Pesach Medicine List

GUIDELINES FOR MEDICINES CHECKED FOR PASSOVER 5785 - 2025

The Kashrut Authority has again this year investigated a large range of prescription medicines. While there are leniencies for certain oral medicines on Pesach (as outlined below in paragraph #3), the Jewish People - "Holy and Pure" have customarily tried to avoid using leniencies with oral medications on Pesach when at all possible. As such they have always tried to use oral medications that are Chametz free. This is especially the case when treating a mild malady such as a headache or a cold.

Furthermore, even in the case of more serious illnesses there are many medications that have a chametz free identical substitute. However, even in cases where a substitute may be available, the substitution must not be done by the patient alone, but must at all times be done under the guidance of their medical practitioner and/or pharmacist.

KEY GUIDELINES

• CHAMETZ MEDICATIONS THAT COME IN CAPSULE FORM OR IN A BITTER OR INEDIBLE PILL OR TABLET ARE CONSIDERED SUITABLE FOR PESACH
• CHAMETZ  MEDICATION THAT HAS A PLEASANT TASTE MAY BE PLACED IN A CAPSULE AND CONSUMED ON PESACH. MOST CHEMISTS SELL CAPSULES.
• WHEN IN DOUBT PLACE THE MEDICATION IN A CAPSULE
• ANY PLEASANT CHAMETZ MEDICATION THAT CAN NOT BE PLACED IN A CAPSULE AND IS CHAMETZ SHOULD BE DISCUSSED WITH YOUR RAV OR RAV GUTNICK
• ANY MEDICATION THAT COMES IN A NON FOOD FORM SUCH AS CREAMS SPRAYS AND LOTIONS MAY BE USED ON PESACH

The following are more detailed guidelines for the use of medicines on Pesach:

1. Medications for any serious condition such as (G-d forbid) cardiac disease, diabetes, cancer, mental illness or epilepsy must not be changed or substituted without full permission of your medical practitioner.

2. All medications, if possible, should be purchased before Pesach.

3. All medications that are in non-chewable, otherwise inedible, capsules or tablets - are acceptable.

4. All inedible topical medications (creams, ointments, sprays & lotions) and suppositories are acceptable.

5. All ‘puffers’ (inhalers/turbohalers) that are inedible or have an unpleasant taste are acceptable.

6. All nasal sprays that are inedible or have an unpleasant taste are acceptable.

7. All eye drops and/or ear drops that are inedible or have an unpleasant taste are acceptable.

8. Medicines applied to the gums, lips or teeth that are inedible, but have a pleasant taste, should preferably be

         Chametz free however if there is no Chametz free substitute they are permissible.

9. Liquid medicines, chewable pills, and pills coated with a flavoured glaze are all edible and may contain

          Chametz. Therefore:

1. 1. If they do contain Chametz, if possible, they should be replaced - under the direction of a doctor or pharmacist - with a Chametz free suitable substitute from the list;

1. 2.  if no substitute from the list is available then they should be replaced with a non-chewable, uncoated pill as per 3 above or placed in an empty capsule (available from gaslight or any chemist).

1. 3. If substitution or any of the above solutions are not possible and the person is in a state of sakanah or safek sakanah (any possible danger to human life), they may own and consume the medication. The same applies if the condition is not yet a safek sakanah but may deteriorate. Your local rabbi or the KA should be consulted as to whether it is preferable to purchase the medicine before or on Pesach, and as to how to dispose of the medicine once the danger passes. In any case, if there is no substitute and there is even a remote danger to life, the medication should be taken.

1. 4. If substitution or placing in a capsule is not possible and a doctor determines that there is no possibility of sakana if the person does not take the medicine, your local rabbi or the KA should be consulted. The KA may be able to determine that the medicine does not contain Chametz or may be able to decide that the medicine may be consumed due to the seriousness of the patient’s condition.

10. As stated, tasteless pills or capsules designed to be swallowed may be used on Pesach even if they contain chametz, since they are a tasteless  non-food and inedible.

1. 1. Rule 10,  covers most medicines used by adults. It is permissible to grind pills, even on Shabbat and Yom Tov, that are normally not designed for chewing and are therefore permissible for Pesach, and mix that powder into food items so that a child can take a required medicine on Pesach. However a doctor or pharmacist must be consulted to make sure that the child is getting the correct dosage and that the potency of the pill is not compromised by grinding it up.

1. 2. Liquid or chewable medications for children are edible and flavoured and therefore required to be Kosher for Pesach. If a pesachdik alternative cannot be found and the medication is essential, one should contact their Rabbi or Rabbi Gutnick for further advice.

Rabbi Gutnick has access to a large database of medications and their ingredients and is available to assist in any “shaala” relating to medication on Pesach. Rabbi Gutnick can be contacted specifically for Pesach medication questions only, on the following whatsapp number: + 61 411 757 372

In the compilation of this list the following general rules have been used:

1. Kitniyot is permitted in medications.
2. Products are declared P only when we have sufficient information to declare the medicine chametz free based upon information published by the manufacturer. No item has been produced under rabbinic supervision.
3. Products are declared CH if they contain ingredients that are chametz or may be chametz.
4. Medications about which we have insufficient information but have examined the formulas I

Key:

CH: Contains chametz or possible chametz. P: Chametz free

I: Insufficient info

Click here for the medicine list