Can We Eat Medicine in Fast? Complete Guide — Sawan, Navratri, Ekadashi, Monday Fast
By Aswini Medicals · July 25, 2025 · 5 min read
हाँ — व्रत में दवाई खा सकते हैं। Yes, you can take medicine during fasting.
Taking medicine with a small amount of water during any Hindu fast — Sawan, Navratri, Ekadashi, Monday fast — does not break the vrat.
⚠️ Exception: A few medicines that need food (like Metformin for diabetes) should be taken when you break the fast — not skipped entirely.
During Sawan (Shravan month), Navratri, Ekadashi, Somvar vrat, and other Hindu fasts, millions of Indians on daily medicines face the same question: "Will taking my tablet break my fast?"
The answer — from both religious tradition and medical guidance — is clear: taking medicine with water out of medical necessity does not break a fast. But there are a few medicines that need careful timing during fasting. This guide covers all of them.
🙏 Sawan Fast (Shravan Vrat) — Can We Take Medicine?
Sawan is one of the most widely observed fasting months in India. Whether you fast every Monday (Somvar), every day, or on specific Sawan days — your prescribed medicines must not be skipped.
- ✅ BP medicines, thyroid tablets, epilepsy medicines — take with water as usual
- ✅ Paracetamol for headache or fever — safe on empty stomach
- ⚠️ Metformin (diabetes) — take with your fast-breaking meal, not on empty stomach
- ❌ Ibuprofen, Diclofenac — avoid on empty stomach, take after breaking fast with food
Taking your tablet with a sip of water during Sawan vrat is medically necessary and religiously permitted.
What Hindu Religious Tradition Says
The purpose of fasting in Hinduism is spiritual discipline and devotion — not the avoidance of medicine needed to stay healthy. Most religious authorities distinguish clearly between:
- Eating food for pleasure or nutrition — this breaks the fast
- Taking medicine out of necessity with water — this does not break the fast
The principle of ahimsa (non-harm) includes not harming yourself. Skipping essential medicine during a fast goes against Hindu dharma. Every major religious authority makes an exception for genuine medical need.
Medicine-by-Medicine Guide During Fasting
❤️ Blood Pressure Medicines (Amlodipine, Telmisartan, Ramipril, Atenolol)
✅ Safe — take with water as usual. Does not break any fast. Never skip BP medicine during fasting — even one missed dose can cause a dangerous blood pressure spike or increase stroke risk.
🦋 Thyroid Medicine (Levothyroxine — Eltroxin, Thyronorm)
✅ Actually ideal during fasting — thyroid medicine must be taken on an empty stomach anyway. Take it in the morning with water before starting your fast. Do not skip.
🧠 Epilepsy Medicines (Phenytoin, Valproate, Levetiracetam)
✅ Must never be skipped — take with water. Missing even one dose of epilepsy medicine can trigger a seizure. Take at the exact usual time with water. This does not break any fast.
🩸 Diabetes Medicines — Special Care Needed
⚠️ Metformin (Glycomet, Glucophage) — Take with food, not on empty stomach
Skip the Metformin dose during fasting and take it with the meal when you break your fast. Do not double the dose.
⚠️ Sulphonylureas (Glipizide, Glibenclamide, Amaryl) — Risk of hypoglycaemia
These medicines lower blood sugar by stimulating insulin — dangerous on an empty stomach during fasting. Consult your doctor before fasting if you take these.
⚠️ Insulin — Adjust doses before fasting
Never adjust insulin doses on your own during fasting. Consult your diabetologist — most will reduce the dose for fasting days.
😣 Painkillers During Fasting — Paracetamol vs Ibuprofen
✅ Paracetamol (Crocin, Dolo 650) — Safe during fasting
Paracetamol does not irritate the stomach and can be taken on an empty stomach. For headache, fever, or body pain during your fast — Paracetamol is the correct choice. Does not break the fast.
❌ Ibuprofen (Brufen, Combiflam) — Avoid on empty stomach
Ibuprofen irritates the stomach lining and causes nausea, pain, or ulcers on an empty stomach. Wait until you break your fast, then take Ibuprofen with food.
