A small China pharmacy cheat sheet for minor travel problems

I recently travelled around China with my family. Before the trip, I did some research on what we could buy locally if one of us had a minor health problem. I also asked a few friends living in China what they normally get from local pharmacies. I saved everything in my phone and thought I’d share the list here in case it helps someone else.

This is definitely not medical advice, just a basic reference for mild and familiar symptoms. If something feels serious, unusual or keeps getting worse, it’s better to visit a clinic.

One thing I learned is that searching by the active ingredient is often easier than looking for a familiar brand. You can also show the Chinese name to the pharmacist.

Headache, mild fever or body aches:

Acetaminophen/paracetamol: 对乙酰氨基酚 (duì yǐ xiān ān jī fēn)

Ibuprofen: 布洛芬 (bù luò fēn)

Check the ingredients if you’re also taking cold medicine, since some cold medicines already contain paracetamol.

Mild diarrhea:

Oral rehydration salts: 口服补液盐 (kǒu fú bǔ yè yán)

Diosmectite powder: 蒙脱石散 (méng tuō shí sǎn)

My friend told me oral rehydration salts are probably the most useful thing to have, especially if you’ve also spent a lot of time outside in hot weather.

Mosquito bites or small cuts:

Calamine lotion: 炉甘石洗剂 (lú gān shí xǐ jì)

Povidone-iodine: 碘伏 (diǎn fú)

Bandages: 创可贴 (chuàng kě tiē)

Since I'm writing a post to share the info, I did some more research on other minor symptoms, which may also be helpful

Seasonal allergies, sneezing or mild itching

Loratadine: 氯雷他定 (lǜ léi tā dìng)

Cetirizine: 西替利嗪 (xī tì lì qín)

These seem to be fairly easy to find, but some allergy medicines can still make you sleepy, so check the instructions first.

Heartburn or acid reflux:

Antacid:抗酸药(kàng suān yào)

Hydrotalcite: 铝碳酸镁 (lǚ tàn suān měi)

Another useful tip is that over-the-counter medicine usually has an OTC mark on the packaging. I’d also be careful with anything someone describes as “anti-inflammatory medicine.” Sometimes they may actually be referring to antibiotics, which I personally wouldn’t take unless a doctor recommended them.

You can also order medicine through WeChat Mini Programs such as 美团买药 (Měituán Mǎiyào) or 叮当快药 (Dīngdāng Kuàiyào), which may save you a trip to the pharmacy when you’re not feeling well.

For children, pregnancy, allergies, chronic conditions or regular medication, I’d ask a pharmacist or doctor first. For an actual medical emergency in China, the ambulance number is 120.

This is what I collected while preparing for our trip. Anything useful that people living in China would add to the list?