Medicine on Shabbat: Difference between revisions
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==Taking Medicine== | ==Taking Medicine== | ||
===If one has a minor condition (Meychush BeAlma)=== | ===If one has a minor condition (Meychush BeAlma)=== | ||
# If someone has a minor condition which hurts such as a tooth ache, throat ache, head ache, cold, | # If someone has a minor condition which hurts such as a tooth ache, throat ache, head ache, cold, or cough it is forbidden to take any medicine. However, someone who is in a lot of pain to the point that he is laying in bed or he can't function normally due to his weakness, as is the case with a migraine, it permitted to take medicine.<Ref>Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 34:1,3 and Rav Mordechai Eliyahu's comment on Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 91:1. The Weekly Halachah Discussion (Rabbi Doniel Neustadt) writes that although contemporary poskim debate whether nowadays we can be more lenient with taking medication on [[Shabbat]] because of the change in technique of production of medicines, the general consensus is to reject this argument. See Minchas [[Shabbat]] 91:9; Ketzos ha-Shulchan 134:7; Chelkas Yaakov 4:41; and Tzitz Eliezer 8:15:15. See also [http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/739326/Rabbi_Aryeh_Lebowitz/Ten_Minute_Halacha_-_Medicine_on_Shabbat_Part_I Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz on YUTorah.org]. The Yalkut Yosef 328:52 writes that a choleh shein bo skana (sick in bed) can take pills. He adds that in general someone who is in a lot of pain but isn't choleh shein bo sakana may not take the pills and only makes two exceptions, for someone who has a big headache and someone who has a big stomach ache.</ref> | ||
# Some allow | # Some poskim allow a person who is accustomed to take pain killers for a head ache or tooth ache to take pain killers on [[Shabbat]] if otherwise he will be in pain.<ref> Yalkut Yosef ([[Shabbat]] v. 4, pp. 408-9) writes that some say that one may take pain killers on [[Shabbat]] because they don't cure but only remove pain, and some disagree. He concludes that one should only be lenient if a person is accustomed to taking such pain killers and if one doesn't take them one will be in pain. On page 143 in discussing the same leniency he specifically mentions pills that contain paracetamol which is the active ingredient in Tylenol, a pain killer.</ref> | ||
===If one has a sickness (Choleh Shein Bo Sakana)=== | ===If one has a sickness (Choleh Shein Bo Sakana)=== | ||
# 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” (Choleh Shein Bo Sakana) and he is permitted to take oral [[medications]]. <ref>Mishna Brurah 328:121 permits taking an oral medication without any shinui (alteration from the normal procedure). Yalkut Yosef ([[Shabbat]], vol 4, pg 129) and 39 Melachos (Rabbi Ribiat, vol 2, pg 492) agree with the Mishna Brurah. [http://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=1095&pgnum=112 Mishkenot Yacov O.C. 117] seems to disagree. | # 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” (Choleh Shein Bo Sakana) and he is permitted to take oral [[medications]]. <ref>Mishna Brurah 328:121 permits taking an oral medication without any shinui (alteration from the normal procedure). Yalkut Yosef ([[Shabbat]], vol 4, pg 129) and 39 Melachos (Rabbi Ribiat, vol 2, pg 492) agree with the Mishna Brurah. [http://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=1095&pgnum=112 Mishkenot Yacov O.C. 117] seems to disagree. | ||
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# For a migraine headache any oral [[medications]] may be taken. <Ref> The Weekly Halachah Discussion (Rabbi Doniel Neustadt)</ref> | # For a migraine headache any oral [[medications]] may be taken. <Ref> The Weekly Halachah Discussion (Rabbi Doniel Neustadt)</ref> | ||
===Mouthwash=== | ===Mouthwash=== | ||
# | # It is permitted to use mouthwash on [[Shabbat]].<ref> See Beer Moshe 1:34:7page 78 is lenient as is Rivevot Ephraim 2:115:23:page 192, 3:536:6, 4:97:5, 6:195, Nishmas [[Shabbos]] 5:318, Cheshev Ha’efod 2:59 </ref> See the [[Brushing Teeth on Shabbat]] page for more on this topic. | ||
===Nosebleed=== | ===Nosebleed=== | ||
# For a nosebleed bleeding may be stopped with a tissue or a napkin. If none is available, a cloth napkin may be used. <ref> Mishna Brurah 328:146 </ref> | # For a nosebleed bleeding may be stopped with a tissue or a napkin. If none is available, a cloth napkin may be used. <ref> Mishna Brurah 328:146 </ref> | ||
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# One is permitted to cut a tablet in half on [[Shabbos]], and there is no concern of "mechatech" (cutting) on [[Shabbos]].<ref>Shemiras [[Shabbos]] K’hilchoso 33:4, Shulchan Shlomo 314:13:3, Avnei Yushfei 4:58 quoting the opinion of Harav Elyashiv Shlita. Refer to there footnote 30 for the reason. </ref> | # One is permitted to cut a tablet in half on [[Shabbos]], and there is no concern of "mechatech" (cutting) on [[Shabbos]].<ref>Shemiras [[Shabbos]] K’hilchoso 33:4, Shulchan Shlomo 314:13:3, Avnei Yushfei 4:58 quoting the opinion of Harav Elyashiv Shlita. Refer to there footnote 30 for the reason. </ref> | ||
==Purchasing the | ==Purchasing the Medicine== | ||
# 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. <Ref> The Weekly Halachah Discussion (Rabbi Doniel Neustadt)</ref> | # 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. <Ref> The Weekly Halachah Discussion (Rabbi Doniel Neustadt)</ref> | ||
