These days I get nervous when I watch TV and at each commercial break as there would be at least one advertisement promoting a cough syrup or something for il rafreddore (the flu)
That means that the sick season is here! Similar to the influx of deodorant commercials when Summer is approaching. After my experience with a long and severe cough bout last year, I’m a little paranoid about getting this seasonal sickness. I really don’t want to get ill, so I avoid people with the sniffles as soon as I see them!
I’m no doctor but I feel that prevention is always better than cure. So it’s good to take some steps to boost the immune system with a dose of multivitamins and drink loads of hot tea with honey when the throat starts to feel dry.
And to also nip the issue in the bud before the sickness gets stronger. Like not overworking the body when you feel lethargic, and self medicating with OTC medicine when you know you’re not feeling in tip top shape.
Just a teeny tiny issue. OTC medicines are so expensive!
Lets take for example, this popular brand of soluble aspirin that you take for when you feel feverish. This costs about 6 euro.
While this below is a pack of medicated sweets for when you have a sore throat or cough. 7 euro. You could get an entire round pizza for the same price.
I know I said that I don’t want to complain too much about money but these are shockingly expensive. I don’t think the same thing is that expensive outside of Italy as I don’t remember having to pay more than 3 SGD for a pack of paracetamol or more than 5 SGD for a bottle of cough syrup.
One could justify that we could get a non-branded one. But believe me, there isn’t that much difference.
The moral of the story is … Just don’t get sick.
really… 6 euro for aspirin?!
that’s like 12 bucks here in SG, more expensive than getting a box from 7-11… -_-”
hmm but does the medicated ointments (e.g. salon pas and tiger balm) cost more there too?
or just the pills?
I haven’t really seen anything similar to tiger balm or salon pas in the pharmacies in Rome. But then again, I haven’t been actively looking. I reckon that it would be expensive anyway …Plus I already have my trusty jar or Tiger Balm with me since the last time we visited Singapore 🙂
Hmm, is it weird that I actually find those prices pretty reasonable? Back in Canada, I would pay $9 or $10 for a small bottle of painkillers (Advil, Tylenol, Aspirin, etc), so this doesn’t seem too over-the-top… But I’m also starting to realize that a lot of things in Canada were actually pretty darn expensive (particularly food-related stuff)!
Shucks, I’ve never been to Canada. So I’ve no idea the cost of living there would be like. But growing up in Asia, the price is way over even after considering the exchange rate factors.
Actually, if you buy OTC paracetamol and cough syrup, it does cost more than SGD3.00 and SGD5.00 respectively. Be it the normal Panadol brand or one that is issued by the pharmacy, like Guardian. Prices have all gone up, so yeah, it’s better to not get sick at all.
Really? In just a span of the several years since I last been in SG? Oh gosh, that’s frightening!