❌ Diclofenac, Aspirin, Naproxen — Also avoid during fasting
All NSAIDs carry the same stomach risk. Use Paracetamol instead during any fast.
💊 Antacids — Often Needed During Fasting
✅ Safe and commonly needed. Fasting increases stomach acidity. Antacids (Digene, Gelusil, Pantoprazole) are safe to take during any fast and protect the stomach lining.
Quick Reference — Medicine During Fast
| Medicine type | During fast? |
|---|---|
| BP tablets (Amlodipine, Telmisartan) | ✅ Yes — take with water |
| Thyroid tablets (Eltroxin, Thyronorm) | ✅ Yes — empty stomach is ideal |
| Epilepsy medicines | ✅ Yes — never skip |
| Paracetamol (Crocin, Dolo 650) | ✅ Yes — safe on empty stomach |
| Antacids (Digene, Pantoprazole) | ✅ Yes — often helpful |
| Metformin (diabetes) | ⚠️ Take with fast-breaking meal |
| Sulphonylureas (Glipizide) | ⚠️ Consult doctor before fasting |
| Insulin | ⚠️ Adjust dose — ask your doctor |
| Ibuprofen, Diclofenac (NSAIDs) | ❌ Avoid — take after breaking fast |
Monday Fast (Somvar Vrat) and Medicine
Somvar vrat (Monday fast observed for Lord Shiva) is widely observed during Sawan and throughout the year. Taking your prescribed medicine with water during Somvar vrat does not break the fast. Lord Shiva's devotion does not require you to harm your health.
Most Somvar fasts permit water and fruit — making medicine easy to take. If your fast is stricter (nirjala), medicine with the minimum sip of water is still medically necessary and religiously permitted.
Does Water Break a Hindu Fast?
In most Hindu fasting traditions, water is fully permitted. Only the Nirjala fast (observed on Nirjala Ekadashi) restricts even water — but even then, most religious scholars permit the minimum water needed to swallow medicine.
Fast me medicine — Hindi mein jawab / व्रत में दवाई
क्या व्रत में दवाई खा सकते हैं? हाँ — व्रत में दवाई खाना जरूरी है। थोड़े पानी के साथ टैबलेट लेना व्रत नहीं तोड़ता।
सावन के व्रत में दवाई खा सकते हैं? हाँ — BP, थायरॉइड, मिर्गी की दवाई पानी के साथ लेते रहें। शुगर की मेटफॉर्मिन व्रत तोड़ने के बाद खाने के साथ लें।
सोमवार व्रत में दवाई? हाँ — पानी के साथ दवाई लेना सोमवार व्रत नहीं तोड़ता।
Tips for Managing Medicine During Fasting
- Take once-daily medicines at the usual time with water — do not skip
- Medicines that need food (Metformin) — take when you break the fast, do not double-dose
- If diabetic and fasting, check blood sugar every 2–3 hours
- Tell your doctor before a multi-day fast (Navratri) so doses can be adjusted if needed
- Break the fast immediately if you feel dizzy, sweating, confused, or have chest pain
💡 Free Advice from Aswini Medicals
On daily medicines and planning to fast for Sawan, Navratri, or Ekadashi? Call us at +91 99455 60605 — we'll review your medicine list in 2 minutes and tell you exactly what to take, what to skip, and what to time with food.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we eat medicine in fast?
Yes — swallowing a tablet with water during a fast does not break it. Medical necessity is an accepted exception in all Hindu traditions.
Can we eat medicine in Sawan fast?
Yes — taking your prescribed tablets with water during Sawan vrat does not break it. BP, thyroid, and epilepsy medicines must be taken. Metformin should be taken with your fast-breaking meal.
Can we take medicine in Monday fast (Somvar vrat)?
Yes — medicine with water does not break Somvar vrat. Essential medicines must be taken regardless of the fast.
Can I take medicine during Navratri fast?
Yes. All essential medicines must be taken during the 9 days of Navratri. Tell your doctor before multi-day fasting so doses can be adjusted if needed.
Can I take medicine during Ekadashi fast?
Yes. Even during strict Ekadashi, medicine with water is permitted for medical necessity. Never skip life-saving medicines on any fast day.
