Category: Medications

Announcements, MedicationsLeave a comment

Puberty Blockers in Youth with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Medical and Islamic Considerations

mateen

by Mawlana Mateen A. Khan, MD This answer first appeared at fatwa.ca. Introduction Youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), including those with severe autism, may be impacted by pubertal changes more so than individuals without these disabilities. Puberty blockers … Continue reading Puberty Blockers in Youth with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Medical and Islamic Considerations

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

OpioidsLeave a comment

Opioid Medications

MuslimMed

Question:  Is the use of opioid drugs such as oxycodone and codeine for medicinal purposes permissible? Answer: Bismihi Ta’ala Opioid drugs are those that are derived from opium.  These drugs are used for various medicinal purposes, such as relief of pain or cough. Common side effects of opioid medications include constipation, nausea, vomiting, sedation, impaired psychomotor function, and urinary retention.  In general, the consumption of intoxicating substances is impermissible according to the shariah.  Intoxication is defined in shariah as a state in which a person is insane and this can be as extreme as not being able to differentiate the … Continue reading Opioid Medications