Korean Job Discussion Forums

[SunnyD]

I've done my best to translate the Hangeul on the boxes, and it's probably not perfect. But I think this will save some people from going to the doctor every 3 days to get mystery pills that don't do anything. Feel better!!


Cough expectorant: 세다코프
contains 7.5mg dextromethorphan (cough suppressant), 2mg carbinoxamine (antihistamine), 12.5mg of some kind of ephedrine, 45.7mg of some kind of guaifenesin (expectorant), and 10mg of caffeine?
10 capsules is 2000 won, the pharmacist says take 2 caps 3x/day

Sinus decongestant: 데이감 - S
contains 30mg pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), 500mg acetaminophen, and 2mg chlorpheniramine (antihistamine).
10 caplets is 2000 won, the pharmacist says take 2 caps 3x/day

Tylenol ER (extended release): 타이레놀 이알
contains 650mg acetaminophen
10 caplets is 1500 won

Tylenol (same as extra strength in the USA): 타이레놀
contains 500mg acetaminophen

Advil: 로그펜 이부프로펜
contains 600mg ibuprofen
10 caplets is 2000 won
*it's also available in 400mg
*regular Advil in the USA has 200mg in each pill


**edited to add more info on Tylenol and Advil

[skindleshanks]

I've usually gotten acetaminophen under the name Tacenol here.

[Boodleheimer]

thanks, SunnyD!

[lowpo]

[nomad-ish]

thanks sunnyd! i ended up printing that out for the next time i'm sick (which won't be long now since winter's coming!)

[bellatore]

I'm surprised to see SunnyD say that the mystery medicine you get from the doctor didn't work. I'm an American who taught in Korea and I was amazed when I went to the hospital clinic and got 3 days worth of meds when I felt like I was coming down with the flu. I swear I was fine in 48 hours. I didn't even need to go back after the 3 days were over. Now, I'm as skeptical as the next guy and I never would have thought there was a cure for the common cold, much less a flu, but that was my experience. I wonder if anyone else has had this experience. My friends home in America don't believe me.

[wylies99]

Your first year in Korea, especially during the winter, is a time that most westerners catch a lot of colds. Some students, especially girls, will be sick the entire winter. Don't let that happen to you. You need to realize this and protect yourself as much as possible by taking vitamin C, getting lots of sleep, and by airing out your classroom and apartment as much as possible. I would also recommend drinking a lot of tea in school, to protect your throat, but make sure you use your own mug and wash it out as much as possible.

There's more to this than just staying healthy.You may still catch a bad cold and that can be a very bad thing, at some schools. At some schools, sick days can turn into battles that can eventually make things very sour for the foreign teacher. My advice is to take this seriously as a health issue and a potential workplace issue and be as proactive as possible.

[Milwaukiedave]

I have seen Theraflu both for colds (both daytime and nighttime) is now carried at pharmacies here now which is nice. It's about 7,000 for a box of 6

[tooseoulful]

This is so helpful and I'm going to the pharmacy now w/ this info in hand. Thanks, SunnyD!

[mnjetter]

If you're looking for Sudafed without the extra Tylenol-y stuff in it, I have been using Actifed (액티피드, I think). It is a straight up 60mg pseudoephedrine, so you only take one pill. 2000 won for a box of 10.

[young_clinton]

This is what I have always seen on the Tylenol labels. For Tylenol an adult can take 1000 mg of Tylenol 4 times daily for a cumulative daily dose of 4000 mg. That amounts to 1000 mg of Tylenol (two extra strength capsules, capules or tablets) every 6 hours.

Don't take more than this unless you want to risk a nice hospital stay with them checking your liver functions several times a day.

Advil I have no idea what the dosage is. Don't take more Advil than what is recommended. That stuff will put you in the hospital too. I know, I spent 8 days in the hospital after overperscribing it for myself many times.

[NYC_Gal 2.0]

That expectorant one is very useful. Thanks!