There is no Midol available in the KSA. I went to the pharmacy, and asked for it (because of course I was cramping). The guy didn't even know what it was...but when Roland told him what I was needing it for...the guy behind the counter gave me something else. This something else (Solpadeine - which contains Codeine); was literally something else. It knocked me out for 12 hours and I was groggy half of the next day!!!! It's horrible. I will never take this stuff again...unless of course, I break a leg. So...this is just one more thing I will have to bring back with me when I come back from the States or Europe. Ladies of Saudi Arabia: Midol is a Godsend when it comes to "that time of the month". It focuses it's action on where it needs to be (meaning no more cramps), and no where else (this means you can still go about your day, without feeling sluggish or groggy). I think that if men got cramps...Midol would be available in the KSA.
12 comments:
why try to get over what you can use to your advantage? I mean most saudi women will use cramps as a means to do absolutely NOTHING. Seems insane but when you don't feel like doing nothnig and than 'have' to you start to think.. hey playing it up isn't a bad choice after all.
Use to my advantage? Yea...the problem is...I hardly ever want to "do nothing", but I guess it is an option, and may turn into mine if I don't get the Midol. I've had 2 friends offer to send me some. LOL
And, if I ever use that crap they gave me at the pharmacy (which amounted to Tylenol with codeine) I will have no choice but to do absolutely nothing. When I told my friend in the states this...she wants me to bring here some. So...whatever gets you through.
i will try the Midol; I have very very, bad pains and cramps. It has defined my whole life. I'd love to find something that actually helps.
If it doesn't I'll have to ask you to send me some of that other stuff ;)
Midol is:
Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) 500 mg (Pain Reliever) ie the british Panadol or the american Tylenol +
Caffeine 60 mg (Stimulant) +
Pyrilamine Maleate 15 mg (Antihistamine)
The "Cramps & Body Aches" formulation is:
ibuprofen 200 mg (Pain Reliever) ie Advil, Motrin
The "Maximum Strength" formulation is: Naproxen Sodium 220 mg ie Naproxen
In other words, you should be able to find it or its compenents over the counter in name brand or generic form or use Advil, Motrin or Naproxen 200mg for the same effect (unless you like the sleep inducing anti histamine--then add a cold remedy or something like that).
Midol is more expensive usually than the others, and especially than generics, and despite their advertisments and our belief system doesn't target the uterus in particular. Liquid capsule preparations work faster than the pills or tablets, which is why they are advertised for migraine, where fast is especially important. I take generic ibuprofen 200mg in liquid capsule form for aches, pains, cramps and migraines.
codeine = mentally groggy,constipated, and usually requires increasingly higher doses (physical tolerance, whether or not addicted), to be avoided unless necessary
Good luck!
Chiara
PS pharmacists usually offer you the most expensive product hence the Solpadeine (newer, name brand, codeine, needs a prescription in UK).
If more drugs there are from UK than US look for Panadol or generic.
Aafke: My friend in Seattle wants me to bring her the stronger stuff they gave me...and is offering to send the Midol. LOL. I'm going to the states for about a month in March...I think I'll last until then; and she's getting this mess they gave me.
Chiara...thanks for that (and welcome, I think this is your first time commenting on my blog)...so instead of just one pill...I'll take what...3? I'm glad Liquid ibuprofen works for you. Advil does not do the same thing as Midol, at least for me (and Midol doesn't make me groggy).
More expensive? Yea...well...I won't miss that extra dollar it will cost me to get what I want and what I know to be effective for me. LOL.
Hi again! I tried to post a follow-up comment here yesterday but I have difficulty getting your blog to accept my blog ID--I think I have it figured out now.
Anyway, given that you only respond to the classic combo Midol you do need an emergency shipment--and spare no expense. In the meantime, yes 3 pills could make up the combo dose.
The grogginess you describe is most likely from codeine and you obviously tolerate the anti-histamines in Midol.
Bayer, which makes Midol,operates in Saudi in Jeddah, and on the East coast (maybe in Bahrain not
Saudi). You might want to contact them to find out where to get your "fix". :-)
Terri- once you get to know true blue average saudis and know how the households work for women you'll understand why they would use it to do absolutely nothing.
Try Ponstan, it's available in Bahrain, so it should be available in KSA. It workes gr8 better than Midol. Unfortunately, you can't get it here in the US
Thanks Garden of Sands...I'm going to Bahrain soon...I will check out the Ponstan.
Terri,
I am a 27 year old single Saudi woman living in Riyadh. I have to admit that it is very interesting reading about your experience here in Saudi and seeing how someone from a completely different background view and ineract with our society and customs.
I am friends with a lot of expats and they see this country as a country of their own. They miss it when they go away on vacations, their kids can't wait to come visit from college and they even have freinds and relatives come visit from abroad. All it takes is just opening up to the place. I can imagine how hard it is for you, i was in the states for a while, but it's not that bad. I hope that you will soon be able to call it "home".
Now about Midol, it is ONLY available in the states. If you go to a pharmacy in London the guy behind the counter will have the same raction; their version of Midol is Feminax. Now the pharmacist you went to made a mistake, we never use Solpadine for "that time of the month", try Bascupan next time.
Good Luck!
Hello Nourah...Thanks for stopping by.
How can you expect someone who has lived the majority of their life in the US or a freedom loving European country to come here and fall in love when I have only been living here one month?
Saudi culture is mostly a closed culture. I have met some really cool Saudi's, and I've been grateful for the interaction, and a few may even become friends. However, please don't act like the KSA is paradise on earth. This place is designed to be restrictive, otherwise the Muttawa wouldn't exist.
Time will tell if I will ever miss this country when I leave. I doubt it. But...as I stated time will tell since I will be going to the states for 6 weeks in about a month. I will miss the friends that I have made, and the social life that I have developed...but "the country". it's not that bad, well that really is relative to what it's being compared too.
And, when I come back...I plan to bring back, among other things, boxes of Midol. LOL.
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