Author: MuslimMed

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Vaccination Against Hepatitis A

MuslimMed

Prepared by Mufti Adil Farooki MD, Mawlana Mateen Khan MDو and Dr. Ramzan Judge, PharmD Summary: All three vaccines against hepatitis A that are available in the United States contain impermissible ingredients.  However, Muslims requiring vaccination against hepatitis A should only use Havrix or the combination Hepatitis A/B vaccine Twinrix. Vaqta should only be used when Havrix is unavailable or is contraindicated, because it contains an additional impermissible ingredient.   Background: From the CDC[1]: “Hepatitis A is caused by infection with HAV…HAV is acquired by mouth (through fecal-oral transmission) and replicates in the liver. After 10-12 days, the virus is present … Continue reading Vaccination Against Hepatitis A

Hepatitis B VaccinesLeave a comment

Vaccination Against Hepatitis B

MuslimMed

Vaccination Against Hepatitis B Prepared by Mufti Adil Farooki, MD, Mawlana Mateen Khan, MD and Dr. Ramzan Judge, PharmD Summary: The hepatitis B vaccines Engerix-B, Recombivax HB, and Heplisav B are permissible for Muslims to use, while PreHevBrio is not permissible.  The hepatitis A/B combination vaccine Twinrix is not permissible to use except in cases where hepatitis A vaccination is necessary (refer to Discussions and Recommendations below). The combination vaccine Pediarix (Hepatitis B, DTaP, Polio) is not permissible to use except in cases where vaccination against DTaP and Polio are necessary (refer to Discussions and Recommendations below).  The combination vaccine … Continue reading Vaccination Against Hepatitis B

Vitamin D, Vitamins & SupplementsLeave a comment

Vitamin D: Islamic Ruling on 50,000 IU Capsules

MuslimMed

Question: I am very deficient in vitamin D3. I was prescribed a 6-week course of one gel capsule of Vitamin D 50,000 IU weekly.  My concern is that typically gel capsules are made from gelatin. I want to know if this specific medicine would be okay for me to take and whether it is common to have pork-sourced gelatin. Answer: Bismihi taʻālā Patients with Vitamin D deficiency are often prescribed capsules that contain 50,000 international units (IU). These prescription capsules contain gelatin, which is impermissible to consume, because it is sourced from pork or non-Islamically slaughtered animals.[i]  According to the … Continue reading Vitamin D: Islamic Ruling on 50,000 IU Capsules

Insulin Pumps and CGMLeave a comment

Insulin Pumps and CGM Devices: Islamic Permissibility of Use During Ghusl

MuslimMed

Question: My query is regarding the use of insulin pumps (e.g., Omnipod) and continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGM) (e.g., Freestyle Libre, Dexcom G6) for use in Type 1 Diabetic patients. These items are only meant for one-time use and are also very expensive to purchase. A needle is inserted through the skin and covered with an adhesive. Removal of the sensor will result in having to discard the sensor or pump item. Can it be considered valid to perform ghusl by passing water over them instead of removing the sensor/pump or catheter insertion requiring it to be permanently discarded? Answer: … Continue reading Insulin Pumps and CGM Devices: Islamic Permissibility of Use During Ghusl

Influenza Vaccines 2020-20211 Comment

Islamically Permissible Influenza Vaccines Available in the US for 2020-2021 Season

MuslimMed

Prepared by Mawlana Dr. Mateen A. Khan, MD and Dr. Ramzan Judge, PharmD Summary Permissible influenza vaccines in the US for 2020-2021 season FluadTM Trivalent FluadTM Quadrivalent Fluzone High-DoseTM Quadrivalent AfluriaTM FluarixTM FluLavalTM FluzoneTM Quadrivalent Impermissible influenza vaccines in the US for 2020-2021 season FlublokTM FluMistTM FlucelvaxTM Discussion Background on Influenza Influenza (commonly known as the flu) is a seasonal viral illness carrying significant health, economic, and social burden. For the past nine years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that every year 9.3-49 million symptomatic illnesses, 4.3-23 million medical visits, 140,000-960,000 hospitalizations, and 12,000-79,000 deaths are attributed to seasonal influenza. For the … Continue reading Islamically Permissible Influenza Vaccines Available in the US for 2020-2021 Season

ODT and SL Medications While FastingLeave a comment

Use of Orally Dissolving and Sublingual Medications While Fasting

MuslimMed

Question: Do orally dissolving or sublingual medications like ondansetron and lorazepam break the fast?  Answer: Bismihi Ta’ala Orally dissolving tablets (ODT) and sublingual (SL) routes allow for mucosal absorption of medications. This is particularly beneficial in patients with difficulty swallowing (dysphagia). It also bypasses gastric and enteral breakdown and liver first-pass metabolism. The medication must first be diluted into saliva before absorption into the mucosa. The patient must avoid eating, drinking, smoking, and possibly talking to keep the tablet in place to dissolve and give time to transfer from the saliva into the mucosa. This time is variable depending on … Continue reading Use of Orally Dissolving and Sublingual Medications While Fasting

TamifluLeave a comment

Islamic Permissibility of Tamiflu

MuslimMed

Summary: Muslims should avoid consuming Tamiflu capsules and must instead either use the suspension form or open the capsule and consume the contents of the capsule without ingesting the capsule itself.  Question: Are Tamiflu capsules permissible for Muslims to use? Answer: Bismihi Ta’ala Tamiflu, and its generic equivalent oseltamivir, is an influenza neuraminidase inhibitor that is used for the treatment and prevention of influenza infections[i].  The medication is available in capsule and suspension forms. The suspension does not contain any Islamically unlawful ingredients and is therefore permissible for Muslims to use[ii].  The capsule form contains porcine gelatin in the capsule, … Continue reading Islamic Permissibility of Tamiflu

Typhoid/Enteric FeverLeave a comment

Vaccination Against Typhoid/Enteric Fever

MuslimMed

Prepared by Mufti Adil Farooki, MD, Shaykh Mateen Khan, MD and Dr. Ramzan Judge, PharmD Summary: The injectable vaccine Typhim Vi is permissible for Muslims as a vaccine for typhoid fever and is preferred over oral Vivotif. Background: Enteric fever, also known as “typhoid fever”, is a severe systemic illness characterized by fever and abdominal pain caused by the bacteria Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi. Typhoid fever infects roughly 21.6 million people (incidence of 3.6 per 1,000 population) and kills an estimated 200,000 people every year[1]. From the CDC[2]: “People who are actively ill with typhoid fever and people who are … Continue reading Vaccination Against Typhoid/Enteric Fever

Use of Vaccines with Impermissible Ingredients1 Comment

An Islamic Basis for the Use of Vaccines with Impermissible Ingredients

MuslimMed

Prepared by Mufti Adil Farooki, MD. Approved by Mufti Abdul Muqtadir Sikander Download PDF Background on Vaccination A vaccine is a “product that stimulates a person’s immune system to produce immunity to a specific disease, protecting the person from that disease”[1]. Vaccination is the process of administrating a vaccine, most commonly by an injection, with the immediate goal of achieving “active immunity” in the recipient of the vaccine.  Active immunity involves the “stimulation of the immune system to produce antigen-specific humoral (antibody) and cellular immunity”, and can last for many years, sometimes even a lifetime[2].   Vaccination benefits the immunized patient … Continue reading An Islamic Basis for the Use of Vaccines with Impermissible Ingredients