Q&A from the Bais HaVaad Halacha Hotline

Fast Food

October 1, 2024

Q May I swallow a pill on Yom Kippur?

A If taken to alleviate discomfort rather than illness (see note in Halichos Shlomo 5:8), a pill is forbidden: If it is flavored, it is considered food, so swallowing it on Yom Kippur—even whole—is prohibited mide’Oreisa. If it is unflavored, it is forbidden mideRabanan (Mishnah Brurah 612:16).

If pills are taken as treatment for illness, there is dispensation:

If the condition is life threatening, any medication may be taken, because pikuach nefesh overrides even an issur de’Oreisa. If necessary, one may even down it with water (Igros Moshe O.C. 3:91). Some poskim require tainting the water (see below) to make it unpleasant (Chut Shani p. 165). Others allow plain water, but no more than needed for swallowing (Igros Moshe ibid; Teshuvos Vehanhagos 5:189).

Medication may even be taken prophylactically to prevent dangerous illness in a healthy person (Igros Moshe ibid).

An infectious disease is deemed life threatening by halacha if it can occasionally have fatal consequences if left untreated; consult a physician to determine whether this applies. If medical advice is unavailable, take the treatment, because even safeik pikuach nefesh overrides a de’Oreisa.

When treating a non-life-threatening illness, only Rabbinic prohibitions are overridden, so only unflavored pills may be swallowed, and without water (Igros Moshe ibid.). If swallowing is difficult, tainted water may be used (Halichos Shlomo ibid.). It suffices to add an off-taste (e.g., some soap) to the water (ibid.).

A flavored pill may be wrapped in thin paper and swallowed; eating this way is forbidden only mideRabanan (Mishnah Brurah ibid.), and the Chachamim permitted it for a choleh (Halichos Shlomo ibid.).