I have been in the US for a few weeks, stocking up on drugs to take back with me that I have come to the realization should be more widespread in Taiwan (and no, I’m not talking about of the green kind of stuff although…well, not talking about it).
I have allergies badly, mostly hay feverish stuff: pollens, dust, mold, and dander, but I have recently discovered, to my chagrin, that chocolate gives me migraines. Imagine my salvation when I was able to get OTC stuff specifically for migraines rather than trying for the maximum dosage of Panadol or aspirin and whimpering to myself in the fetal position until the throbbing and light sensitivity stopped. It made me think of what other Westerm OTC things should be easier to find that they currently are:
migraine medicine
antihistimines for hay fever
antacids
calamine lotion
Visine eye drops, not some Japanese product with a steroid in it.
Pepto-Bismal
The migraine medicine I use is not available over the counter in NZ, but is in Taipei.
Same for antihisimines.
Antacids are easy.
Got calomine lotion the other day.
Don’t know your last two.
I think most things are available here. If your medication is not available under that name, it is likely here with another name. Just write down the ingredients and ask the pharmacist to look it up for you. Also, go to a big pharmacy like Shanghai Pharmacy on Hengyang St (near 228 Park).
If you take Pepto-Bismal for diarrhea, there’s a local product that’s equivalent, very good. English name on the bottle is Boterasu. All the pharmacies stock it.
you say you have bad allergies… you know that both Claritin (which is about a buck a pill in the states) and Allegra are over the counter here.
I just thought of another one: Buckley’s Cough Syrup. Have never seen it in the states… only Canada. Tastes like rocket fuel but is the best cough syrup i have ever used. one swig is all it takes.
Does candy count? Candy makes me feel better sometimes
I have received Allegra over the counter. I was surprised because I wasn’t even expecting something Western. I was even more shocked when he took it out of the huge box that’s usually reserved for pharmacies to distribute prescriptions and when I asked how many I should take and how often, he replied nonchalantly, “I think it’s two pills, three times a day.” You think it is? Ai yo! Granted, aside from the fateful boat trip in Taidong two summers ago, I haven’t had any stomach problems so I haven’t needed pepto.
Bu Lai En, I am very reluctant to take anything for headaches although I make an exception for migraines, especially now with my reluctance to give up chocolate so easily. What is the name of your migraine medicine since I left mine back home in the US and will undoubtly need it sometime in the future?
Is it a liquid or something else? The taitai has been giving me something for my digestion, they look like tiny little pieces of charcoal (of course I know they’re not charcoal but thats what it looks like) but it hasn’t really been helping.
Given the experience of our recently found Lord Lucan, I’d be upping the pain killers. In Australia you can get a mean OTC mix of panadol, codeine and some muscle relaxant (Mersyndol) and more recently a much cheaper version OTC called rather simply, “Pain.”
Great to have around, just in case. Certainly wipes out the meanest headache.
Yes, that is what Robert was talking about. It’s called “boterasu” (being originally from Japan) and in Chininese is 暮帝納斯 mù dì nà sī. I’ve found it very good. It is much gentler on the body than medicines such as lomotil and immodium which basically just plug you up. You can drink alcohol with the medicine which is also an important consideration.
Speaking of booze, here’s a useful phrase for newbies at the pharmacy: Can I drink alcohol with this medicine? 我吃藥時可以喝酒嗎? Wǒ chī yào shí kěyǐ hē jiǔ ma?
Great, thanks. I’ve been trying to stay away from booze just because I want to try to stay hydrated, although the other day we went to a nice place for lunch and they had Warsteiner, one of my fav beers of all time
I just submitted a post on this Botetasu medicine tablets I bought at Tomods at the Mitsui Outlet in Linkou so far no side effects I hope it works I got it due to worrying about running out of Pepto Bismol and Immodium Loperamide I saw that they also sell Loperamide tablets too.
