Chapter 19: Over-the-Counter Drugs (What You Can Buy Without a Prescription)
Chinese pharmacies (药店, yaodian) are everywhere. Green cross sign, white letters. They're as common as convenience stores.
The good news: most meds you'd need for a routine illness are OTC (非处方药, feichufangyao) and require no prescription. The bad news: the packaging is all in Chinese, and the pharmacist speaks zero English in 90% of cases.
Here's the breakdown.
How to Navigate a Chinese Pharmacy (药店)
Step 1: Walk in. Look confused (you are).
Step 2: The pharmacist will approach you. Say: "Wo bu hui shuo Zhongwen. Qing kan zhege." (I don't speak Chinese. Please look at this.)
Step 3: Show them your translation card (see Chapter 3) OR show them the medication you want (pill bottle from home) OR use Pleco OCR to photograph the Chinese medication name.
Step 4: They'll hand you a box. Before you take it: Use Pleco to confirm what it is. Or use Microsoft Translator camera to read the active ingredient list on the box.
Step 5: Pay. Cash, Alipay, or WeChat Pay. No foreign cards.
Cold & Flu (感冒 / 发热)
| Symptom | Chinese Name | Brand Examples | Active Ingredient | English Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fever / Pain | 布洛芬 | 芬必得 (Fenbid) | Ibuprofen | Advil, Motrin |
| Fever / Pain | 对乙酰氨基酚 | 泰诺 (Tylenol China) | Acetaminophen | Tylenol |
| Runny nose / Allergy | 氯雷他定 | 开瑞坦 (Claritin China) | Loratadine | Claritin |
| Cough (dry) | 右美沙芬 | 惠菲宁 | Dextromethorphan | Robitussin |
| Congestion | 伪麻黄碱 | Often combined | Pseudoephedrine | Sudafed |
| Sore throat | 西瓜霜喷剂 | 西瓜霜 | Herbal + anesthetic | Chloraseptic spray |
The "cold medicine" problem: Chinese cold meds are combination pills. They contain 3–5 active ingredients (acetaminophen + loratadine + dextromethorphan + caffeine). Read the label or you'll accidentally overdose on acetaminophen.
Recommendation: Bring your own cold meds from home. If you must buy in China, get single-ingredient meds (ibuprofen tablets, acetaminophen tablets) — NOT combination cold pills.
Pain Relief (疼痛)
| Condition | Chinese Name | Brand | Active Ingredient |
|---|---|---|---|
| General pain / fever | 布洛芬 | 芬必得 | Ibuprofen |
| Stronger pain | 双氯芬酸钠 | 扶他林 (Voltaren) | Diclofenac |
| Migraine | 对乙酰氨基酚 + 咖啡因 | 感康 (Gankang) | Acetaminophen + caffeine |
Topical pain relief:
- 麝香壮骨膏 (Shexiang Zhuanggu Gao): Pain relief patch. Smells like a Chinese medicine shop. Works surprisingly well for back pain.
- 扶他林软膏 (Voltaren gel): Diclofenac gel. For muscle pain. Available at any pharmacy.
Stomach Issues (肠胃)
China is where stomachs go to die. Spicy food, unwashed vegetables, street food — it'll get you eventually.
| Symptom | Chinese Name | Brand | Active Ingredient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diarrhea | 洛哌丁胺 | 易蒙停 (Imodium China) | Loperamide |
| Diarrhea (TCM) | 藿香正气液 | 藿香正气 | Herbal blend |
| Acid reflux | 奥美拉唑 | 洛赛克 (Losec) | Omeprazole |
| Gas / Bloat | 西甲硅油 | 西甲硅油 | Simethicone |
| Nausea | 茶苯海明 | 乘晕宁 | Dimenhydrinate |
| Food poisoning (severe) | GO TO ER | N/A | N/A |
The "Huoxiang Zhengqi" miracle: Every Chinese person carries this. It's a TCM herbal liquid that treats "damp-heat stomach" (their term, not mine). Tastes like licorice and regret. Works surprisingly well for traveler's diarrhea and nausea. Buy it.
