Navigating Winter Illness: Shabbos and Over-the-Counter Medications

As the winter season comes upon us, the flu and other common colds spread more around this time of year. As this is common, one can take a wide range of over-the-counter medications to alleviate these bothersome symptoms. A common question is whether one can use these medications on Shabbos.

The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 328) discusses three basic categories of an illness. The first is a healthy person. Secondly, there is a Meichush, a slight illness. Then there is a Choleh sheEin Bo Sakana (a sick person whose life is not endangered). There is a debate between the Shulchan Orech and Magen Avraham about whether a healthy person can use medication. But everyone agrees that a Choleh sheEin Bo Sakana can take medications as long as he does not violate any Isurim d’Oraisa. An example of this is someone who is bedridden due to an illness. However, a Meichush, for example, a common cold, is forbidden to take medication.

However, although someone with a common cold can't use common medication, the Chachamim did permit certain means to relieve a cold on Shabbos. For example, the Chachamim did not prohibit a person from eating Maachal Bri’im (food eaten by people who are not ill). The Gemara in Brachos (36a) brings a case of someone swallowing oil mixed with beet juice for a sore throat. The Be’er Hetev brings down a case of inhaling tobacco for a runny nose or headache. It is also brought down in Mesechtes Shabbos (66b) that a drunk person can apply oil and salt to his palms and heels. In short, these are just some examples of items that everyone uses even if they are not sick, and therefore permitted to use when sick.

However, many differing opinions amongst the Achronim disagree with this premise. But the Mishna Berura (ibid. 127) states that the consensus of the Achronim is to permit inhaling tobacco to relieve a headache. This is because everyone inhales tobacco for enjoyment; it, therefore, cannot be classified as a medication. Accordingly, a person may inhale spices, mint, or the like that are widely used for refreshment, even by those who are healthy, to relieve cold symptoms on Shabbos. However, using common cold medications, such as decongestant pills or nasal sprays, that healthy individuals do not use is forbidden on Shabbos.

Another discussion amongst the Poskim that concerns treating common cold symptoms on Shabbos is taking medication for a runny nose or allergies due to Kavod HaBryios (the concept of human dignity). Rav Shmuel Wosner zt”l (Shevet HaLevi 8:66) answered that since it is common for people to have these symptoms, the reasoning of Kavod Habryios would not apply. However, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach differed, and it's brought down in Shmerias Shabbos Kehilchasa (Chapter 34, Footnote 52) that if it is a more severe case of a runny nose, it can be considered Kavod HaBriyos.

Moreover, due to a distinction from The Tzitz Eliezer (8:15:15:21), one can use certain substances to treat a runny nose or congestion. The distinction is whether the medication merely reduces the symptom or gets rid of the symptom. The reasoning is as follows: One can use mint, tobacco, or other substances to temporarily relieve symptoms on Shabbos. It is also true that the effects of those substances dissipate quickly. The following logic can also apply to certain medications that relieve cold symptoms (but do not get rid of them) and, therefore, are permissible to be used on Shabbos. An example of this would be the agent oxymetazoline, which is found in nasal sprays and relieves nasal congestion for a few hours but does not get rid of it.

In Summary, a meichush, i.e., someone with a slight illness, cannot use medication on Shabbos. However, using food and other commonly consumed substances is permissible, even for medical reasons. Also, suppose a person has a severe condition that would borderline on Kavod HaBriyos. In that case, one can use medication for that reason as well. The Tzitz Eliezer extends the reasoning of quick relief of foods to certain medicines. Therefore, any relief or medication that would fall in one of these categories is permissible to use on Shabbos.