I'm sometimes amazed at what you can't buy over the counter in a pharmacy here.
Last year, while in the middle of a bad asthma attack, I discovered that my inhaler which I only use about twice a year, was empty. I wheezed my way over to the drug store only to find out that asthma medicine is only sold with a prescrition in Japan.
A few years ago, a dentist looked at my OTC Australian iboprofen brand of choice and was shocked at its strength, he said it was four times stronger than what he as a medical professional was allowed to prescribe.
Tonight, alas, I have a coldsore. I haven't had one in years and realised that I don't have any cream. Luckily, it's hiding behind the corner of my lip and is not too noticable, but its one of those horrible whole-cheek's-on-flame-pain-behind-the-eye ones. I went to the chemist only to be told that I would have to go to the hospital to get cream, after he exclaimed in a really projected voice "You have herpes!?!" Mmm... I won't be showing my face around town for a while now.
And yet they sell Serugan (selgan?) that is banned in many asian countries!! My singaporean friend stocked up on it when she went to Japan because it was banned in singapore. I use it all the time for "geri" and hubby puts it between his teeth for toothaches.
ReplyDeleteIt's so strange what is available OTC and what is not. Sometimes i really think japan is warped.
I mean why do you have to go to the doctor for a cold sore? What a waste of doctor's time. But hey, they just want to get more money, so when you think of it like that you realise, it's all a sham. A money making sham that is.