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Respected ʿUlamāʾ: A person has been affected by stomach bacteria and was prescribed two medications for its treatment. One of them is Pepto-Bismol, for which they were able to obtain chewable tablets. I would like to know if this medication in this form is permissible to take.
The other prescribed medication is Tetracycline. The person asked the doctor about possible substitutes in tablet form, but unfortunately no substitute could be found. In this situation, would it be permissible for the person to take this medication? If not, then what should be done in such a case? For your reference, here are some details regarding Tetracycline:
Active Ingredient: Tetracycline – Oral – (TET-ra-SYE-kleen) Common Brand Name(s): Sumycin Uses: Tetracycline is used to treat a wide variety of infections, including acne. It is an antibiotic that works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This antibiotic treats only bacterial infections and will not work for viral infections (such as the common cold or flu). Using any antibiotic when it is not needed can cause it to not work for future infections. Tetracycline can also be used in combination with anti-ulcer medications to treat certain types of stomach ulcers.
Pepto-Bismol Chewable tablets as well as tetracycline do not contain any impermissible ingredients.[1],[2] As such, both are permissible for consumption.[3]
And Allah knows best.
Ml. Ameen Shariff
Student, Darul Iftaa Chicago
Checked and Approved:
Mf. Abrar Mirza
Head Mufti, Darul Iftaa Chicago
[1] “Pepto Bismol ® Chewables.” U.S. National Library of Medicine. Accessed August 20, 2025. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/fda/fdaDrugXsl.cfm?setid=06fce961-5e57-b640-e063-6394a90a9e8a&type=display#:~:text=Other%20information,%2C%20povidone%2C%20saccharin%20sodium%2C%20talc
Pepto-bismol bismuth subsalicylate chewable tablets cherry - buena vista drug. Accessed August 20, 2025. https://www.bvdrug.net/PeptoBismol-Chewable-Tabl-00301490039786
[2] SB, Nelson ML, Levy. “The History of the Tetracyclines.” Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. Accessed August 20, 2025. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22191524/#:~:text=Discovered%20as%20natural%20products%20from,1940s%20to%20the%20early%201950s
[3] وأما الذي اشتراه بالثمن وأضاف العقد إليه، فالعقد لم يقع على الثمن المشار إليه، فلا يتمكن الخبث في المبيع. وأما إذا أضاف الشراء إلى الغصب، إلا أن الرجل إذا لم يعلم أن الذي قدم إليه من الغصب بعينه، فلأنه لم يعلم بالحرمة، والأصل في الأشياء الإباحة.
(فتاوى قاضيخان، كتاب الحظر والإباحة: ٣/٢٨٩؛ الفكر)
(والتتن ... ربما أضر بالبدن) الواقع أنه يختلف باختلاف المستعملين. (قوله: الأصل الإباحة أو التوقف) المختار الأول عند الجمهور من الحنفية والشافعية كما صرح به المحقق ابن الهمام في تحرير الأصول.
(رد المحتار، كتاب الأشربة، ٦/٤٦٠؛ سعيد)
August 27, 2025
Medical