Korean Job Discussion Forums

[is so delicious]

I've heard they are easy to get in a few places in Itaewon. I'd like to get some. I mean I don't quite believe I really NEED them, but I do get incredibly stressed out about teaching these litter fu--ers, if that means anything.

I've heard about one in Noksapyeong, across from the Buy the Way (or maybe it's one of the other stores)... a clinic on top of a pharmacy... anyone know how difficult/expensive it is? I also hear there's a pretty laid back guy writing prescriptions in Itaewon.

I'd greatly appreciate any help, and please try to spare any self-righteous anti-drug rant.

[Dazed and Confused]

I've found it quite easy to get Xanax or Valium. I get periodid anxiety attacks and need something to get me back on track. A psychiatrist would be your best bet but any GP could write you a prescription as well. I use a doctor in Inchon and I can pass on his number if you'd like.

[Daegudavid]

Just go to any hospital with an international service (ie an English speaking volunteer) and tell them what you want.

[is so delicious]

Is it really that easy? How must did it cost, and how quickly did you get your prescription? Do you have to pay for the prescription only or for the visit as well?

[prideofidaho]

Any luck with lorazepam?

[kentucker4]

I got 15 .25 mg pills for only 6,500 won including hospital visit and everyhting. My Korean wife talked to him over the phone, though. But it's very easy here. I don;t even need the rest of mine now.

[is so delicious]

Kentucker, what hospital did you go to?

[ppcg4]

The doc at the Itaewon International Clinic gives em out pretty regularly, good doses too. Just don't get too caught up in that stuff, it's a nasty drug.

[is so delicious]

Cool. Where is the international clinic in Itaewon? Do you recommend xanax or valium?

How complicated/expensive is it to do that clinic? Do I need to make an appointment? Can I get a prescription that same day? Do they speak English there?

[joshua7choi]

Seoul
International Health Care Centre
Shinchon => 02-2228-5800-#10 (daytime) / 010-9948-0982 (emergency)
Gangnam => 02-2019-3600-#90 (daytime) / 012-940-2662 (emergency)
http://www.yuhs.or.kr/en/

Suwon
Ajou University Hospital
daytime: 031-219-4311~2 / 016-9277-5547
emergency: 031-219-4010 /010-7405-6005
http://hosp.ajoumc.or.kr/eng/

Uijeongbu City, Keumo-dong
daytime: 031-820-3636 / 011-9931-3435 / 080-300-7582
emergency: 011-9931-3435

I wish above info proves useful
with care
Josh

[eIn07912]

The Doc at the International Clinic in Itaewon is fairly cool about it.

I can be a really nervous flyer some times. He gave me a handful of Xanex for my recent travels. Not a full prescription in a legitimate bottle and such. That made me a little nervous about taking it through customs (thank god I could just pop another!) but it all turned out well. No one abroad or here even questioned this rather suspicious unmarked bottle I had.

I'm gonna need some more for my winter travels. Any of those other places give actual bottles with prescriptions for them? In case some customs officer decides to give me hell about them?


I would also like to note to anyone reading this or considering getting some pills for your condition.... DO NOT ABUSE THE EASE AT WHICH WE CAN GET STUFF!!!... Many people have legitimate issues and need treatment (like me with flying).. but if it gets out that some foreigners are stacking up prescriptions at 20 different places and selling them or ODing on them or something, we're all screwed. They'll take that privilege away from us in a heart beat.

Personally, I could care less what you do with your own body. If you want to pop two dozen pills a day, rot your liver, eat away at your stomach lining, and die and early death a la Marilyn Monroe, then knock yourself out. But if you screw it up for everyone else on your way out, I will make it my personal mission to defecate on your grave as much as possible for as long as I live.

[DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP]

Just to sum up and clarify. This is a wall of text, so I'll bold imortant parts.

You can go to ANY doctor, even the little tiny one near your hakwan / school / apt. Nearly all docs in Korea have enough English for you to explain your problems and sat what you want.

They will prescribe xanax / buspar etc if you have anxiety / insomnia / panic etc.

It is not expensive and you can even ask for the generic versions.

Personally I wouldn't reccomend you doing this if you don't think you really need it or if you're just rying to get high legally.

Though Xanax is legal people have no idea just how strong it is and just how emotionally effecting and distrupting even short term use can be. It will put you out of controll if you don't need it, it is not a mere 'chill pill.'

As well as being physically detrimental (absorbtion of nutrients through food being one, you should take extra vitamins with it to be safe.) it can kick you in the butt emotionally.

I used to be prescribed it along with buspar for sleeping dissorder. Although it sometimes did the trick, knocking me out for 6 hours or so, leaving me feeling physically refreshed in the morning, throughout the day I would be very emotionally volatile, often being near crying at the most trivial things, blowing them out of proportion or past memories of break ups or something flooding back and taking on new wieght. It also made me more agressive (not going to be good for the problems you have teaching your students huh...?) This is because it works on the same part of your brain related to inhibitions that alcohol does. I decided to just be insomniac and tired rather than an emotional wreck.

To be honest if you genuinely just want to use it to combat stress / tension from your day's work - you'd be better off downing a bottle of soju or some beers or working out or something, buy an x-box, I dunno.

I warn you right now, if you don't really need this drug, stay away it will kick you in the arse if you try to f*ck with it and before you know it you'll be feeling out of control, it's surprisingly strong, most people have no idea.

Now if you ARE having real panic / anxiety attacks ( a severe emotional / mood dissorder which scares the F*CK out of you - I've been there) then it works a damned treat and the side effects mentioned above do not occur as the strength of the drug ofsets the severity of the panic symptoms and thus you just feel relaxed and sometimes, sometimes a bit blunted. Good docs still reccomend nutritional supplements if this is the case.

But if some friend has given you the idea it's ok to take as a 'chill pill' when you're a bit stressed or wound up or as a recreational drug - I'm serious now - back the F*ck off of Xanax, you have no clue what you're getting into.

So -

1. You have an extreme panic / anxiety dissorder - good idea, go get it, it'll help. Maybe get councelling too to see if it's not merely physical, that way once you get over any issues, you can stop medicating.

2. You're just a bit stressed / tense from work - DO NOT try it. This is like using a hand grenade to scramble some eggs.

3. You want to get high - worse than number 2. Wait until you have paid vacay and go back home and smoke some weed.

I hope this helps and please don't think I'm being alarmist, I know about this drug.

[roadwork]

Chronic alcohol abuse - alcohol intake = extreme panic attacks. If this is your case, try abstaining for a while. I did this and they went away.

[DrOctagon]

I've had the opposite experience with Korean doctors when it comes to prescribing medicine. Hell, my doctor won't even prescribe me some Ibuprofen for Christ's sake. He did prescribe me some muscle relaxers once when I hurt my back but they were weak as hell.

[Cohiba]

Yeah, I wouldn't take just Xanax. What you want to do is get
prescriptions for Xanax, Valium and maybe something else. Then
you can cycle through, changing the drug each day so that you don't get
addicted. Also if you do this you won't build a tolerance and therefore
will get a better buzz with lower dosages.

I've got a huge pile of Xanies at home. The doctor I was seeing before
just kept writing prescriptions for them. I maybe use 2-3/week, but he
was writing for 1/day. I wouldn't mind getting some Valium though.
Tylenol3 would also be a nice diversion.