Warning: If you have bloody diarrhea, fever >38.5°C, or dehydration, skip the pharmacy and go to the ER. It's not "stomach bug" — it's something worse.
Allergies (过敏)
| Symptom | Chinese Name | Brand | Active Ingredient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hay fever / sneezing | 氯雷他定 | 开瑞坦 | Loratadine |
| Eye allergy | 奥洛他定滴眼液 | 帕坦洛 | Olopatadine |
| Skin allergy cream | 氢化可的松软膏 | 氢化可的松 | Hydrocortisone |
Note: Chinese pharmacies also sell TCM anti-allergy herbal teas. They don't work. Don't waste your money.
Anti-Diarrheal / Rehydration
Loperamide (易蒙停): Your best friend. Take 2 tablets, then 1 after each loose stool (max 8/day).
Oral Rehydration Salts (口服补液盐, ORS): If you have diarrhea + vomiting, you need rehydration. Buy ORS at the pharmacy (¥10–¥20). Mix with bottled water. Drink slowly.
What if the pharmacy doesn't have ORS? Buy sports drink powder (宝矿力 = Pocari Sweat, available everywhere). Not as good as ORS, but better than plain water.
First-Aid (Cuts, Burns, Insect Bites)
| Item | Chinese Name | Brand |
|---|---|---|
| Antiseptic (iodine) | 碘伏 | 安尔碘 |
| Band-aids | 创可贴 | 邦迪 (Band-Aid China) |
| Burn gel | 烧伤膏 | 京万红 |
| Insect bite cream | 风油精 | 风油精 (Fengyoujing) |
| Mosquito repellent | 驱蚊液 | 六神 (Liushen) |
Fengyoujing (风油精): The green bottle. Every Chinese household has it. It's camphor + menthol oil. Rub it on mosquito bites, temples (for headaches), or under your nose (for congestion). Smells like a Chinese grandmother's purse. Works.
Warning: Fengyoujing is toxic if ingested. Keep away from kids.
What's HARD to Get OTC (Need Prescription)
| Drug | Chinese Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Antibiotics | 抗生素 | Technically prescription-only. But many pharmacies will sell them to you if you ask. This is illegal, but enforcement is lax — don't rely on it. |
| Strong painkillers (opioids) | 吗啡, 曲马多 | Not available OTC. Not available at all for foreigners. |
The antibiotic problem: Chinese pharmacies LOVE to sell antibiotics for viral infections (colds, flu). Don't take antibiotics for a cold. It's viral, not bacterial. You're creating resistant bacteria for no reason.
If you need antibiotics (confirmed bacterial infection): Go to a doctor. Get a prescription. Then buy the meds at the hospital pharmacy (cheaper) or a regular pharmacy (same price).
What's ILLEGAL / Impossible to Get
| Drug | Status in China |
|---|---|
| Adderall / Vyvanse (amphetamines) | Not registered in China — effectively unavailable. Don't try to buy or import. |
| Ritalin / Concerta (methylphenidate, 哌甲酯) | A Category-1 psychotropic — NOT sold OTC or by walk-in, but it can be prescribed by a psychiatrist. See Chapter 18. |
| Opioid painkillers (morphine, oxycodone) | Not available. China doesn't do opioid pain management. |
| Benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax) | Controlled. Possible with prescription, hard for foreigners. |
| Medical marijuana / CBD | Illegal. Don't bring it into China. You'll go to prison. |
The kicker: China has zero tolerance for drug possession. If you bring marijuana/CBD into China (even CBD oil from the US), you can be arrested and deported. Don't.
The "Bring Your Own" List
Before you travel to China, pack:
- [ ] Ibuprofen (200mg, 50 tablets)
- [ ] Loperamide (Imodium, 12 tablets)
- [ ] Loratadine (Claritin, 10 tablets)
- [ ] Omeprazole (Prilosec, 14 tablets)
- [ ] Band-Aids (variety pack)
- [ ] Oral rehydration salts (ORS) — or buy Pocari Sweat in China
- [ ] Thermometer (digital, cheap in China — available at any pharmacy) Total cost to pack these: $30. Cost of buying them in China while sick and jet-lagged: Your dignity + 3 hours of pointing at things in a pharmacy.
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