Medicine on Shabbat

One of several rabbinic decrees that our Sages enacted in order to guard the sanctity of Shabbat concerns the use of medications. In the opinion and experience of the Rabbis, easy access to medicine could lead to the transgression of certain Shabbat Labors. While issuing the decree, however, the Rabbis were lenient in certain cases of those suffering pain or distress. (See the footnote for some background). The details of what's permissible and what's forbidden is described below:

Taking Medicine

If one has a minor condition

1. If someone has a minor condition which hurts such as a tooth ache, throat ache, head ache, cold, and cough it is forbidden to take any medicine such as pills or drops. However, someone who is in a lot of pain and because of it he is in bed or his body is weakened such as a migraine it permitted to take a medicine.
2. Some allow someone who is accustomed to take pain killers for a head ache or tooth ache and if he doesn't take it will be in pain to make pain killers on Shabbat.

If one has a serious sickness

1. If one has fever, feels weak all over, or feels bad enough to require bed rest, he can be classified as a “patient not dangerously ill” and he is permitted to take oral medications.
2. Since “requiring bed rest” and “weak all over” are subjective terms, it is up to each individual to determine his personal pain threshold. There is no requirement to be overly stringent when judging the degree of illness.

Infants

1. Healthy infants and babies until the age of three (and according to some poskim even older children till the age of six or nine) are also halachically classified as “patients not dangerously ill.” (In the final analysis, it all depends on the strength and maturity of the child.) Therefore, they are permitted to take all forms of medicine, provided, of course, that no Biblical prohibitions are transgressed.

Preparing medicine from before Shabbat

1. One may crush a capsule or tablet of medicine into a food or drink before Shabbat (so it becomes disguised by the food) and then eat the food or drink on Shabbat.

Continuing to take a daily dosage

1. Although one who is not classified as “ill” may not begin taking medicine on Shabbat, still, many hold that one who requires daily medication for an ongoing condition may continue doing so on Shabbat as well. Some say that one may only take an ongoing medication on Shabbat if skipping a day of medication would be detrimental to the patient's health or if the medication must be taken for a number of consecutive days such that it is impossible not to take it on Shabbat.

Non-medical treatment

Using a Band Aid

1. It is permitted to put on a band aid on a wound.
2. According to Ashkenazim, one should not remove a band aid on Shabbat if there is hair in the area of the band aid. However, if it is painful one may remove it. However, Sephardim are more lenient as long as there is a need to remove it, it's permissible.
3. Most authorities permit removing the Band-Aid from the protective tabs, while some are stringent and so to satisfy all opinions one may prepare Band-Aids for Shabbat use by peeling off their protective tabs and re-sealing them before Shabbat.

Cleaning a wound

1. It is permitted to clean and bandage a wound or to pour hydrogen peroxide over it.

Braces

1. Braces may be worn on Shabbat because there is no medicine for aligning teeth properly.

Specific conditions

Abscess

1. An abscess may be squeezed to relieve pressure from pus, even if some blood is secreted in the process.

Acne

1. All medication for acne may not be taken on Shabbat.

Angina

1. All medication for angina are permitted to be taken on Shabbat.

Arthritis

1. Anti-inflammatory medication for mild arthritis are forbidden.

Asthma

1. All oral and breathing medications for mild asthma are permitted to be taken on Shabbat.

Athlete’s foot

1. One may not use any medication for athlete’s foot on Shabbat.

Back or neck brace

1. One may put on or remove a back or neck brace on Shabbat.

Bee sting

1. If one has a bee or wasp sting the stinger may be removed and the area may be washed with ice water, lemon juice or vinegar, etc. The area may not be soaked, however, in those liquids.
2. One may use liquid or spray insect repellent on Shabbat.

Birth control

1. It's permissible to take birth control pills on Shabbat (assuming she received halachic permission to take these pills).

