Korean Job Discussion Forums

endofthewor1d · Joined: 01 Apr 2003 Location: the end of the wor1d.

the wife and i are going to the states in two weeks. as most of you know, from wherever you're coming here from, it's a hell of a flight. i'd like to be knocked out cold for the majority of it, and i don't sleep well on planes. is there anything sold OTC here, or do i need a prescription? do doctors even prescribe that sort of thing for reasons as lame as 'i don't want to be awake on a plane'?
thanks.

peppermint · Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 7:23 pm Post subject:

melatonin is available over the counter here, and I found it helped a little. I've heard that telling the doctor you're afraid of flying will get you valium though

Edith Metcalfe · Joined: 01 Jun 2005

any pharmacy should have them. i got some decent ones with some pretty good sign language and the verb "jamjaiyo" (sleep, from what i hear) from a random 'yak' on the street. they knocked me out for the whole flight, but i woke up not rested and totally groggy. Vitamin stores in the deparment stores should have a natural version that might be a little less trippy

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

Ask for �� at a pharmacy. Not all of them carry it, but some do. The ones I got are incredibly potent, though, so I would recommend taking only one.

Wangja · Joined: 17 May 2004 Location: Seoul, Yongsan

OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

For me, certain antihistamines do the trick nicely. I use Benadryl, but I'm not sure where to get it in Korea. The one that starts with "Z" also works.

mole · Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Location: Act III

I asked for over the counter motion sickness medicine at a local pharmacy
years ago. I got little packets of brown powder called.. something Bo Mi.
It's awesome, and I've used it every trip home since. Knocks me out for
the entire trip, but able to wake up for meals. And no 'hangover' effect.

I've heard good things about the melatonin, but haven't tried it.

uberscheisse · Joined: 02 Dec 2003 Location: japan is better than korea.

Hollywoodaction · Joined: 02 Jul 2004

Actually, over the counter sleeping aids are all antihistamines. It's essentially the same stuff that they put in night time cold medicine to knock people out. The problem with taking some of these antihistamines is that you might wake up feeling drugged. Stick with melatonin if you can find some in Korea. I take it a few times a month (when I've made the mistake of drinking too much coffee during the day), and I feel totally rested in the morning.

desultude · Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 3:48 pm Post subject:

Melatonin leaves me groggy, but I am really sensitive to sleep stuff. There is a med I get in Bangkok called Atarax. It's for anxiety and contains some antihistimine. Anyway, 1/2 tab (suggested dosage is 2!) will knock me out with only a little side effect.

You can get razepam from the docs here, but you may need a stronger story than taking a flight- like some long-term insomnia. 1/4 of one of those will knock me out, and with such a small dosage, I get little grogginess afterwards.

Bon Voyage and sweet dreams!

teachingld2004 · Joined: 29 Mar 2004

Sleeping pills are very easy to get from any doctor. Just go into the office, present your medical card, give the 3,500 won to the nurse,recept, or what ever she is.

Tell the Doctor you want sleeping pills, and you will get a perscription in 3 minutes. Cost another 3,000 won to get them.

Seems to me that doctors here will give you anything you ask for. My back hurts, and I get pain killers. I get headaches, I get pain killers. Does he ask me questions? No. I asked for Zanax, got that too. Makes me wonder what kind of medical training doctors get here. They just use the comp.