When Medication Makes Fasting Impossible: A Struggle Many Muslims Face
Assalamu alaikum everyone. I wanted to share something that doesn't get talked about enough - a lot of us are in similar situations but stay quiet because of shame and guilt. I'm not looking for sympathy, just hoping others might relate. Here's my situation: I've been on antidepressants for five years and was diagnosed with ADHD when I was younger. Last Ramadan, I managed to fast even though my doctor advised against it. This year, I'm on three different medications, and when I tried fasting, I got extremely dizzy and nauseous by the second day. I actually fainted and had to break my fast. For days afterward, I felt weak and had heart palpitations - it was like drinking multiple energy drinks on an empty stomach. The combination of medications and fasting just didn't work for me. I made the difficult decision not to fast this Ramadan. The guilt hit hard at first. Sometimes it feels like my situation isn't "serious enough" because it's mental health related. People with similar struggles will probably understand what I mean - when your illness is "invisible," it can feel like you're just making excuses. I hardly ever talk about this, even with close family, because I feel like I shouldn't complain. I know I'm not doing what's expected, and I know some of my habits don't help. But changing things is really hard. When I mentioned to someone that I wasn't fasting, they suggested I just stop taking my medications. They acknowledged it would take time, but said technically I could if I really wanted to. That's exactly why I don't talk about it - the judgment and misunderstanding. Since Ramadan started, I've barely left the house because I'm afraid someone will ask why I'm not fasting. I don't know what to say. I can't explain properly without being judged or told my reason isn't valid. And I won't lie about fasting - that would be wrong and make me feel even worse. So I've been staying home, watching shows, reading, and trying to distract myself from feeling miserable about the whole situation. Maybe some of you understand.