Common Over-the-Counter (OTC) Drugs in Chinese Pharmacies Guide

In China, pharmacies (usually marked as "pharmacy" or "drugstore") are widely distributed, and most basic medications can be purchased without a prescription. Below is a classification and recommendation of commonly used OTC drugs for foreign tourists:

1. Cold and Flu Medications

• Compound Paracetamol and Amantadine Hydrochloride Tablets
  Use: Relieves cold symptoms (fever, headache, nasal congestion, cough). Common brands: Gan Kang, Kuai Ke.
• Banlangen Keli (Isatis Root Granules)
  Use: Clears heat and detoxifies, used for preventing or relieving wind-heat colds.
• Lianhua Qingwen Capsule
  Use: Relieves fever, cough, and sore throat caused by the flu (recently more commonly used, contains traditional Chinese herbal ingredients).
• 999 Ganmaoling Granules
  Use: Combines traditional Chinese and Western medicine to relieve cold symptoms.

2. Pain Relief and Fever Reducers

• Ibuprofen
  Common brand: Fenbid.
• Paracetamol/Acetaminophen
  Common brands: Tylenol, Panadol.

3. Gastrointestinal Discomfort Medications

• Montmorillonite Powder
  Use: Anti-diarrheal, common brand: Smecta.
• Jianwei Xiaoshi Pian (Digestive Aid Tablets)
  Use: Relieves indigestion and bloating.
• Hydrotalcite Tablets
  Use: Neutralizes stomach acid, relieves stomach pain, common brand: Talcid.

4. Skin and External Medications

• Band-Aid
  Common brands: Yunnan Baiyao Band-Aid, BAND-AID.
• Erythromycin Ointment
  Use: Minor skin infections, burns.
• Fengyoujing (Menthol Oil)
  Use: Relieves insect bites, headaches, motion sickness (contains menthol and camphor).
• Yunnan Baiyao Spray
  Use: Bruises, muscle pain.

5. Allergy Medications

• Loratadine
  Use: Relieves allergic rhinitis, urticaria, common brand: Clarityne.
• Cetirizine
  Common brand: Zyrtec.

6. Vitamins and Nutritional Supplements

• Vitamin C Effervescent Tablets
• Vitamin B Complex Tablets

7. Other Useful Medications

• Povidone-Iodine Solution: Wound disinfection.
• Cooling Oil: Refreshes mind, relieves insect bites.
• Motion Sickness Tablets: Such as Dimenhydrinate.

Purchase Precautions

1. Pharmacy Selection: Choose reputable chain pharmacies (such as Tong Ren Tang, Haiwang Xingchen, Dasenlin), avoid roadside stalls.
2. Language Issues: Large pharmacies may offer English service; it’s recommended to use translation software to note down the drug names or ingredients (e.g., “Paracetamol”).
3. Payment Methods: Cash, Alipay/WeChat Pay supported; some pharmacies accept international credit cards.
4. Packaging Labels: OTC drugs will be marked with “non-prescription drug” or “OTC”; prescription drugs require a doctor's certificate.
5. Dosage and Contraindications: Follow dosage limits in the instructions carefully; pregnant women, children, or patients with chronic diseases should exercise caution.

Usage Guidelines

• Carefully read the instructions to avoid repeated medication (for example, cold medicine may already contain fever-reducing components).
• Ephedrine-containing cold medicines (such as Neo-Cotrimoxazole) may be subject to purchase restrictions, requiring ID verification.
• For traditional Chinese medicine, which may indicate effects like “clearing heat and detoxifying,” it’s recommended to consult a pharmacist.

Safety Tips

• If symptoms persist or worsen, seek medical attention promptly (Chinese hospitals have international clinics).
• Keep drug packaging and receipts in case of customs inspection.
• Avoid purchasing "miracle drugs" from unknown sources to prevent counterfeit products.