Korean Job Discussion Forums

azzwell · Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2003 9:48 pm Post subject: perscription medicaiton

If I bring a perscription from the USA, in english of course, can I get it filled in Korea? Also if I bring medication and run it but it says on the bottle that i have refills left will the pharmacy fill said perscription?

prairieboy · Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Location: The batcave.

I've yet to hear of any Korean pharmacy filling a presription from outside of Korea regardless of whether the prescription is written in English or not.

I'd say you are out of luck. Go to a doctor with a friend who can translate. Most of the names of the drugs will likely be the same but in Conglish so you may easily mispronounce the drug name.

Cheers

Guest · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2003 12:08 am Post subject:

Korean law requires that a prescription be written by a licensed medical doctor from Korea, a copy of a prescription or an old bottle supposedly showing valid refills is not authorized under law ... then again you may get a pharmacist to fill it (though illegal). You can however have valid prescriptions sent to you via the mail -- make sure (best) to have a copy of the written Rx in the package with the drugs.

Or just go see a doctor and take along old prescriptions with you.

bulgogiboy · Joined: 12 Nov 2003

I had the same problem. I just took the packet along to the doctor and Bob's your Uncle.

However, my doctor told me he could only prescribe 2 weeks at a time due to Korean law. I got around this with his consent by fibbing about how many pills I took each day. e.g. I only really took 1 pill but he prescribed me 4 a day for the maximum 2 weeks. Hence, my medicine lasted 2 months.

It was a hell of a lot more expensive than the UK NHS that I'm used to but what can you do?

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

actually you'll find that there are quacks out there who speak english. I find that bringing along the packaging also helps. The asthma inhalers I use are different from the more common ones (powder based as opposed to a spray) but when I bought along the packaging they found an equivalant product very quickly.

CLG

Mr. Pink · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: China

bulgogiboy · Joined: 12 Nov 2003

No I didn't have insurance. I spent 55,000Won every two months for prozac(which I stopped taking 2 months ago-hurrah).

BB

VanIslander · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2003 3:02 pm Post subject:

Today I picked up my prescription while here in my Canadian hometown for the holidays. I asked for a year's supply of tylenol 3 and of a prescription flu medicine which the doctor doesn't usually give out in large doses beforehand - but after explaining my travel plans my doctor made an exception.

Maybe your doctor back home will let you stock up (a year's supply) on your next visit.