Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Starperson]

I'm sick of not having tablets that have a small amount of codeine in them for the occasional headache or backache and now the flu.
Does anyone know where I can get some?
This morning I woke up with a painful flu, remembered that I had two cold and flu tablets from home that I thought I'd never need and took them. What a relief. Tylenol doesn't ring my bell.

[Starperson]

Nobody knows?
Or have the high-horses come out to play?

[erlyn]

Is there an over-the-counter brand that contains codeine? Because most of the black market types will resell over-the-counter meds from the US base. I don't know myself, since Ibuprofen usually does it for me...

If so, you might try the black market in Namdaemun Market, or in the bottom of the Volvo building near the Hangangjin stop (just past Itaewon). There's a guy just in the front Hannam market there that resells a lot of stuff off the US base. I'm pretty sure he takes requests. That's where I got Advil (which is Ibuprofen, not codeine, but again, if you had a specific brand in mind, they might be able to get it for you).

Other than than, is there no equivalent Korean drug? If you have recurring back pain, you might be able to ask a doctor here to prescribe something for you. I asked my boss if I could get a Korean brand of Ibuprofen, and she set me up with a similar (and much cheaper) pill that I could ask the pharmacist for.

I sympathize. I broke a couple of fingers last spring, and now I don't even have to open my eyes in the morning to know whether it's rainy or sunny - if I can't bend my fingers, I know it's raining. Pain is more enjoyable when you can dull it.

[Kwangjuchicken]

[Starperson]

Thanks very much for the directions...never thought I'd use the blackmarket.
The thing is, codeine is illegal in Korea. Apparently they see codeine as addictive. Which was brought up by my boyfriend as I went to a pharmacy to ask for codeine. I just pointed to the cigarette in his hand.

In Australia you don't need a prescription.
The painkillers go like this:
1 - paracetamol
2 - paracetamol with a bit of codeine, hence, 'Panadeine'. No prescription needed.
3 - paracetamol with enough codeine to make you forget your pain and what month it is -> "Panadeine Forte'. This is where you need a prescription. I've only taken this once for a broken (crushed) finger. Yes, broken fingers are reeeally painful.

Also there is ibuprofen mixed with a bit of codeine - no prescription needed.

We don't have Tylenol in Australia. That I know of. Well of course we probably do, but it's not a common painkiller. For obvious reasons - it doesn't work.

Well I guess I'm off to Namdaemun next time.

[lush72]

[Starperson]

Yeah, maybe I should go to a doctor. I just don't want something really strong. I don't like to take medicine when I don't know exactly what it is and what it'll do to me.