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shmamy
Joined: 03 Mar 2011
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 Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 3:13 am Post subject: OTC Sleep Aids |
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| Does anyone know a safe over-the-counter sleep aid available at the pharmacies here in Korea? Let me know - thanks![/i] |
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yeti08
Joined: 04 Nov 2009
Location: Anyang - Pyeongchon
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| Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 3:18 am Post subject: |
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| I know this isn't the answer you're looking for, but I'd recommend just asking someone back home to send you whatever you were used to in your home country. Good luck though, I know there are some out there, but it didn't work for me. |
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SeoulNate
Joined: 04 Jun 2010
Location: Hyehwa
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| Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 5:11 am Post subject: Re: OTC Sleep Aids |
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| shmamy wrote: |
| Does anyone know a safe over-the-counter sleep aid available at the pharmacies here in Korea? Let me know - thanks![/i] |
they dont do over the counter stuff here. You need a prescription for any sleeping aid. In addition, the doctor will give you enough for a week or so and then you will need to go again for another prescription.
This is the reason I bought 6 bottles of Advil PM the last time I went home :p
My advice, get a bottle of whiskey and take a nice stiff whiskey water about 30 minutes before bed. It works better than any sleep aid. |
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magni
Joined: 11 Mar 2011
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| Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 8:57 am Post subject: |
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| You might be able to find a drug with Doxylamine in it, which should knock you out. |
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rumdiary
Joined: 05 Jun 2006
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| Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 11:23 am Post subject: |
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| When it comes to OTC pills, you're basically looking at two options: 1) antihistamines; or 2) herbal remedies. Antihistamines use either diphenhydramine hydrochloride (brands include: Sominex, Compoz, Tylenol PM, and Unisom SleepGels) or doxylamine succinate (Unisom tablets, Equate). The two ingredients are pretty interchangeable. Each inhibits the same neurotransmitter to depress your central nervous system. These antihistamines are the same stuff you might take for allergies, which is why allergy medications make you so drowsy. If you go into a pharmacy, look the pharmacist in the eye and then pretend that you are sleeping they will give you something that contains one of the two antihistamines. You can also buy melatonin but most pharmacies won�t have it. Dongdaemun, most big department stores and probably shops in Itaewon carry it. |
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Sector7G
Joined: 24 May 2008
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| Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 2:03 pm Post subject: Re: OTC Sleep Aids |
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| SeoulNate wrote: |
My advice, get a bottle of whiskey and take a nice stiff whiskey water about 30 minutes before bed. It works better than any sleep aid. |
Not really. Although alcohol will help you fall asleep at first, it screws with your sleep patterns, resulting in poorer quality of sleep and awakening during the night.
Depending on how bad the OP's insomnia is, this may or may not be an improvement.
http://www.sleepdex.org/alcohol1.htm |
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crossmr
Joined: 22 Nov 2008
Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 2:49 pm Post subject: Re: OTC Sleep Aids |
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| SeoulNate wrote: |
| shmamy wrote: |
| Does anyone know a safe over-the-counter sleep aid available at the pharmacies here in Korea? Let me know - thanks![/i] |
they dont do over the counter stuff here. You need a prescription for any sleeping aid. In addition, the doctor will give you enough for a week or so and then you will need to go again for another prescription.
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There is plenty of over the counter stuff here.
a quick search shows me 5 different medications
http://www.druginfo.co.kr/search2/search.aspx?q=Diphenhydramine
with Diphenhydramine in them available OTC.
2 in the same dose as Advil PM 나이트큐정 and 메가텐정
2 stronger and 1 more of a mild one with only 20 mg in it.
in addition below there are 3 more OTC with the same medicine in it, listed as "distribution information not available" which means you may or may not find them in a pharmacy, both 조이펜나이트정 and 나렌피엠정 are the same dose as advil PM
Ask for
드리마액(디펜히드라민염산염)
if you want your pure OTC sleeping aid that you'd get back home at say a walmart or any other general pharmacy. |
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brento1138
Joined: 17 Nov 2004
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| Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 3:52 pm Post subject: Re: OTC Sleep Aids |
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Before taking pills, have you tried the following? I found it helped to stop light from coming into my room. I noticed how bright it was in my room at night, due to the many street lights shining in. So, blinds corrected that problem. Also, it can be a little noisy. Earplugs helped with that.
