When you have a insomnia, what kinds of medicine can you get in Korea? Let’s focus on over-the-counter medications. I will write down the brand name as well, but the brand stocked at the pharmacy you visit may be different.
Insomnia medications
The most commonly used over-the-counter insomnia medications in Korea are antihistamines. In the United States, melatonin is also known to be used for sleep disorders, but in Korea, it is a prescription drug.
Doxylamine and diphenhydramine are used as sleep inducers. These ingredients are first-generation antihistamines with strong sedative effects among antihistamines. Doxylamine preparations are known to have a longer duration of action than diphenhydramine preparations.
- Doxylamine brand name – Aaron(아론), Smer(스메르)
- diphenhydramine brand name – Zeromin(제로민), Cooldream(쿨드림)
You can also take oriental medicine sleep aids. For example, there is a medicine called Redolmin(레돌민), which is a sedative made of plant-based ingredients including hops. However, unlike antihistamines, this medicine may not be available at some pharmacies.
Where to buy Insomnia medicine in Korea
The drugs mentioned above are available without a prescription at pharmacies. However, it is not available at convenience stores.
How should I say it?
Mentioning the brand and ingredient names is a good way to find the drug you are looking for. However, it can be difficult because there are so many different types.
You need to be more specific about telling your pharmacist that you are looking for medication for insomnia. I’ll show you an example sentence below.
Are there any medications that can be used for sleep disorders?
- 수면 장애에 사용할 약이 있을까요?
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