Korean Job Discussion Forums

[caniff]

My friend who's in the UK right now wanted me to ask some questions for him (he doesn't have a Dave's account - I think he was banned for getting into a mudslinging contest or something). He actually wrote out my post for me in an email, but I figured I'll just copy it here and hope to get some info to help him out:


My friend has taught in Korea for over 8 years and recently China for 16 months. He had a long term problem with insomnia and in China was prescribed 3mg Clonazepam which is benzodiazepine and 150mg Seroquel which is an anti psychotic although he is not pyschotic and the combination basically let him have sleep at night.

So he has no issues with coping in Korea, it seems from research he has done, emailing the International clinic in itaewon he would not fail the immi medical test in Korea and once in Korea they would have no problem prescribing them for him monthly..

In China he traveled in and out of the country twice with his meds in his carry-on, which was scanned etc and was never even asked about them.

If he had them in his carry on in small amounts and with a copy of his prescription from his UK GP as proof they are not recreational is it possible

A. They (Korean airport customs officials) would even bother asking about them if they saw a couple of blister packs of pills in his carry on luggage

B. If they did see them in his carry on and asked what they were and what for and he had the prescription from his UK GP - would they let him in country?

His main worry is he could be turned away and given an exit order, which would mean returning to no job as he would have left his job in the UK and having wasted a significant portion of money on the flight.

So, again, he doesn't need any warnings about coping in Korea as he has been there for over 8 years and knows the score socially and knows the job and the pressures etc. He has been informed that they would not cause a problem with the med test but the international clinic he emailed in Itaewon who told him so - said they were not sure about the getting through customs issue so he simply needs to know if he can take these meds in the country or not if the airport customs / immi people saw them and asked about them.

That is the main question.

Has anyone bought similar meds into Korea? Does anyone know if these meds are allowed through customs?

Cheers

[Hokie21]

Holy crap that is a serious dose/combo for something like insomnia! That's a pretty heavy duty anti-psychotic (I know all about it I used to sell it for AZ) and Klonopin is a fairly heavy duty muscle relaxer. Sounds like serious overkill to me, not to mention the drug interactions between the two are pretty well noted....combining two sedatives, one of which at a fairly high dose.

As far as I know both of those drugs are available in Korea (I'm almost positive Seroquel is) so as long as he has a prescription and says it's for sleep he should be OK. A note from the doctor could probably help also.

I'd be more worried about his health though, you sure he's only having trouble sleeping? Seroquel is a heavily abused drug sometimes referred to as "Ambien for Coke Heads" because people take it to come down from coke/heroin binges, it's that strong.

[caniff]

Interesting. I've known the guy for years, although I haven't seen him in a few. He's a good dude, but seems very nervous about this med issue.

Question: Would any of them go well with makkeoli? Maybe I could pry one two out of him when he gets here.....just kidding

[Hokie21]

[caniff]

[Hokie21]

[caniff]

Yeah, I have another friend here who works in corporate relocation who made a few phone calls and it seems like you're right that it should be no problem. I can understand being nervous, though, if I was hanging everything up in my home country and facing the prospect of being shot down by immigration. That would obviously suck pretty bad.

On a positive note, I'm looking forward to seeing him and I hope he can land a decent job.

[Hokie21]

[caniff]

I hear you - I'm not a fan of relying on meds to get through life, but I also drink and smoke (just cigs in Korea!) a lot so who am I to judge?

I've casually known quite a few people who were "pill-heads" back in the States (not to say the label applies to my friend), and prescription drugs - when abused - scramble peoples' gourds. Seriously, I think they alter the brain chemistry, and not in a good way. Good judgement seems to fly out the window.

My buddy will probably not appreciate the direction of our conversation as he's not nuts (well, not any more than most people).

[Hokie21]

I'm in no way accusing your buddy if abusing his meds or being a pill popper, I'm simply saying I'd be careful on them. That's coming from someone who made a living from selling one of them for years and also as someone who has taken sleeping aids in the past.

Those are two drugs which have a high street value/use...and there is a reason for that.

[caniff]

No, I didn't think you were - I could just envision him perhaps being defensive. I remember him talking years back about having trouble getting to sleep, so I know he had a legitimate reason to seek help.

For me, I just wonder about the side effects of using prescription medication and if the benefits outweigh the negatives. I guess it's a case-by-case basis, but as a person skeptical of Big Pharma I'm biased against taking pills when other, more natural measures could alleviate the problem.

[Hokie21]

[caniff]

No, I like the thread. He can get back to me later and tell me how ignorant/misinformed I am (I have a thick skin

Thanks, Hokie.

[Lucas]

[Hokie21]