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Medications: Difference between revisions

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==Gel Caps - Not in the Normal Manner==
==Gel Caps - Not in the Normal Manner==
# One who is sick is permitted to eat a non-kosher food (which is normally ossur b'achilah) in an unusual manner.<ref>Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 155:3, Shach 14, Mishna Brurah O.C. 466:1. An example of this is giving someone non-kosher food through intravenous. </ref> Based on this, the opinion of some poskim is that swallowing a pill made from a [[gelatin]] coating is permitted, since it is for a <u>sick person</u> and it is not the usual manner of eating.<ref>Opinion of Harav Henkin zt”l quoted in Edos L’Yisroel page 132, opinion of Harav Shachter Shlita as expressed in OU document I-97. He adds that the gel-caps have no taste to them and are nifsal from feeding to a dog. [https://www.yutorah.org/sidebar/lecture.cfm/894931/rabbi-hershel-schachter/berachos-73-38b-39a-ta-am-matzah-and-maror-non-kosher-pills-kavush-kemevushal-kezayis-beriah/ Rav Schachter (Brachot Shiur 73 min 18-30)] ruled that strictly speaking it is permitted to take non-kosher pills. If kosher ones are available he should get those to avoid the spiritual determinants of non-kosher like Rama about sucking non-kosher milk. He explained that certainly if a person is a choleh shein bo sakana it is permitted since it is shelo kderech achilato. But furthermore, the gelatin pills are permitted since it is nifsal machila and even if it is reconstituted it isn’t considered non-kosher (Chavot Daat YD 103). There's no achshevei since it is eaten in a reconstituted form and not when it is mixed with other ingredients (Rav Chaim Ozer 3:31). That's in Rav Schachter's opinion why Rav Soloveitchik was lenient to take non-kosher pills. Also, Rabbi Yitzchak Abadi in Or Yitzchak 1:24 permits all medicines that are bitter or don't have a taste since they aren't food. He says that even though it is shelo kderech achila there's no isur derabbanan of achsheveh since it is for medicine. See Yachava Daat 2:60 who assumes it is shelo kderech achilato if it doesn't taste good.</ref> However, there are poskim who maintain that swallowing a pill is the regular manner of consumption.<ref>Refer to Nodeh B’Yehuda Y.D. 35, Pischei Teshuva Y.D. 155:6, Har Tzvi Y.D. 97, opinions of Harav Shlomo Zalman Aurbach zt”l and Harav Elyashiv Shlita quoted in Medicines and Kashrus page 57:footnote 17, Yeishiv Moshe page 165, Shemiras [[Shabbos]] K’hilchoso 40:footnote 169, Halichos Shlomo Moadim ([[Pesach]]) 1:page 69. This is the opinion of Harav Yisroel Belsky Shlita quoting the opinion of Harav Henkin zt”l, see www.koltorah.org. </ref> Others are lenient and maintain that swallowing a pill is considered an unusual manner.<ref>Halichos Shlomo 1:17:1 (although he is quoted in the footnote above as saying otherwise), see Toras Chaim (Chullin 120) who is lenient</ref> In addition, even those who are stringent by [[gelatin]], it would not apply to medicines. However, according to the stringent opinion above regarding [[gelatin]], one who only has a headache<ref>Refer to Halichos Shlomo Moadim ([[Pesach]]) pages 71-72 who is unsure if this should be permitted with a slight pain. See Minchas Shlomo 1:17:3. </ref> or slight discomfort<ref>This does not apply to one who is bedridden (Halichos Shlomo Moadim [[Pesach]]) pages 71-72:8. The Shach 13 says this heter of the Rama is even for a healthy person. See Mishnah L’melech Hilchos Yesodei Hatorah 5:8 in depth, Zera Emes 2:48. Refer to Pri Megadim M.Z. O.C. 328:11, Shagas Aryeh 74, Binas Adom 52:page 86, Shevet Ha’Levi 7:135 who argue. Harav Yisroel Belsky Shlita maintains if one has a headache he should not swallow gel-caps without wrapping it in a tissue. </ref> should take a pill which has no [[gelatin]] or wrap the gel-cap in a tissue (in the next issue we will iy"h continue our discussion on gel-caps).<ref>Refer to Mesora 14:page 92. Others say the custom is to be lenient with one who has even a headache (Chai Ha’Levi 3:111:2). </ref>
# One who is sick is permitted to eat a non-kosher food (which is normally ossur b'achilah) in an unusual manner.