What medicine should I take when I catch a cold 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.
What is cold medicine
When you have a cold, the medicine you take may vary depending on the symptoms. Some have a fever, some have a cough. Some people also have a runny nose. Today, I will introduce a ‘comprehensive – symptom relief medicine‘ that comprehensively relieves these symptoms.
If you are looking for a sore throat medicine, please see the article below.
If it’s just a fever, you can take a acetaminophen.
5 Popular cold medicines in Korea.
Below is a list of the most popular 5 cold medicines in Korea.
Panpyrin-Q(판피린-Q)
- cough, fever
- DL-Methylephedrine Hydrochloride 18mg/20mL → cough
Guaifenesin 42mg/20mL → sputum
Tipepidine Citrate 10mg/20mL → cough
Acetaminophen 300mg/20mL → antipyretic
Caffeine Anhydrous 30mg/20mL
Chlorpheniramine Maleate 2.5mg/20mL → cough, snot
Adult : takes 20mL once a day 3 times a day 30 minutes after meals.
Theraflu Nighttime Dry Syrup(테라플루나이트)
- High antipyretic capacity, for runny nose patient, tea-like taste
- Pheniramine Maleate 20mg → cough, snot
Acetaminophen 650mg → antipyretic
Phenylephrine Hydrochloride 10mg → runny nose, stuffy nose
Over 12 years of age: Take 1 packet every 4 to 6 hours as needed. Do not take more than 4 packets in 24 hours. Dissolve 1 packet at a time in about 250mL of non-boiling hot water, and take within 10 to 15 minutes.
❌Do not administer to children under 12 years of age.❌
Champ Clod Syrup(챔프콜드시럽)
- for kids, contains vitamin
- Acetaminophen 70mg → antipyretic
Chlorpheniramine Maleate 0.63mg → cough, snot
DL-Methylephedrine Hydrochloride 6.25mg → sputum
Guaifenesin 20.83mg → cough
Riboflavin Phosphate Sodium 0.25mg → vitamin B2
Tipepidine Citrate 5mg → cough
Take it 3 times a day, 30 minutes after meals and at bedtime if necessary, with an interval of 4 hours between doses.
15 years of age or older: 3 packets at a time
11 ~ 15 years of age: 2 packets at a time
7 ~ 11: 1½ packets at a time
3 ~ 7 years of age: 1 pack at a time
2 ~ 3 years old: 3/4 packets once
Coldaewon Cold Q Syrup(콜대원콜드큐시럽)
- cough, fever
- Acetaminophen 325mg → antipyretic
Caffeine Anhydrous 25mg
Chlorpheniramine Maleate 2.5mg → cough, snot
DL-Methylephedrine Hydrochloride 21mg → cough
Guaifenesin 83mg → sputum
Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide Hydrate 16mg → cough
Take the following dose 3 times a day 30 minutes after meals. In principle, the dosing interval is 4 hours.
15 years of age or older 1 packet (20 mL)
11 ~ 15 2/3 pack
7 ~ 11 1/2 pack 1/3 pack for
3 ~ 7 1/4 pack
from 2 years old to less than 3 years old
❌Do not administer to children under 2 years of age. ❌
Whituben Q Soft Cap.(화이투벤큐연질캡슐)
- Relatively low antipyretic, for runny nose patient
- Acetaminophen 180mg → antipyretic
Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide Hydrate 8mg → cough
DL-Methylephedrine Hydrochloride 12.5mg → cough
Guaifenesin 20.84mg → sputum
Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride 15mg → runny nose, stuffy nose
Triprolidine Hydrochloride Hydrate 0.66mg → cough, snot
Over 15 years of age and adults: 3 times a day, 2 capsules each time, take 30 minutes after meals.
7 years old or older and under 15 years old: 3 times a day, take 1 capsule 30 minutes after meals.
Adverse reaction and precaution
Do not drink alchole, possible side effects of drowsiness.
Where to buy cold medicine in Korea
The drugs mentioned above are available without a prescription at pharmacies.
How should I say it?
Mentioning the brand and ingredient names is a good way to find the drug you are looking for. Different pharmacies may have different medications, but if you tell them exactly what your symptoms are, you can find one that works for you at any pharmacy.
I have a fever now.
- 열이 납니다.
I have cough sputum.
- 기침가래가 있습니다.
I have a stuffy nose.
- 코가 막힙니다.
Various cold symptoms appear.
- 종합적인 감기 증상이 나타납니다.