Reviewed February 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For many years, Rav Gershon Bess prepared a Guide for Pesach Medications and Cosmetics<\/strong> which was published and distributed by Kollel Los Angeles. A partnership with STAR-K and the Kollel to make this information more widely available to the general public is still going strong after more than a quarter century. The Medications and Cosmetics Guide, available in Jewish bookstores nationwide, serves as an invaluable resource for kosher consumers seeking to purchase these items for Yom Tov.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sefer Kovetz Halachos<\/i> (Hilchos Pesach<\/i> 12:4) states in the name of HaRav Shmuel Kamenetzky, shlit\u201da,<\/i> that lechatchila <\/i>one should take a medication approved for Pesach and mentions the availability and use of reliable Pesach lists and guides (see Hilchos <\/i>Pesach<\/em>, ibid., footnote 5).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The halachos<\/i> pertaining to medication and cosmetic use on Pesach are based on the joint psak<\/i> of Rav Moshe Heinemann shlit\u201da<\/i> and Rav Gershon Bess shlit\u201da.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n Except where indicated, the Medicine List does not address the kosher status of the product, ONLY its chometz-free status. Therefore, products appearing on the list may be both non-kosher and chometz-free. Also note that this brief article does not address the many halachos<\/i> concerning taking medication on Shabbos and Yom Tov.1<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Medicine List primarily addresses the \u201cchometz-free\u201d status of a medication. Unless otherwise indicated, it does not address the kitniyos <\/i>status of the product, since kitniyos<\/i> is permissible for a choleh<\/i> and\/or is batel<\/i> b\u2019rov<\/i> (see discussion of “Choleh She’en Bo Sakana: <\/em>Someone whose life is not in danger” below).<\/p>\n\n\n\n No one should refrain from taking any required medication, even if it contains chometz<\/i>, without first consulting his physician and rav<\/i>. <\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n All medications <\/b>for a heart condition, diabetes, abnormal blood pressure, stroke, kidney disease, lung disease, depression, epilepsy, the immune system (transplant anti-rejection), and cancer treatment (including precautionary) may be taken on Pesach.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, prescription medication taken on a regular basis for chronic conditions<\/b> should be changed only with the consultation of your physician. (If you cannot reach your physician, you should continue to take your regular prescription without change.) Some examples of such chronic conditions include: Any psychiatric condition, prostate condition, Crohn\u2019s disease, celiac disease, colitis, high cholesterol, Parkinson\u2019s disease, anemia, Multiple Sclerosis, thyroid condition and asthma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are three main categories of cholim<\/i> that we will address: choleh sheyeish bo sakana, choleh she\u2019ein bo sakana, <\/i>and <\/i><\/i>mechush <\/i>or bahree<\/i>. Each has different halachos<\/i> with respect to medications on Pesach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n L\u2019halacha<\/i>, such a choleh<\/i> may take anything<\/i> if a substitute is not available.<\/b> This category includes:<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, there are individuals who inappropriately discontinue medication for life-threatening conditions during Pesach without consulting a physician, unless the medicine appears on an approved list. This Medicine List provides necessary information for consumers, ensuring that such mistakes are not made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Such a choleh<\/i> may not consume chometz<\/i> in a normal manner but may<\/i> eat kitniyos<\/i><\/b>. This includes anyone who is bedridden, noticeably not functioning up to par due to pain or illness, or has a fever which is not potentially life-threatening. L\u2019halacha,<\/i> such a person may swallow any tablet, caplet or capsule that is manufactured with the intent for the consumer to swallow, regardless of whether or not it contains chometz<\/i> (unless an equally effective non-chometz <\/i>medicine is available).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n A choleh she\u2019ein bo sakana<\/i> may consume kitniyos<\/i><\/b> (Mishnah Berurah<\/i> 453:7) even in a normal manner. Choleh she\u2019ein bo sakana<\/i> has the same definition in these cases as it does in Hilchos Shabbos,<\/i> when taking medication on Shabbos would be permissible (i.e., \u201cnafal l\u2019mita<\/i>\u201d – ill enough to feel like he needs to go to bed). Therefore, medication in any form (i.e., chewable or swallowable tablet\/ capsule\/caplet\/ powder\/liquid) may be taken by a choleh she\u2019ein bo sakana<\/i> if it appears on the approved Pesach Medicine List or if one can determine that it is chometz<\/i>-free. This is true even if the product contains corn starch or other kitniyos <\/i>ingredients. Similarly, non<\/em>–chometz<\/i> baby formula (e.g., Enfamil) and nutritional products (e.g., Ensure) which contain kitniyos<\/i> are permissible for use by infants and the elderly since, with regard to this Halacha,<\/i> such individuals are considered a choleh she\u2019ein bo sakana<\/i>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Products that contain kitniyos<\/i> should be prepared on disposable or non-chometz <\/i>utensils. Also, one should purchase new baby bottles for Pesach. These keilim<\/i> should not be used with Kosher l\u2019Pesach products, and the work area for preparation and rinsing should not be in the Kosher l\u2019Pesach kitchen (i.e., one should use a laundry room or bathroom sink).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Medicine taken by a choleh she\u2019ein bo sakana<\/i> often lists ingredients that may be derived from chometz<\/i>. For example, sorbitol \u2013 a sweet calorie-free sugar alcohol derived from glucose found in medication, mouthwash, and toothpaste \u2013 is often derived from corn but could also come from wheat (e.g., sorbitol from Europe is often chometz<\/i>-based). There is no way to know its source by reading the label. \u2018Gluten-free\u2019<\/i> does not necessarily mean chometz<\/i>-free. For instance, a product with chometz<\/i>-based sorbitol can still be labeled gluten-free as it no longer contains gluten but is still chometz<\/i>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rabbi Bess\u2019 research confirms which products are chometz<\/i>-free, something often impossible for a rav<\/i> <\/i>or choleh<\/i> to ascertain on his own. (See the end of this article for additional details about the research process.