Korean Job Discussion Forums

kingplaya4 · Joined: 14 May 2006

Decided to try Chinese medicine to combat all the colds I get here. The doctor doesn't speak english but I got a bunch of plastic packs of medicine that cost about 300,000 won. It looks brown.

I've been taking the medicine twice a day and there seems to be two side effects. One is that I get dizzy a lot, especially when moving from a sitting to a standing position or from a laying to a standing position. The other is a sexual side effect, as in feeling like I'm a teenager if you know what I mean.

Anyway, I told the doctor about the dizziness and he'd say its fine. I'd like to know if anyone else has experienced side effects with this medication?

Ultimo Hombre · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Location: BEER STORE

He gave you opium.

cheeseface · Joined: 13 Jan 2008 Location: Ssyangnyeon Shi

rumdiary · Joined: 05 Jun 2006

If you stop taking it give it to me.

Yaya · Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Location: Seoul

I'm a firm believer in Oriental medicine, but I've never had the dizziness that you describe. You also need to go to the right clinics, as some import tainted ingredients from China. There have been Koreans who get permanently crippled because of that.

Pooty · Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Location: Ela stin agalia mou

Oh hell ya, I shoot up those packets of black juice with the deer antlers picture on em. IV them right into my bloodstream. STAMINA baby!

EzeWong · Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Location: Seoul

A friend of mine who's in Korea right now has a special liver condition called alpha (or something). I don't know the specifics, anyways he's been smoking and drinking which have also been taking major tolls on his liver. His liver was in such bad condition... So he opted for some Oriental medcine while he was abroad. He took it religiously for a few months and when he came back to america his docotor was flabberghasted at how healthy his liver was considering the amount of drinking and smoking he was doing. (He said it was like he never drank at all and in fact his liver was even more healthy) He attributes it to the chinese medicine he's taking. He's doing accupunture now but that's a whole different story.

Crockpot2001 · Joined: 01 Jul 2007

Sounds like there may be Gaurana or Mau Huang (sp?) in there. Both are stimulants much like extreme caffeine. I can't claim much knowledge about Oriental meds/supplements but I do know you might want to cross reference what you are taking with any western meds you are taking to check for interactions.

Scotticus · Joined: 18 Mar 2007

Considering they can't manage to get milk right, I'm surprised you'd trust their medicine. That and the fact that they still think grinding up endangered animals will cure what ails them.

Ultimo Hombre · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Location: BEER STORE

kingplaya4 · Joined: 14 May 2006

Are those really the effects of opium? No wonder it was so popular back in the day. Yes, it does contain deer antlers, but it was mixed by my doctor, or at least so he says. I would assume it doesn't contain any strange chemicals, although who knows.

I had a roommate in highschool whose father was a traditional doctor, and once when I had a bad cold he gave me a packet of herbs which cured me within a few hours. So I know the stuff works sometimes. The dizziness doesn't seem like a good side effect, and the other one my fiancee is getting tired of.

Jammer113 · Joined: 13 Oct 2008

---I'd like to know if anyone else has experienced side effects with this medication?---

What medication are you taking? You mentioned deer antlers... what else? I'm also curious how you know about the deer antlers when the doctor doesn't speak any english.

---dizzy... especially when moving from a sitting to a standing position---

A number of medications can cause this. It's potentially dangerous, the dizziness could be severe enough to make you pass out... especially if you had another problem, such as a heart condition, dehydration, or low blood sugar.

---feeling like I'm a teenager if you know what I mean---

I don't know what you mean. Are you referring to random erections or a general increase in libido? Does it include impulsive thoughts?

Assuming you're not BSing, my personal thought is that you're probably talking more of a stimulant rather than an opiate. Still, there's a lot of medications that can do the things you talked about, especially if it's different things mixed up.

I'm all for traditional/alternative medicines too, but neither of these side effects are good. Both are potentially very dangerous. I would strongly suggest you get a second opinion from a doctor you can have a conversation with.

kingplaya4 · Joined: 14 May 2006

Well he can speak some english and I can speak some korean, I think there is also ginseng in the mix, but I wasn't able to clear that up with him. Yes random erections is what I meant, not necessarily inspired by anything, no the post is not a level.

This is the third traditional doctor I've been to, none of them seem to speak english well unlike the western doctors here. I probably should stop the medicine but I paid so much for it....

Jammer113 · Joined: 13 Oct 2008

The biggest danger to random erections in and of themselves (not considering the cause) would probably be having an erection that lasts too long. It's called priapism. How long is too long? I don't know. Wikipedia (obviously not the best source of information) said it's a medical emergency if you have an erection lasting more than 4 hours. I'd probably be getting very worried after one or two hours.

The one case of priapism I've seen was caused by a medication (an antidepressant if I remember correctly). The man waited days before coming in, due to embarrassment. He was permanently injured because of it.

I'm a nurse, not a doctor. I don't have any of my books with me, and I'm certainly not giving any medical advice. I just want you to know that these symptoms you're experiencing are potentially dangerous and shouldn't be ignored. Also, there could be other dangerous symptoms you're not noticing.

That doesn't mean you should stop taking the medication. If it's giving you a solid benefit and the symptoms are managable then, by all means, continue. What it does mean is that I think you should get solid medical advice. If you do stop the medication, I would check with the doctor before doing that, too.

Unposter · Joined: 04 Jun 2006

Generally with oriental medicine, you are not supposed to drink coffee or take any cafein (sp?) or drink any alcohol. If you are, it could have some kind of side-effect or even cancel out the medicine.

If the dizziness is bothersome stop taking the medicine! go to a new doctor.

If it is not then go ahead finish.

Also, remember, oriental medicine is best for prevention not for curing. If you have a problem, you should see a Western doctor. If you want to prevent a problem such as a cold, then go ahead and take the herbs.