But also there was my lifestyle. Staying on a computer until 12:30 and expecting to wake up at 7am is a big no-no. The reason is, you are telling your brain it is mid-day and the body gets confused. It is therefore impossible to sleep even if turning in around 1am and you are dead tired. Yeah, you're tired, but your brain cannot sleep.
It helps to turn off all light-emitting electronic devices around 10pm or at least keeping the lights very dim. Also, enjoying a glass of wine or two around 8 or 9 pm gets me feeling a bit sleepy. But don't eat anything after dinner, stop eating at least 3 hours before you plan on sleeping.
Once in bed, take out a book and read. I think if we make basic lifestyle changes, and improve our general environment, we don't really need sleeping pills. |
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crossmr
Joined: 22 Nov 2008
Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 4:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Once in bed, take out a book and read. |
They often don't recommend doing this because it associates your bed with reading and not sleeping. |
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winterfall
Joined: 21 May 2009
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| Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 5:46 pm Post subject: |
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| I might have an extra bottle of melatonin, 3 mg extended release. If I find it, I'll pm you |
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shmamy
Joined: 03 Mar 2011
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| Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 5:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Hey guys thank you all so much for your input - i'll check into it all! |
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SeoulNate
Joined: 04 Jun 2010
Location: Hyehwa
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| Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 8:22 pm Post subject: Re: OTC Sleep Aids |
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| crossmr wrote: |
Ask for
드리마액(디펜히드라민염산염)
if you want your pure OTC sleeping aid that you'd get back home at say a walmart or any other general pharmacy. |
Thanks for the research Crossmr, but they would absolutely not give me that over the counter a few years ago when I tried. I suppose it could have been the pharmacist believing he knew what was best for me though. I ended up having to get multiple prescriptions for what was basically Advil PM.
On a side note, I have found that pharmacists tend to give more unsolicited advice here than they do back home even if they have no clue what they are talking about. |
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rumdiary
Joined: 05 Jun 2006
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| Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 9:40 pm Post subject: Re: OTC Sleep Aids |
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| SeoulNate wrote: |
| crossmr wrote: |
Ask for
드리마액(디펜히드라민염산염)
if you want your pure OTC sleeping aid that you'd get back home at say a walmart or any other general pharmacy. |
Thanks for the research Crossmr, but they would absolutely not give me that over the counter a few years ago when I tried. I suppose it could have been the pharmacist believing he knew what was best for me though. I ended up having to get multiple prescriptions for what was basically Advil PM.
On a side note, I have found that pharmacists tend to give more unsolicited advice here than they do back home even if they have no clue what they are talking about. |
You were probably just unlucky. I have bought it many times in Seoul. Since I can't speak Korean I just put my hands together against my cheek, close my eyes and try to look like I'm sleeping and the guy hands me a little box that says diphenhydramine on the back. My guess is that the pharmacist thought you wanted something powerful like a narcotic.
OP, keep in mind that these will not give you a permanent solution. I have found that by forcing myself to go to bed at a consistent time and listening to an audiobook in a very dark room has really helped my sleep. But everyone is different and you will need to find what works for you. |
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crossmr
Joined: 22 Nov 2008
Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 11:34 pm Post subject: Re: OTC Sleep Aids |
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| SeoulNate wrote: |
| crossmr wrote: |
Ask for
드리마액(디펜히드라민염산염)
if you want your pure OTC sleeping aid that you'd get back home at say a walmart or any other general pharmacy. |
Thanks for the research Crossmr, but they would absolutely not give me that over the counter a few years ago when I tried. I suppose it could have been the pharmacist believing he knew what was best for me though. I ended up having to get multiple prescriptions for what was basically Advil PM.
On a side note, I have found that pharmacists tend to give more unsolicited advice here than they do back home even if they have no clue what they are talking about. |
The site clearly indicates that it's OTC "일반" means a general OTC drug. Now that does not mean that every pharmacy stocks it. "전문" means it's a prescription drug. Find this under the "구분" column.
Now it's possible a few years ago that this was not an OTC drug, but you should have little trouble taking a list of these to a pharmacy and finding at least one. |
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Milwaukiedave
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Location: Goseong
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| Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 5:07 am Post subject: |
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| Be careful with the OTC stuff here. I would either use something natural (as someone else suggested) or see a doctor for something. |
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