So you live in China, and you get sick - now what? It can be really daunting to find the medicine you need when you can't read and the pharmacyst can't understand you. Also, there are many Traditional Chinese Medicine alternatives for things like colds or sore throats which may be difficult to navigate for anyone not familiar.
[edit] Medicines
| Chinese | English (roughly) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 双黄连口服液 | Shuanghuanglian Oral Solution | This is traditional Chinese medicine which comes in little vials of liquid. When you have a cold or a fever it is reccommended. |
| 同仁堂感冒清热颗粒 | Tong Ren Tang Ganmaoqingre Granules | This is a packet of powder that you are meant to dissolve in a cup of hot water, also traditional chinese medicine. |
| 感康 | Kang flu | This is "western medicine" akin to sudafed. |
| 布洛芬 or 芬必得 | Ibuprofen, Fen Bi De | These are common pain killers made of Ibuprofen |
| 维甲酸 | Tretinoin | The generic form of Retin-A used to treat wrinkles or Acne. |
[edit] Other Tips
You can get several kinds of medicines over the counter in China that you cannot get in the US including: Cough syrup with Codeine, birth control pills, and Tretinoin (Retin-A). In Beijing the Beijing International SOS Clinic has a knowledgable English speaking pharmacyst, but be prepared to spend premium for your medications. Some choose to go to International SOS to get their first round of medicine, and once they have the package of the exact product they need, they go to their local Watson's to get more.