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Medications: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Medications.png | right | 100 px]]
[[Image:Medication.png | right | 100 px]]
Nowadays when one is not feeling up to par he takes a few medications and with Hashem's help feels better within a couple of days and goes back to his regular routine. There are many halachic issues with regard to medications which need to be addressed. Is a beracha recited on pleasant tasting medication such as cough syrup? Does one have to recite a beracha on water when ingesting a pill? Can one walk into the bathroom with medicine? Can one take pills on Shabbos? Is it permitted to take a gel-cap? Can one take liquid medication which is full of flavors? What about vitamins? These issues will be dealt with at length in the upcoming issues.
Nowadays when one is not feeling up to par he takes a few medications and with Hashem's help feels better within a couple of days and goes back to his regular routine. There are many halachic issues with regard to medications which need to be addressed. Is a beracha recited on pleasant tasting medication such as cough syrup? Does one have to recite a beracha on water when ingesting a pill? Can one walk into the bathroom with medicine? Can one take pills on Shabbos? Is it permitted to take a gel-cap? Can one take liquid medication which is full of flavors? What about vitamins? These issues will be dealt with at length in the upcoming issues.


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==Drinking Water for Medical Purposes ==
==Drinking Water for Medical Purposes ==
When one is taking a pill that does not taste pleasant and wants to drink water to mask the bad taste, no beracha is recited on the water.<ref>Aruch Ha’shulchan 204:18, Pnei Ha’shulchan page 146, Piskei Teshuvos 204:footnote 64, Binyan Sholom (old print) page 96, Ateres Shlomo 8:page 111.  Refer to Sheilas Rav 2:18:5. If one places water in liquid medicine to make it taste better no beracha is recited on the water (Sharei Ha’beracha 18:footnote 76). If one needs to drink water for medical purposes and he is not thirsty he should recite a beracha on something else and have in mind to exempt the water from a beracha (Harav Yisroel Belsky Shlita, see Eishel Avraham Butchatch 204:7). </ref> The same is true if one is taking a pill and is not thirsty.<ref>Ben Ish Chai Mattos 1:12, Aruch Ha’shulchan 204:18, Miyum Ha’halacha 22, Rivevos Ephraim 6:76, Pischei Halacha Berochos 4:8, Oz Nedberu 10:22. Harav Shlomo Zalman Aurbach zt”l maintains one may drink more water than needed for a pill and a beracha would not be required on that water either (Ve’aleihu Lo Yeibol 1:pages 110-111). </ref> Before a woman goes for an ultra sound/sonogram she is asked to drink water. No beracha is recited on the water.<ref>Refer to Yufei Leleiv 204:10, Sdei Chemed Berochos 33:page 260, Me’am Loez Yisro 247:page 580, Pnei Ha’shulchan page 146, Sharei Ha’beracha 18:footnote 76. </ref> It would seem that a nursing woman, who needs to drink a lot of water, would not recite a beracha on the water if she is not thirsty.<ref>Refer to Toras Hayoledes 62:3,  Beracha Achrona page 196:5.</ref> However, others maintain that she should take food whose beracha is shehakol and exempt the beracha on the water.<ref>Toras Hayoledes ibid. </ref> Many times, after one brushes his teeth or rinses with mouthwash, he drinks water to rinse out his mouth, one does not recite a beracha on such water.<ref>Sharei Ha’beracha 18:footnote 76.</ref> If one has a sore throat and drinks water to clear his throat, it would seem that a beracha is not recited.<ref>Harav Yisroel Belsky Shlita.</ref> (In all the above situations, if one is thirsty, a beracha is recited). One who drinks a tasty beverage to take his pill would recite a beracha on the beverage.<ref>Chesed L’alafim 204-205:4, Mishnah Berurah 204:42, Ateres Shlomo 8:page 111, Yalkut Yosef 204:page 436.  </ref>
# When one is taking a pill that does not taste pleasant and wants to drink water to mask the bad taste, no beracha is recited on the water.<ref>Aruch Ha’shulchan 204:18, Pnei Ha’shulchan page 146, Piskei Teshuvos 204:footnote 64, Binyan Sholom (old print) page 96, Ateres Shlomo 8:page 111.  Refer to Sheilas Rav 2:18:5. If one places water in liquid medicine to make it taste better no beracha is recited on the water (Sharei Ha’beracha 18:footnote 76). If one needs to drink water for medical purposes and he is not thirsty he should recite a beracha on something else and have in mind to exempt the water from a beracha (Harav Yisroel Belsky Shlita, see Eishel Avraham Butchatch 204:7). </ref> The same is true if one is taking a pill and is not thirsty.<ref>Ben Ish Chai Mattos 1:12, Aruch Ha’shulchan 204:18, Miyum Ha’halacha 22, Rivevos Ephraim 6:76, Pischei Halacha Berochos 4:8, Oz Nedberu 10:22. Harav Shlomo Zalman Aurbach zt”l maintains one may drink more water than needed for a pill and a beracha would not be required on that water either (Ve’aleihu Lo Yeibol 1:pages 110-111). </ref>  
# Before a woman goes for an ultra sound/sonogram she is asked to drink water. No beracha is recited on the water.<ref>Refer to Yufei Leleiv 204:10, Sdei Chemed Berochos 33:page 260, Me’am Loez Yisro 247:page 580, Pnei Ha’shulchan page 146, Sharei Ha’beracha 18:footnote 76. </ref> It would seem that a nursing woman, who needs to drink a lot of water, would not recite a beracha on the water if she is not thirsty.<ref>Refer to Toras Hayoledes 62:3,  Beracha Achrona page 196:5.</ref> However, others maintain that she should take food whose beracha is shehakol and exempt the beracha on the water.<ref>Toras Hayoledes ibid. </ref>  
# Many times, after one brushes his teeth or rinses with mouthwash, he drinks water to rinse out his mouth, one does not recite a beracha on such water.<ref>Sharei Ha’beracha 18:footnote 76.</ref>
# If one has a sore throat and drinks water to clear his throat, it would seem that a beracha is not recited.<ref>Harav Yisroel Belsky Shlita.</ref> (In all the above situations, if one is thirsty, a beracha is recited). One who drinks a tasty beverage to take his pill would recite a beracha on the beverage.<ref>Chesed L’alafim 204-205:4, Mishnah Berurah 204:42, Ateres Shlomo 8:page 111, Yalkut Yosef 204:page 436.  </ref>


