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nawlinsgurl · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 1:48 pm Post subject: med kit for japan

What OTCs meds would you recommend on stocking up on while in the States? The good stuff that you can't get in Japan...

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Well, Bufferin and Tylenol are available here, as are some Japanese brands of ibuprofen (Eve is one), but they are expensive, so only for the cost I'd recommend whatever works for you.

Allergy meds? Perhaps the ones that don't make one sleepy.

Cold medicine will vary with the user, and you have to be careful not to get caught with things like Sudofed because one of the ingredients is banned here. Kind of crazy, because just much of a meth lab can one make out of a single package of that medicine, but that's how it goes.

Maybe some antibiotic cream or hypoallergenic meds/creams/makeup, but I've never really had much use for them myself.

Perhaps it would be easier if you listed the stuff you intended on bringing. If you need medicine and are on the national health plan, you have to pay only 30% of the cost. The stickler is that you have to go to the hospital for the prescription. OTC meds are usually pretty high, and Japan is not that much of a "self-medicated" country, although it is becoming more so.

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

Whatever OTC or prescrition medication you get would depend on what health issues you have. If you generally don't suffer from allergies, I would say it's pointless getting allergy medication. As far as cold medicine goes, well, it's not really medicine as such, it just relieves some of the symptoms. I'm a firm believer in natural remedies... and rest!

Dare I say, if you haven't missed something or felt a pressing need for something in the years you've been in Japan, you probably don't need it.

nawlinsgurl · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 11:45 am Post subject:

To be honest, none of the OTCs (other than Zyrtec) I brought over with me really work...(Did that sentence make sense?) And I haven't really used any Jmeds either. I was kinda wondering what meds other ppl here wish they had. Like I always wish I had a sleeping pill to take for long flights...but when I think of it now, I don't really use meds that much except for birth control.

Ashtonmd · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 10:09 pm Post subject:

I plan on taking over some gravol. Since they make me sleepy (great for long flights) and I can get a little motion sick from time to time. I shouldn't have any problems bringing it over should I?