Drugs Available at Convenience Stores

 

You can buy a variety of drugs at convenience stores in Korea. Ever since 2017, convenience stores were allowed to sell over-the-counter drugs because it eases people to get drugs when pharmacies are closed at night. Convenience stores sell 13 different drugs under four major types. Drugs sold at convenience stores are fever reducer and pain killer, cold medicine, digestant, and muscle pain relief. In order to prevent drug abuse, one person is allowed to purchase only one pharmaceutical product or drug.

Even if the same product is sold at convenience stores and pharmacies, the quantity of tablets in each box and price may vary. It is usually slightly more expensive at convenience stores because of different distribution process. In order to sell drugs, the convenience store should be equipped with a pharmaceutical management system. Also, the business owner must receive basic pharmaceutical training according to the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act.

The most common types of cold medicines are tablets and syrups. The syrup-type medicine (Pancol A) has substances that can help reduce the symptoms including fever, runny nose, sneezing, and stuffy nose. Therefore, if you have a stuffy nose, it is recommended to choose the syrup type over the tablet. When buying a digestant, choose syrups when you have relatively mild symtpoms, but if you have acute or severe indigestive problems, take tablets instead (This guideline applies only for drugs sold at convenience stores).

Drugs sold at convenience stores are only for adults, except the fever reducer. Therefore, try not to give the drugs to children! Also, do not split or crush tablets before consuming them as the medical effects can be reduced. It is important check your medicine closet regularly to make sure everything you need is there. Most of the time, ti is recommended to purchase drugs at pharmacies or drug stores as they have more productsy and a pharmacist who can consult you. However, if you need drugs in urgent situation, check out conveninence stores and purchase drugs for reducing pain.