Answer by Rabbi Chaim Hillel Raskin – Moreh Hora’ah at Beis Horaa in Rechovot, Israel:
Chazal prohibited taking medication on Shabbos – except in specific situations – out of concern that one would grind the herbs from which the remedy is made, which is the Torah prohibition of tochein.
Although nowadays most people don’t make their own remedies, nevertheless the consensus of contemporary poskim is that we cannot permit a rabbinic prohibition even if the reason is not applicable, (especially when there are still some people who compound homemade remedies).
It is self-understood that whenever there is even a possibility of a life-threatening illness (safek pikuach nefesh), it is permissible to transgress melachos as needed. However, in the absence of any danger, there are three general categories:
1. Michush kal: One with a mild ache (such as a runny nose or a normal cough) may not transgress any prohibition.
2. Tzaar gadol: One who is in lot of pain but is not weak or incapacitated may do a melacha (d’rabanan) in an abnormal manner (shinui), yet he may not take medication or undergo treatment (except external treatment applied by a non-Jew).
This precludes Tylenol for a manageable pain, powder for a rash, Tums for heartburn and sucking lozenges for a sore throat.
Some say that if one is on a schedule of medicine for such an ailment, he may continue taking the dosage on Shabbos.
3. Choleh she’ein bo sakana: One who is in severe pain and cannot function (e.g. migraine headache) may do a melacha in an abnormal manner, ask a non-Jew to perform a melacha in the normal manner, and take medication. He may take the medication as soon he feels the headache coming even if it is still bearable.
Some poskim write that if the medication is thoroughly mixed before Shabbos into a food not normally taken with medicine, one may eat that food on Shabbos, since (a) he has actively distinguished it from normal medication – so he won’t think to prepare medication on Shabbos, and (b) it looks different – so others won’t think medication is permissible. This is an optimal solution for one who experiences heartburn or headaches on Shabbos.
A patient might feel a lot more pain, and become very agitated if not allowed to take the preferred medicine for his or her condition.
Trader Joes Almond Milk ( a cup ) does the trick
I think I heard from Rav Braun (though I’m not sure, and it could have been someone else) that pain meds are ok, as they’re not treating an illness, just alleviating pain. Same goes for meds that it’s dangerous to skip such as antibiotics unless you can schedule them before and/or after Shabbos.
I think Tums might be like pain meds as they don’t cure stomach diseases the way Prilosec, Zantac, Protonix, etc. Maybe a Rav could clarify?
Best thing to take tums before you need it
In other words take it before heartburn take it in
A time before you will really need it so now you
are not taking it as medicine
Cholent
I am pregnant and I cannot function without Tums. I take tums on Shabbos.
what about vitamins? i believe this should be ok because this doesn’t fall under the category of medicine?
Can’t remember which Sefer, but it said that tums is under the category of meds that heal as opposed to take away pain. A pain killer is allowed because it doesn’t heal, it just temporary takes pain away. But tums heals the heartburn so you can’t take it on shabbos.
Did I understand this correctly?