Bone fracture

1. For a simple bone fracture a non-Jew may be asked to do anything necessary, e.g., make a phone call, drive a car, take x-rays or put on a cast. [If a non-Jew is not available, some poskim permit a Jew to do these acts if they are done with a shinui, in an abnormal manner. ] If there is even a small chance of internal bleeding, e.g., the thigh or pelvis bone was fractured, or if the elbow was shattered, all Shabbat restrictions are lifted.

Cellulites

1. Since cellulitis may be life-threatening immediate medical attention is required.

Cold

1. For a cold one may not take medications or vitamins. unless one is experiencing discomfort in his whole body or is bedridden. However, one may eat chicken soup or tea with honey to obtain relief.

Cough

1. Cough–medication may not be taken. If the cough may be an indication of pneumonia or asthma, medication is permitted.

Diabetes

1. All necessary medications for diabetes may be taken on Shabbat.

Diarrhea

1. For diarrhea one may not take medication unless one is in severe pain or weak all over. Prune juice or any other food or drink is permitted. A hot water bottle is permitted when one experiences strong pains.

Chapped hands

1. For dried (or chapped) hands it is prohibited to rub them with either oil, ointment (Vaseline) or lotion. One who regularly uses a pourable, liquid lotion or oil on his hands (whether they are chapped or not) may do so on Shabbat, too, even if his hands are chapped.

Chapped lips

1. For dried or cracked lips one may not apply chap stick or any other medication, liquid or otherwise.

Ear infection

1. For an ear infection all medications are permitted. Cotton balls may be inserted. Even if the infection is no longer present, prescribed medicine begun on a weekday must be continued until finished in order to avoid a relapse.

Eye inflammation

1. For an eye inflammation eye drops (or ointment) may be instilled in the eye. If the eye is not inflamed but merely irritated, no medication is permitted.

Fever

1. For a fever any oral medications may be taken. A mercury thermometer may be used. If a person is suffering from high-grade fever, a non-Jew may be asked to do whatever the patient needs in order to feel better. If the cause of the fever is unknown, a doctor should be consulted.

Headache

1. For a headache medication should not be taken. If the headache is severe enough so that one feels weak all over or is forced to go to bed, medication may be taken. One who is unsure if he has reached that stage of illness may be lenient and take pain- relieving medication. 

Heartburn

1. For heartburn foods which will have a soothing effect may be eaten. Some poskim permit taking anti-acid medication while others are stringent. If the medicine is prescribed by a doctor, one may be lenient.

Hemorrhoids

1. For a mild case of hemorrhoids medication may not be taken. For a severe case, it is permitted to sit in a “sitz bath” (with water that heated before Shabbat), or use medicated pads or suppositories.

Herniated disc

1. For a herniated disc (back and leg pain) ice packs or hot packs are permitted. Physical therapy exercises, e.g. stretching, are permitted. If the pain is severe to the degree that the entire body is in pain, painkillers or other medications are permitted as well.

Indigestion

1. One may take a leisurely walk in order to help digestion.
2. One may drink prune juice in order to act as a laxative.

Infection

1. For an infection all medications are permitted.

Lactose

1. For lactose intolerance one may not take enzyme supplement tablets. But it is permitted to add enzyme drops to liquid dairy foods before Shabbat and drink the dairy on Shabbat.

Migraine

1. For a migraine headache any oral medications may be taken.

Nosebleed

1. For a nosebleed bleeding may be stopped with a tissue or a napkin. If none is available, a cloth napkin may be used.

Retainer

1. One may insert and remove a retainer on Shabbat.

Scab

1. It is permitted to remove a scab as long as blood is not drawn from the wound.

Sleep disorder

1. There are conflicting views among contemporary poskim about taking sleeping pills or No-Doze pills. One who is weak all over or bedridden may take them. Cotton balls may be used as ear plugs. It is permitted to use pliable ear plugs, which are made from a wax-like material that spreads to fill the cavity of the ear.

Sore throat

1. For a sore throat medication may not be taken. Gargling is prohibited. Drinking tea or any other hot drink, or sucking a candy, is permitted even if the intention is for medicinal purposes.

