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Meggiebea

Joined: 20 Oct 2006 Location: Uijeongbu, South Korea
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Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2006 11:10 pm Post subject: Prescriptions in Korea |
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Can anyone tell me how I can find out if Korea has the same medications as Canada.
I have Asthma. In Canada I have no medical plan and my medications costs me about $100 per month. So to prepare for going to Korea I was ready to spend $1200 on prescriptions to last me the year. I have read a few times that medical out there is cheap. Are prescriptions cheaper? Anyone else with Asthma who is relying on Korean drugs?
What about Advil? Allergy medications? Birth Control?
Thanx guys |
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ella

Joined: 17 Apr 2006
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Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 12:32 am Post subject: |
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Which asthma medications do you take? |
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Meggiebea

Joined: 20 Oct 2006 Location: Uijeongbu, South Korea
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Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 1:20 am Post subject: |
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Symbicort and Ventalin |
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ttompatz

Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 2:22 am Post subject: |
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Meggiebea wrote: |
Symbicort and Ventalin |
You spend $100 per month for ventolin and a corticosteroid spray? WOW
Ventolin is here and is about $7-10 per inhaler for brand name (3-7 for generic). Not sure about symbicort (again brand name stuff) but there are similar corticosteroid sprays available again for about $7-10 per inhaler.
They do require a prescription from a KOREAN doctor to fill or refill. A doctor visit without medical is about $10.
If you get insurance from your boss it will cost you about $3 for the doctor and $10-15 to get your 2 inhalers repeated (per month).
Bring enough to last you for 2-3 months incase your boss is slow getting your medical or you aren't able to get to a doctor right away. |
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Meggiebea

Joined: 20 Oct 2006 Location: Uijeongbu, South Korea
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Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 12:00 pm Post subject: |
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Wow! You probably just saved me $1000! What about birth control pills? |
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ttompatz

Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 4:00 pm Post subject: |
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Meggiebea wrote: |
Wow! You probably just saved me $1000! What about birth control pills? |
IF you have a prefered brand bring it with you.
Otherwise, many common brands are available here over the counter without prescription. Just ask the pharmacist in any drug store (yakguk).
The same is true for feminine hygene products (like tampons). If you have a prefered brand, bring it with you. If not, there are some here but selection is limited and in smaller cities they may be hard to find. |
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Buff
Joined: 07 Apr 2004
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Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 6:13 pm Post subject: |
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You'll want bring your advil/ibuprofen as well. OTC pain relievers are sold in small packets of 10 pills rather than 100-300 per bottle.
Tampons even when available are sucky in quality. |
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kat2

Joined: 25 Oct 2005 Location: Busan, South Korea
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Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 7:30 pm Post subject: |
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You can get Playtex tampons in E-Mart, Homeplus, etc. Plastic Applicators. Regular and Super are avilable
Birth Control is available without prescription. Most people seem to like Mercilon (including me). 6000 won a pack or there abouts.
Not sure about Asthma medication here, but it should be easily available. I read that more than 20 percent of kids have respiratory problems.
Have you thought about ordering your asthma meds online from Thailand or one of the other online pharmacies when you are in Canada? It usually costs me less than the co-pay would in the USA. |
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Meggiebea

Joined: 20 Oct 2006 Location: Uijeongbu, South Korea
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Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2006 12:02 am Post subject: |
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Thank you ladies, that was a big help. I also had no idea good tampons were hard to come by, definately good to know  |
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jessiaka
Joined: 07 Jan 2006
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Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2006 7:21 am Post subject: |
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I used Diane 35 back home (bcp) and I use it here as well, it costs about 10,000 won a month and is sold over the counter  |
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