Pharmacy, Prescriptions, and Dosage
Korea separates prescribing from dispensing: you get a prescription at the hospital and have it filled at a pharmacy. Understanding the dosage instructions is the key to safe treatment.
Prescriptions and Dispensing
μ²λ°©μ κ°μ§κ³ μλλ°μ, μ½ μ‘°μ λΆνλλ €μ.
cheobangjeon gajigo wanneun-deyo, yak joje butak-deuryeoyo.
I brought my prescription; please fill it for me.
μ²λ°©μ μμ΄ μ΄ μ μλ λν΅μ½ μλμ?
cheobangjeon eopsi sal su inneun dutongyak innayo?
Do you have any headache medicine I can buy without a prescription?
μ½μ λ©°μΉ μΉ μ²λ°©λμ΄μ?
yag-eun myeochil chi cheobang-dwaesseoyo?
How many days' worth of medicine was prescribed?
| Term | Romaja | English |
|---|---|---|
| μ²λ°©μ | cheobangjeon | prescription |
| μ‘°μ | joje | compounding / dispensing |
| μΌλ°μμ½ν | ilban-uiyakpum | over-the-counter drug |
| μ λ¬Έμμ½ν | jeonmun-uiyakpum | prescription-only drug |
Dosage Instructions
Timing breaks down into "sikjeon" (before meals), "sikhu" (after meals), and "chwichim jeon" (before bed). Frequency is given as "haru X beon" (X times a day).
μ΄ μ½μ ν루 μΈ λ², μν μΌμ λΆμ λμΈμ.
i yag-eun haru se beon, sikhu samsip bun-e deuseyo.
Take this medicine three times a day, thirty minutes after meals.
μ΄ νμμ λ μ¦μμ΄ λμμ Έλ λκΉμ§ λ€ λμ
μΌ ν΄μ.
i hangsaengje-neun jeungsang-i naajyeodo kkeutkkaji da deusyeoya haeyo.
You must finish all of this antibiotic, even if your symptoms improve.
μ΄ μ½μ 쑸릴 μ μμΌλ μ΄μ μ μλ λμμ§ λ§μΈμ.
i yag-eun jollil su isseuni unjeon jeon-eneun deusiji maseyo.
This medicine can cause drowsiness, so don't take it before driving.
It also helps to know the words for drug forms. "Yeon-go" (ointment), "muryak" (liquid medicine), and "garuyak" (powdered medicine) each name a different formulation.
| Drug Form | Romaja | English |
|---|---|---|
| μμ½ / μΊ‘μ | aryak / kapseul | tablet / capsule |
| κ°λ£¨μ½ / λ¬Όμ½ | garuyak / muryak | powdered / liquid medicine |
| μ°κ³ | yeon-go | ointment |
| μ’μ½ | jwayak | suppository |
| Dosage | Romaja | English |
|---|---|---|
| μμ / μν | sikjeon / sikhu | before / after meals |
| 곡볡μ | gongbok-e | on an empty stomach |
| ν루 λ λ² | haru du beon | twice a day |
| μ¦μμ΄ μμ λλ§ | jeungsang-i isseul ttae-man | only when symptomatic (as needed) |
π‘ Tip: If side effects appear, stop taking the drug right away and tell your pharmacist or doctor. "Bujagyong" (side effect) and "allereugi" (allergy) are essential words to know.