Korean Job Discussion Forums

Blue Line North · Joined: 15 May 2008 Location: Long Beach, California U.S.A.

How accessible are medications in South Korea? If I need a script for Ativan, will it be as readily available as it is here in the U.S.?

cruisemonkey · Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 8:25 pm Post subject:

There are more pharmacies per capita in Korea than in the U.S.

As for Ativan specifically, I can't say. If not, they'll have a much less expensive generic equivalent.

icicle · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Location: Gyeonggi do Korea

There are a lot of pharmacies but it is also true that not all medications are available or have equivalent available so it is always a good idea to check first like you are - I had big trouble locating one of my medications here - just not widely used and found the best souce on availability or not was one of the international clinics attached to the major hospitals ... One email and I knew how hard it was to get ....

Looking East · Joined: 08 May 2008 Location: Seoul, South Korea

Ativan belongs to the family of drugs called benzodiazapines and I assume you would be treating anxiety. If you can't find it or a generic of it in SK, which I doubt, then there are 1000's of other effective benzo's and non-narcotics on the market to choose from that do pretty much the exact same thing. You might have to do a little trial and error, but you will find something that works eventually. I have a couple a scripts that I have no fear a SK doctor will refill if I just show him the information on the bottle when they run out.

polonius · Joined: 05 Jun 2004

Yes, you can get Ativan here in Korea, but you need a doctor's prescription.

greedy_bones · Joined: 01 Jul 2007 Location: not quite sure anymore

Also, if you have trouble finding your prescription at the nearby pharmacies, go to the hospitals. I know it's nearly impossible to get insulin outside of a hospital pharmacy.

Cerriowen · Joined: 03 Jun 2006 Location: Pocheon

Depends on where you are. In Seoul, you can usually find what you need.

There are pharmacies ALL over the place. Seriously. Walgreens has got nothing on them. Numerically they rival convenience stores.

Also it's a good idea to give the pharmacy a couple of days to get what ever it is. Sometimes *that* pharmacy doesn't have it, but they can order it from their company or another pharmacy... I've had this happen a lot. Usually takes between 4 and 48 hours to get something they don't have on hand.