Korean Job Discussion Forums

[DrugstoreCowgirl]

I have sleep issues and usually take over the counter sleep aids. I know that Koreans are weird about taking anti-depressants so I was wondering if they have similar thoughts about other kinds of medications. Are you able to get OTC stuff, or even prescription medications like Ambien?

[OiGirl]

OTC antihistamines everywhere...

[Robot_Teacher]

I asked a doctor that speaks English for a sleep aid and he said no. It appears to be common belief that soju, cigarettes, and kimchee is all you need to cure your ails.

[sarbonn]

There are a couple of brands on the market, but you'll find it somewhat interesting in that at any one time, they might or might not carry what you're looking for. The first one I was taking here was Ah Chol (don't have the ability to write Korean characters on this computer). Then I could never find it again. So, they started selling me Ah Ron, which doesn't seem as strong. There's another brand the Yak tries to sell me constantly, but it's more of a placebo and doesn't actually help me sleep.

If you can avoid them, you're better off. But some of us need them for various reasons, so those are the two I've found that are generally stocked the most.

[Yaya]

Try melatonin. Go to any store selling foreign goods and you might find it.

[BritishinSuwon]

If you can get your hands on it, use melatonin. I have a horrible sleeping disorder and have tried OTC sleep meds and hated it. I hated the drugged out feeling I'd have the next day. With melatonin, there is no drugged feeling, as it's a naturally occuring chemical in our bodies anyways.
Melatonin helps regulate our sleep/wake cycles, so it's great if you have sleeping issues that you don't need to take medication for every night.
I'm not sure where one can buy melatonin here in Korea. I brought somee back with me at Christmas time. It might be worth asking about at a drugstore or a health product store (provided you speak Korean).

Good luck.

[travelingfool]

You can get pretty much any medication in Korea that is available in the west. I had a really good experience at Asan medical center in Seoul at their international clinic. The key is finding a doctor that speaks English well and had some training in the west. International clinics are usually where you will find them.

I feel your pain as I struggle with insomnia as well

[Adventurer]

My sleeping pattern is all over the place, but I am starting to sleep earlier my self. I think it's normal for hagwon teachers to have a crazy sleep schedule, but I am a night owl. Some of the guys mentioned melatonin. I only saw that once and at the black market store. I don't always see it there. Do you know where the red door store is?

However, you can go to a Korean doctor that speaks English. Ask someone on here where one can find an English speaking doctor or make a search on-line for one and get such things from them.

I hope all goes well!

[ppcg4]

I get Ambien from my doc. It makes you bug the F out and do shit you don't remember, when you take higher doses or mix it with alcohol. It's perfect if you take just one though. Absolutely no dull feeling in the morning. It's very short acting, but it's also pretty addictive apparently.

You can get diphenhydramine HCL over the counter here... it's an allergy drug if I am correct, but they also market it as a sleeping pill. There is also a hypnotic available. I can't remember what it's called.

Just walk up to the pharmacy and put your hands to the side of your face like a pillow and say 'sleeping'. They'll give you a choice of the 2 I mentioned (not Ambien, you need to see a doc for that).

Edit: Ambien here is known as Stilnox, and the drug name is zolpidem. Pronounce it 'jol-pi-tem' and doc will know what you mean. I recommend not mentioning it specifically because they'll likely think you're some kind of drug abuser.

[wakingup]

[DrugstoreCowgirl]

Thanks for all the replies! Sounds like I might be ok with sleep over there, although I will probably just bring some melatonin and Simply Sleep with me when I go to get me through a few months just in case it's hard to find over there Ugh sleep troubles are the worst!

[Yaya]

[MrRogers]

you can get Ambien (Zolopidem) with a prescription from a doctor