<ref>Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 155:3, Shach 14, Mishna Brurah O.C. 466:1. An example of this is giving someone non-kosher food through intravenous. </ref> Based on this, the opinion of some poskim is that swallowing a pill made from a [[gelatin]] coating is permitted, since it is for a <u>sick person</u> and it is not the usual manner of eating.<ref>Opinion of Harav Henkin zt”l quoted in Edos L’Yisroel page 132, opinion of Harav Shachter Shlita as expressed in OU document I-97. He adds that the gel-caps have no taste to them and are nifsal from feeding to a dog. [https://www.yutorah.org/sidebar/lecture.cfm/894931/rabbi-hershel-schachter/berachos-73-38b-39a-ta-am-matzah-and-maror-non-kosher-pills-kavush-kemevushal-kezayis-beriah/ Rav Schachter (Brachot Shiur 73 min 18-30)] ruled that strictly speaking it is permitted to take non-kosher pills. If kosher ones are available he should get those to avoid the spiritual determinants of non-kosher like Rama about sucking non-kosher milk. He explained that certainly if a person is a choleh shein bo sakana it is permitted since it is shelo kderech achilato. But furthermore, the gelatin pills are permitted since it is nifsal machila and even if it is reconstituted it isn’t considered non-kosher (Chavot Daat YD 103). There's no achshevei since it is eaten in a reconstituted form and not when it is mixed with other ingredients (Rav Chaim Ozer 3:31). That's in Rav Schachter's opinion why Rav Soloveitchik was lenient to take non-kosher pills. Also, Rabbi Yitzchak Abadi in Or Yitzchak 1:24 permits all medicines that are bitter or don't have a taste since they aren't food. He says that even though it is shelo kderech achila there's no isur derabbanan of achsheveh since it is for medicine.  
* See Yachava Daat 2:60 who assumes it is shelo kderech achilato if it doesn't taste good.
* [https://oukosher.org/halacha-yomis/many-medications-encased-gelatin-capsules-may-used/?category Rav Belsky] held that hard capsules can be eaten by a choleh and the soft capsules can be eaten in a tissue paper. This is only when there are no alternatives.</ref> However, there are poskim who maintain that swallowing a pill is the regular manner of consumption.<ref>Refer to Nodeh B’Yehuda Y.D. 35, Pischei Teshuva Y.D. 155:6, Har Tzvi Y.D. 97, opinions of Harav Shlomo Zalman Aurbach zt”l and Harav Elyashiv Shlita quoted in Medicines and Kashrus page 57:footnote 17, Yeishiv Moshe page 165, Shemiras [[Shabbos]] K’hilchoso 40:footnote 169, Halichos Shlomo Moadim ([[Pesach]]) 1:page 69. This is the opinion of Harav Yisroel Belsky Shlita quoting the opinion of Harav Henkin zt”l, see www.koltorah.org. </ref> Others are lenient and maintain that swallowing a pill is considered an unusual manner.<ref>Halichos Shlomo 1:17:1 (although he is quoted in the footnote above as saying otherwise), see Toras Chaim (Chullin 120) who is lenient</ref> In addition, even those who are stringent by [[gelatin]], it would not apply to medicines. However, according to the stringent opinion above regarding [[gelatin]], one who only has a headache<ref>Refer to Halichos Shlomo Moadim ([[Pesach]]) pages 71-72 who is unsure if this should be permitted with a slight pain. See Minchas Shlomo 1:17:3. </ref> or slight discomfort<ref>This does not apply to one who is bedridden (Halichos Shlomo Moadim [[Pesach]]) pages 71-72:8. The Shach 13 says this heter of the Rama is even for a healthy person. See Mishnah L’melech Hilchos Yesodei Hatorah 5:8 in depth, Zera Emes 2:48. Refer to Pri Megadim M.Z. O.C. 328:11, Shagas Aryeh 74, Binas Adom 52:page 86, Shevet Ha’Levi 7:135 who argue. Harav Yisroel Belsky Shlita maintains if one has a headache he should not swallow gel-caps without wrapping it in a tissue. </ref> should take a pill which has no [[gelatin]] or wrap the gel-cap in a tissue (in the next issue we will iy"h continue our discussion on gel-caps).<ref>Refer to Mesora 14:page 92. Others say the custom is to be lenient with one who has even a headache (Chai Ha’Levi 3:111:2). </ref>


==Children's Medication==
==Children's Medication==