What is the ruling of shariah regarding the medicines containing haram ingredients like animal extracts or alcohol. For example widely used Tylenol (extra strength caplets) and Children MOTRIN drops contains Polysorbate 80, that may derived from beef stock or pork corn. I have heard few Muslim doctors saying that in medicines these ingredients change their forms like in soap, so it can be consumed.
If there are some compounds in the medicine, which have gone through a complete chemical process that changed the essence of those compounds then consuming such medicine has been allowed by scholars. If those compounds, do not change and they are forbidden in their original state of being then, whatever medicine they are put in would also be forbidden to consume. It’s another thing to find out which of these compounds are put in what medicines and to what extent they have been processed.
There are some questions about other products, like how much is a compound changed like in soaps. Scholars have generally stated that using soap is fine. But if the chemical has not changed then usually the scholars’ decree is that the product is not permissible to use. The best way to find out about the chemicals is to consult with an engineer.
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