Jewish Laws On
Taking Medication On Passover
The following halachos (Jewish Laws) are based on
the psak (decision) of Rabbi Moshe Heinemann & Rabbi Gershon Bess
- No one should refrain from taking any required medication even if it contains chometz,
without first consulting his physician and Rav - All medications for a the following conditions may be taken on Passover
1. Heart condition
2. Diabetes
3. Abnormal blood pressure
4. Stroke
5. Kidney disease
6. Lung disease
7. Depression
8. Epilepsy
9. Immune system (transplant anti-rejection)
10. Cancer treatment (including precautionary) may be taken on Passover - All prescription medication taken on a regular basis for chronic conditions should only be changed with the consultation of your physician
- If you can not reach your physician you should continue to take your regular prescription
without change. Some examples of such chronic conditions include the following:
1. Any psychiatric condition
2. Prostate condition
3. Crohn's Disease
4. Celiac
5. Colitis
6. High cholesterol
7. Parkinson's Disease
8. Anemia
9. Multiple Sclerosis
10.Thyroid condition
11. Asthma.
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If someone's life is in danger or may be in danger
(Choleh Sh'yaish Bo Sakana)
- He must take any chometz medication, unless an equally effective non-chometz medication
is available - One may also take chometz medication to prevent a possible danger (sakana)
- This is true regardless of the form of the medication (i.e. swallow tablets & caplets, capsules, liquid & chewable tablets) but swallow tablets or caplets are preferred, if readily available
- Individuals in a dangerous (sakana) situation should not
1. Switch medications
2. Should continue with their regular prescriptions, whether or not they contain chometz
(unless a doctor advises otherwise)
Examples include the following
- Someone with an infection (except for those skin infections known to be non-life threatening,
for example - acne)
1. Should take prescribed antibiotics
2. One should finish the course that is prescibed. - An elderly person with the flu
- A pregnant woman whose life is at risk (with blood clotting disorder or toxemia) or who is in active labor or in danger of having a miscarriage
- A woman who has given birth
1. Within the past seven days
2. Who has postpartum complications that are or may become life threatening
3. This may apply for an extended period of time greater than seven days, depending upon
her condition.
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Someone whose life is not in danger
(Choleh Sh'ein Bo Sakana )
This includes anyone
- Who is bedridden
- Noticeably not functioning up to par due to pain or illness
- Has a fever which is not potentially life threatening
- One who suffers from chronic debilitating arthritis pain
- One who suffers from migraine headaches or mild depression
- A pregnant woman suffering from non-life threatening complications (e.g. lower back pain)
- A woman who has given birth between 7 and 30 days prior to Yom Tov without any known problems or danger (sakana) or who is experiencing non-life threatening postpartum complications
- A child under age six with any illness or discomfort
1. According to Jewish Law ('halacha) this child may swallow any tablet, caplet or capsule
regardless of whether or not it contains chometz
2. Unless an equally effective non-chometz medicine is available
When ever possible
one should use only medications that do not contain chometz
- It should be noted that even someone whose life is not in danger (choleh she'ain bo sakana_ may consume kitniyos (Mishna Brura 453:7)
- All chewable pills & liquid medication may be used only if they appear on the approved
Pesach list or if one can determine that they are chometz free even if the product contains kitniyos - Non-chometz formula & nutritional products (e.g. Ensure) which contain kitniyos are
permissible for use by infants & the elderly
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Slight discomfort (Mechush) OR In Good Health (Boh'ree)
One who is experiencing a slight discomfort (like slight joint pain or runny nose)
or
who is in good health
may only take products that are chometz-free & are not considered kitniyos
- If one must chew a tablet or take a liquid medication for a minor discomfort, he may do so if it appears on the approved medication list
- it should preferably be kitniyos free
- According to Jewish Law (halacha), it may be permissible to ingest a medication even if it contains kitniyos when the kitniyos are botel b'rov (not the majority of the item) since
60% (shishim) is not required– see Mishna Brura 453:9 - Since one who has a slight discomfort (mechush) or is in good health (boh'ree) may not consume kitniyos in a normal fashion (i.e. chew a pleasant tasting kitniyos tablet or kitniyos liquid), one should makae sure that the medication is not only chometz-free, but also kitniyos-free or at least confirm that the kitniyos is batel b'rov (not the majority of the item)
- In most cases information gathered for a medicine list is not based on a masghiah's
inspection of the facility but instead it's based on information provided by the manufacturer - Even though the information is reliable
1. It is better that one who has a slight discomfort (mechush) or is in good health, (boh'ree)
try not to take vitamins to maintain good health
2. If you feel you must have vitamins, don't take them in the normal manner unless these
items are certified for Passover
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