==Medicine mixed with a food or water==
==Medicine mixed with a food or water==
It is very common to take a powdered medicine and mix it with a food or water. Some may say that since the food which the medicine is mixed into is a tafel, no beracha is recited. Nonetheless, others say one should recite a beracha on the mixture.<ref>Refer to Journal of Halacha and Contemporary Society 53:pages 78-79. </ref> If the food (not medicine) is not a shehakol,<ref>For example chunky applesauce. </ref> the Rama<ref>212:1. </ref> holds the beracha is a shehakol regardless of the beracha of the food, while others argue with this ruling.<ref>Refer to Magen Avraham 4, Gr’a,  Mishnah Berurah 4-5, 10, see Taz 7. Refer to Halacha U’refuah 3:page 284. </ref> The Mishnah Berurah<ref>212:4-5. </ref> maintains that one should avoid this situation when possible.<ref>Some say one should eat the other food before the medicine and then consume the medicine (Halacha U’refuah 3:page 284). </ref>
# It is very common to take a powdered medicine and mix it with a food or water. Some may say that since the food which the medicine is mixed into is a tafel, no beracha is recited. Nonetheless, others say one should recite a beracha on the mixture.<ref>Refer to Journal of Halacha and Contemporary Society 53:pages 78-79. </ref> If the food (not medicine) is not a shehakol,<ref>For example chunky applesauce. </ref> the Rama<ref>212:1. </ref> holds the beracha is a shehakol regardless of the beracha of the food, while others argue with this ruling.<ref>Refer to Magen Avraham 4, Gr’a,  Mishnah Berurah 4-5, 10, see Taz 7. Refer to Halacha U’refuah 3:page 284. </ref> The Mishnah Berurah<ref>212:4-5. </ref> maintains that one should avoid this situation when possible.<ref>Some say one should eat the other food before the medicine and then consume the medicine (Halacha U’refuah 3:page 284). </ref>


==Medicine taken during a Meal==
==Medicine taken during a Meal==
When one consumes a medicine during a meal a separate beracha is required since the medicine is not part of the meal.<ref>Shevet Ha’kehusi 3:78. </ref>
# When one consumes a medicine during a meal a separate beracha is required since the medicine is not part of the meal.<ref>Shevet Ha’kehusi 3:78. </ref>


==Medicine in Pocket While Sleeping ==
==Medicine in Pocket While Sleeping ==