Can I take medicine while fasting?

[Startingcatholic]

I’ve been doing a bread and water fast on Wednesday and Fridays (I believe in Our Lady of Medjugorje) and I have medicine I take every night for mental health. Am I still ok to take these without breaking the fast?

 

[edward_george1]

Medicine is not food. Medicine does not break the fast.

Are you speaking with your priest about your discipline of fasting? If you’re a new Catholic and suffering from mental health issues, you definitely shouldn’t undertake such a strict discipline without the guidance of your priest, and probably not without consulting your mental health professional as well.

-Fr ACEGC

 

[Startingcatholic]

I’ve talked to my youth leader about it and he said it sounded good! The main reason I was asking was because I know in Islam if you take medicine orally it is considered breaking the fast. So I didn’t know if it was the same in Catholicism! Thanks!

 

[edward_george1]

Did you tell your youth leader the extent to which you were planning on fasting? Is your youth leader a priest?

 

[JerryZ]

YES! For the love of GOD. Fasting is not meant to withdraw medication EVER! Your are NOT breaking your fast.

Peace!

 

[Startingcatholic]

Our youth leader isn’t a priest and he knows I fast with bread and water on Wednesday and Friday. But I will bring it up with my priest next time I go to confession and ask his advice for sure!

 

[edward_george1]

Yes, you should definitely do that if you are a new Catholic and have mental health issues for which you are being medicated. Such an intense fast may not be healthy or prudent for you.

I’m guessing, since you work with a youth leader, that you are underage? You should probably also speak with your parents about this.

 

[Startingcatholic]

My parents definitely know about this also and support it. I’ve been medicated for 3-4 years, I understand your concern and appreciate it. Many youths have done significantly greater penances and fasts than me. So I never have thought of it as a big fast. But I will bring it up with my priest for sure.

 

[teamjesusnumber31]

Eat something with your meds.
I take mental health meds too and my doctor made it clear they are to be taken with food.
St. Thomas Aquinas said fasting is absolutely not permitted if it damages your health.
The meds need to dissolve with food to be more effective. As I understand it.
God bless.

I think God understands and rewards your fasting, knowing you don’t have a choice.

 

[Startingcatholic]

My doctor said mine are fine with just water

 

[teamjesusnumber31]

Ok. Perhaps we have different meds or differently opinionated doctors. Listen to yours.
God bless

 

[Startingcatholic]

Thanks I appreciate the concern!

 

[1ke]

I’ve been doing a bread and water fast on Wednesday and Fridays

You should undertake strict fasts like this under spiritual direction.

I believe in Our Lady of Medjugorje

Not an approved apparition.

and I have medicine I take every night for mental health. Am I still ok to take these without breaking the fast?

You need to get approval from your doctor to fast in this manner in addition to your pastor if you are taking medication.

 

[1ke]

I’ve talked to my youth leader about it and he said it sounded good

A youth leader is not a spiritual director. And if you are a minor, you should include your pastor, doctor, and parents in the discussion.

The main reason I was asking was because I know in Islam if you take medicine orally it is considered breaking the fast.

We are not Muslims.

So I didn’t know if it was the same in Catholicism!

No.

 

[Startingcatholic]

I’m not really sure what everyone is advising besides what I’m already doing. I’ve talked to my parents, I will be talking to my pastor, and my doctor said it was fine. I’m just trying to be the best Catholic I can be.

 

[TheHolyTrinity]

It would be best to talk to your prescribing doctor of these medications to see if you can take then on a empty stomach. Some pharmacist’s can also let you know what ( country dependent) medications can be taken on empty stomach and what can not.

 

[1ke]

I’m just trying to be the best Catholic I can be.

These sorts of severe fasts are not necessary to be the “best Catholic you can be” and they are rare.

Since you indicate you have mental health issues, we don’t want to see you going overboard into an unhealthy spirituality. And as a new Catholic, it seems a little odd you’d be doing these severe bread and water fasts.

I’m not really sure what everyone is advising besides what I’m already doing. I’ve talked to my parents, I will be talking to my pastor, and my doctor said it was fine.

That was not information we had in your first post.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

People like to pile in on some of these threads with advice beyond that which was sought. I wouldn’t take it personally - it sounds like you are on the right track.

People are not “piling on”. They are posting out of concern for the OP’s mental, physical, and spiritual health. You may not appreciate this but the OP’s initial posts raised about a dozen red flags, so it’s understandable if people are acting a bit excited.