Which medicines should NOT be taken on an empty stomach during fasting?
Ibuprofen, Diclofenac (NSAIDs) and Metformin require food. Take these only after breaking the fast. For all other common medicines, water is sufficient.
Can I take paracetamol while fasting?
Yes — Paracetamol (Crocin, Dolo 650) is safe on an empty stomach. It is the correct medicine for headache or fever during any fast.
Can you take ibuprofen while fasting?
No — Ibuprofen irritates the stomach on an empty stomach. Use Paracetamol instead during fasting. Take Ibuprofen only after breaking your fast with food.
Does amlodipine break a fast?
No — Amlodipine and all BP tablets taken with water do not break any Hindu fast. Never skip BP medicine on fasting days.
Fast me medicine kha sakte hain? / व्रत में दवाई खा सकते हैं?
Haan — thode paani ke saath tablet lena vrat nahi todta. Zaruri dawaiyan kabhi band nahi karni chahiye. / हाँ — थोड़े पानी के साथ दवाई लेना व्रत नहीं तोड़ता।
💧 Can We Drink ORS in Sawan Fast?
ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution — like Electral powder or Enerzal) contains salt, sugar, and minerals. It is a medical drink used to treat dehydration, not a food.
✅ If you are dehydrated, sick, or have diarrhoea — drink ORS even during Sawan fast
Your health comes first. Severe dehydration is dangerous. ORS taken for medical need does not break the spiritual purpose of your fast.
⚠️ If you are fasting strictly (nirjala) and are not sick — plain water is better
ORS has sugar and salt, so very strict fasters may prefer to avoid it unless medically needed. But if a doctor or pharmacist recommends it, drink it.
🙏 Hindi mein jawab — व्रत और दवाई
Sawan ke vrat me medicine kha sakte hai?
सावन के व्रत में दवाई खा सकते हैं?
Haan — Sawan ke vrat mein zaruri dawaiyan lena bilkul sahi hai. BP, thyroid, epilepsy ki tablet paani ke saath lein. Yeh vrat nahi todta. Sirf metformin (sugar ki dawa) vrat todne ke baad khane ke saath lein।
Somvar ke vrat me dawai kha sakte hai?
सोमवार के व्रत में दवाई खा सकते हैं?
Haan — Somvar vrat mein paani ke saath tablet lena vrat nahi todta. Bhagwan Shiv ki bhakti mein apni sehat ka dhyan rakhna bhi zaruri hai। Apni zaruri dawaiyan kabhi mat chhodein।
Fasting me medicine lena chahiye?
फास्टिंग में मेडिसिन लेनी चाहिए?
Haan, zaroor leni chahiye — BP, thyroid, epilepsy, ya dil ki dawaiyan ek din bhi nahi chhodna chahiye. Sirf woh dawaiyan jinka khane ke saath lena zaroori hai (jaise Metformin), unhe vrat todne ke baad lein।
Kya sawan ke vrat mein dawai kha sakte hain?
क्या सावन के व्रत में दवाई खा सकते हैं?
Haan — Sawan ke kisi bhi vrat mein — Somvar, daily fast, ya Shravan Chaturdashi — dawai lena allowed hai. Thoda paani le kar tablet nigal lein। Yeh dharmik roop se permitted hai।
Vrat me paracetamol kha sakte hai?
व्रत में पैरासिटामोल खा सकते हैं?
Haan — Paracetamol (Crocin, Dolo 650) khali pet lena safe hai। Vrat mein sar dard, bukhar, ya badan dard ke liye paracetamol le sakte hain। Ibuprofen mat lein — woh khali pet nahi lena chahiye।
Kya fast me tablet kha sakte hai?
क्या फास्ट में टैबलेट खा सकते हैं?
Haan — Zaruri tablet thode paani ke saath lena bilkul sahi hai। Medical zaroorat mein dawa lena har Hindu parampara mein allowed hai। Apni sehat ke saath samjhauta mat karein।
Also read: Navratri & Monday Fast Medicine Guide · Ekadashi Fast Medicine Guide · Painkiller Side Effects
On medicines and planning to fast? Call Aswini Medicals — free pharmacist advice, +91 99455 60605 →