri): cold medicine
- 鎮咳去痰薬 (chinkai kyotan-yaku): cough and phlegm medicine
- 15才以上 (jūgo-sai ijō): ages 15 and up
- ピリン系 (pirin-kei): pyrine-type
Asking for it
「ルルアタックEXはありますか？」
Ruru Attakku EX wa arimasu ka?
"Do you have Lulu Attack EX?" Read it out, or show this text on your phone.
This page summarizes the Japanese package inserts for these Lulu products (October 2026). OTC Guide Japan translated and explained them in English, and each product page links the Japanese PDF. It is for information only and doesn't replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist. Always read the package insert that comes with the medicine.