Where to buy an effective decongestant for a headcold in Taiwan?

Where to buy an effective decongestant for a headcold in Taiwan? - Back view of faceless elegant male customer in suit choosing new clothes while standing near wardrobe in modern fashion boutique

After surviving through the Sydney winter without catching a cold, I woke up on the morning of my flight to Taiwan with the beginnings of one.

Now I find myself in 30+ temperatures with a blocked and runny nose and watering eyes.

I'm careful with cold remedies as many are full of all kinds of things, containing both a cough suppressant and an expectorant is common enough for instance. So the only thing I ever buy is a decongestant. I don't want a medicine with any other active ingredients. With just a decongestant I become much more functional until the cold has run its course.

In Australia I always used to buy one containing Pseudoephedrine because it works best. I understand that this is classified as an illegal drug in many countries. I have no idea its status in Taiwan. I also don't know which decongestants are considered next best after it.

In Australia I would go to a pharmacy for actual medicine. Pharmacies must have a qualified pharmacist and can sell medicines that require a prescription etc that regular shops cannot sell. But other countries have different traditions and might confuse a real pharmacy with something more like an American drugstore. They might sell things like shampoo and cough lollies but not real medicine.

There is a chain in much of Asia called "Watsons" - it seems to call itself a pharmacy but I'm not sure if this means that sell real medicine like a pharmacy in Australia.

So can I buy a decent decongestant at a Watsons and if not, what kind of shop should I find and what are they called in Chinese? I prefer if it's a shop that sells one containing Pseudoephedrine if it's allowed in Taiwan. But if not, something with another active ingredient that actually works.



Best Answer

It turns out that Taiwan, like many other places, made Pseudoephedrine harder to obtain, but perhaps more recently (2010).

So far I did not find out how easy Pseudoephedrine is to obtain. It is not available over-the-counter (OTC).

Many other decongestants and other cold and flu remedies are available over the counter.

Relevant shelf at Watsons, Songshan, Taipei

As elsewhere, Phenylephrine is one of the main OTC alternative active ingredients in place of Pseudoephedrine. It seems that drug companies insist to governments that it is effective while studies mostly find it to be no better than a placebo.

I ended up buying a medicine containing Phenelephrine by mistake. With my watery eyes I thought the box said "Phenylephedrine" and thought that must be one kind of Pseudoephedrine:

Coldenin Day & Night F.C. Tablets

Despite being quite skeptical I did find it much easier to breathe from the next day on. I cannot say whether this is due to the medicine or if I was already on the last day that was going to be bad even had I not taken anything.




Pictures about "Where to buy an effective decongestant for a headcold in Taiwan?"

Where to buy an effective decongestant for a headcold in Taiwan? - Close-up of Human Hand
Where to buy an effective decongestant for a headcold in Taiwan? - Black Payment Terminal
Where to buy an effective decongestant for a headcold in Taiwan? - Person Holding Debit Card



Which is the best medicine for cold?

You have two main choices in the cold-and-flu aisle: Cough suppressants, like dextromethorphan, can provide relief for a short time. They work on the part of your brain that controls the process. Expectorants, like guaifenesin, can break up congestion in your chest by thinning the mucus in your airways.

What is the best decongestant for a head cold?

Best cold medicine for stuffy nose To relieve a stuffy nose, try a decongestant with the active ingredient pseudoephedrine (Sudafed). It helps at the level of the small blood vessels in your nasal passageways to reduce the swelling and dry up the mucus that your body produces, allowing you to breathe a little easier.

Can you buy cold medicine over the counter?

Most people can buy OTC cold relievers on their own. But if you're not sure what you need, ask your doctor or pharmacist for some guidance.

What are the 3 types of decongestants?

Decongestants are available as nose drops or nasal sprays, eye drops, and as tablets, capsules, and syrup.



HOME REMEDY FOR CONGESTION - SINUS, NASAL AND CHEST




Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Antonio Sokic, Pixabay, energepic.com, Pixabay