Using ‘Tramadol’ for pain
Question
I have cancer and I experience pain when I sit. My oncologist prescribed tramadol for the pain. Tramadol does not reduce my pain, but it does make my joints more flexible, i.e. I can walk faster and can get up from Sajda more easily. Is it permissible for me to take Tramadol for this effect even though it is an opioid analgesic? It does not affect my mood.
Answer
It will be acceptable to use it to reduce pain particularly if there isn’t a Halaal alternative available on the market and it is prescribed by Muslim doctors for the illness. However, you have stated in your query that it is not helping in reducing pain rather it makes your joints more flexible. In this case, you should enquire if there is a Halaal alternative available which will assist in making the joints more flexible and such an alternative may be used.
References (Arabic / Urdu sources)
اُخْتُلِفَ فِي التَّدَاوِي بِالْمُحَرَّمِ وَظَاهِرُ الْمَذْهَبِ الْمَنْعُ كَمَا فِي رَضَاعٍ الْبَحْرُ، لَكِنْ نَقَلَ الْمُصَنِّفُ ثَمَّةَ وَهُنَا عَنْ الْحَاوِي: وَقِيلَ يُرَخَّصُ إذَا عُلِمَ فِيهِ الشِّفَاءُ وَلَمْ يُعْلَمْ دَوَاءٌ آخَرُ كَمَا رُخِّصَ الْخَمْرُ لِلْعَطْشَانِ وَعَلَيْهِ الْفَتْوَى (الدر المختار ص210 ج1)
- Answered by
- Mufti Mohammed Desai
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