Splinter

1. A splinter under the skin may be extracted with the fingers, or with tweezers or a needle. If, unavoidably, a little blood is secreted in the process, it is of no consequence.

Sprain

1. For a sprain if the patient is not experiencing severe pain, nothing may be done. If the patient is experiencing severe pain, medication may be taken and a massage may be given. A makeshift splint may be applied, provided that no Shabbat Labors are transgressed.

Stitches

1. Only a non-Jew is allowed to stitch any wound, even if the stitching is done only for cosmetic reasons. A Jew may place a butterfly bandage or steri-strips to close a simple laceration or cut. Surgical skin closure glue may also be used.

Stopping bleeding

1. Pressure may be applied to a cut to stop bleeding. Sucking or squeezing out blood is prohibited.

Strep throat

1. For a strep throat all oral medications may be taken. Even if the infection is no longer present, the prescribed medicine begun on a weekday must be continued until finished. A culture may be taken by a non-Jew.

Sunburn

1. For a ordinary sunburn medications are not permitted.

Sweating

1. It is permitted to sprinkle baby powder on those parts of the body which are perspiring.

Swelling

1. It is permitted to press a knife, etc. against the skin to prevent or minimize swelling. It is permitted to wash or soak the swollen area in water.It is permitted to place a compress, ice (placed in plastic bag) or any frozen item over a swollen area.

Toothache

1. A minor (cavity) toothache may not be treated with painkillers, but one is permitted to drink whiskey, etc., provided that it is swallowed immediately. A severe toothache (to the point where one feels weak all over) or gum infection may be treated with oral medication. If the tooth needs to be extracted, a non-Jew may be asked to do so.

Wound

1. Cuts and abrasions may be washed or soaked in water. Hydrogen peroxide may be poured over a cut. It is not permitted, however, to soak absorbent cotton or paper in such a solution and then wash the wound with it. The wound may be covered with a non-medicated Band-Aid.

Purchasing the medicine

1. In situations where one is considered “ill” and is permitted to take medicine on Shabbat, it is also permitted to ask a non-Jew to drive to a drugstore, buy medicine and bring it to him.

Specific medicines

Foods and drinks

1. Even someone with a minor ailment may eat food which healthy people eat even if one’s intention is for improving one’s health. For example, someone who has a head ache may eat honey, a lemon, or suck on candy. Someone who has a hoarse throat may swallow a raw egg.
2. Foods and drinks are permitted even when they are consumed for medicinal purposes. For example, one may have tea for a sore throat on Shabbat.

Vitamins

1. If the purpose of the vitamin is to serve as a food supplement it is permitted to take such a vitamin on Shabbat.
2. If the purpose of the vitamin is to strengthen a weak body or to relieve certain symptoms, in the opinion of many poskim, one may not take those vitamins on Shabbat.

Elective surgery

1. One should make sure to schedule a non emergency surgery in the first three days of the week but not on or after Wednesday. However, after the fact and if one did the surgery at such a time and there is a situation of Pikuach Nefesh it is totally permissible to violate Shabbat like any other sick person in danger. Sephardim could be lenient to schedule such a surgery on Wednesday but not past Thursday.

Inducing labor

1. It is permissible for a pregnant woman who is past her term to receive a hormone infusion to induce labor if the doctor feels that there danger to the life of the mother or fetus.

Caesarian section

1. If according to the doctor a women has to have a caesarian section and she can choose to schedule the surgery, she should schedule for the first three days of the week and not Wednesday through Friday.

A doctor on call

1. A doctor who is on call and there is a sick patient under his or her care, some say that the doctor should stay in the hospital or nearby so that the doctor will not have to travel on Shabbat, while others are lenient if it will ruin the doctor and his family’s oneg Shabbat.

Related Pages

1. Tochen (grinding)
2. Brushing Teeth on Shabbat

Credits

Halachipedia is very thankful to Rabbi Doniel Neustadt who gave Halachipedia permission to use his valuable article on this topic to improve the Halachipedia page.