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n A person who has a mechush<\/i> or is considered bahree<\/i> may consume only chometz-free and preferably kitniyos<\/i>-free products (especially liquids and chewable) that appear on the Chometz-Free Medicine List<\/strong> prepared by Rav Gershon Bess, or if someone knowledgeable in kashrus can ascertain this by reviewing the ingredients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Halachically, it may be permissible to ingest a medication even if it contains kitniyos<\/em> when the kitniyos<\/em> are batel<\/em> b\u2019rov<\/em>, since shishim<\/em> is not required (see Mishnah Berurah<\/em> 453:9).<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is praiseworthy for one who only has a mechush<\/em> or is healthy to refrain from taking medicinal products, including vitamins, kederech<\/em> achila<\/em> (eaten in a normal manner \u2013 e.g., pleasant-tasting chewable tablets or liquids) unless these items are actually certified for Pesach \u2013 i.e., they actually have a hechsher for <\/em>Pesach.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n One can assume there are no bal<\/i> yeira\u2019eh<\/i> or bal<\/i> yematzeh <\/i>(owning chometz<\/i>) issues regarding owning any medicine on the chometz<\/i>-free list. The reason is because we rely upon information provided by the company. Furthermore, if a tablet (not on the Approved Medicine List<\/a>) contains chometz<\/i>,it is unlikely that there is a <\/a>kezayis<\/i> of chometz <\/i>in the entire container; therefore, there is no prohibition of ownership during Pesach. (Refer to the Chometz She’Avar Alav HaPesach<\/em><\/a> product list and the “Baltimore Post-Pesach Store Info<\/a>” chart).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to compile the annual Medicine and Cosmetics lists, Rabbi Bess contacts the company and asks numerous questions. The information is updated anew every year and accepted only when submitted by the company in writing<\/i>. Rav <\/i>Moshe Feinstein, zt\u201dl,<\/i> was of the opinion that one may rely on written information provided by a company (Igros Moshe<\/i> Y.D.<\/i> I:55). Additionally, a medicine can be added to the list if it contains only ingredients that are definitively chometz<\/i>-free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This system of review is implemented for this project only<\/i> and would not be relied upon for products certified by STAR-K and other reliable hechsheirim<\/i>. When a company is certified by STAR-K, detail-oriented reviews of ingredients, formulations and factories are conducted, and the halachic<\/i> leniencies of compiling lists based on written responses are not relied upon. Nevertheless, with regard to approved medication, l\u2019halacha,<\/i> one may<\/i> rely upon this information. As indicated in Igros Moshe<\/i>, we consider the information on the list to be accurate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even if one suspects that a company provided inaccurate information (e.g., they could not adequately determine the type of alcohol in use), halachically,<\/i> additional leniencies that one may rely upon often apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A full discussion of these leniencies is beyond the scope of this article but include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n STAR-K is grateful to both Rav Gershon Bess for all of his tireless research, and to Kollel Los Angeles, for providing this Medicine List to a diverse group of kosher consumers who have referred to this guide for decades for reliable Pesach information. The Pesach Guide has benefited many conscientious consumers who require medication and who wish to fulfill the \u201cchumros<\/i> d\u2019Pesach<\/i>.\u201d It has also assisted many rabbonim<\/i> and kashrus<\/i> professionals who must answer numerous shailos<\/i> regarding Pesach, thus facilitating a chag kosher v’samei\u2019ach <\/i>for Klal Yisroel.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n Reviewed February 2026<\/p>\nTHE MEDICINE LIST DOES NOT ADDRESS KITNIYOS OR YEAR-ROUND KASHRUS<\/strong><\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
IMPORTANT GUIDELINES REGARDING MEDICATION USAGE ON PESACH<\/strong><\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Categories of Cholim<\/i><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
(1) Choleh Sheyeish Bo Sakana: Someone whose life is\/may be in danger<\/i><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If someone\u2019s life is in danger, or may<\/i> be in danger, he must<\/u> take any chometz <\/i>medication unless an equally effective non-chometz<\/i> medication is readily available. If an equally effective non-chometz<\/i> medicine is available, lechatchila<\/i> it should be taken. If necessary, one may also take chometz<\/i> medication to prevent a possible sakana<\/i>. This is true regardless of the form of the medication (i.e., swallowable tablets & caplets \/ capsules \/ liquid & chewable tablets). Swallowable tablets or caplets are preferred if readily available. Individuals in a sakana<\/i> situation should not switch medications and should continue with their regular prescriptions, whether or not they contain chometz, <\/i>unless a doctor advises otherwise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
(2) Choleh She\u2019ein Bo Sakana: Someone whose life is not in danger<\/i><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This category also includes:<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
KEILIM NOTE<\/strong><\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
(3) Mechush (slight discomfort) or Bahree (healthy) <\/i><\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Bal Yeira\u2019eh u\u2019Bal Yematzeh<\/i><\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Compiling the Medicine List: How the Information Is Obtained and The Halachic<\/i> Rationale<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n\n\n\n