How to find out if a medicine contains harām ingredients and/or excipients

This information resource can help you find out if a medicine contains ingredient(s) and/or excipient(s) that may possibly be harām (prohibited) and the information you need to gather to determine its permissibility.

This resource is for the Muslim community (including patients, carers, parents and members of the public). Healthcare professionals (HCPs), may also find it useful when supporting individuals with gathering and understanding information about their medicine(s). There is also an email template to help HCPs and individuals seek further information from pharmaceutical companies.

Table Of Contents
  1. Who can find out information about medicines
  2. Checking for ingredients and/or excipients
  3. Practical considerations for healthcare professionals
  4. Further resources


Please take/use your medicine(s) as directed/prescribed by your healthcare professional. 

If you are seeking information about halāl status or alternatives, do not stop, delay, change, or change the way you take/use your medicine(s) without discussing this first with the healthcare professional who prescribed/supplied it to you. 

Always consult your healthcare professional if you have any questions and before making any decisions about your treatment. 

Who can find out information about medicines

As a member of the Muslim community, you could find out the information yourself, if you feel confident using the steps below. However, we recommend you speak to a HCP, such as a pharmacist. A pharmacist is an expert in medicines and can help you find out information about your medicines to help you determine if a medicine is halāl or harām to take/use. 

You could speak to a pharmacist working in the following areas:

  • The community pharmacy – where you get your regular medicines dispensed, as they have access to your medication records
  • The local hospital – if you received your medicines from the hospital pharmacy
  • The GP practice – some surgeries have a practice-based pharmacist available that you can make an appointment with.

Checking for ingredients and/or excipients

Individuals can find product information using the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL), which can be found in the medicine packaging or on the electronic medicines compendium (emc) website for the relevant product.

HCPs can find product information using the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC), which is available on the emc website, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) website or the pharmaceutical company website for the relevant product. The SmPC usually provides more information about ingredients and excipients than PIL, and you may find it more useful. Individuals could also use the SmPC if they feel confident using the steps below.

Follow the steps below to find out information about a medicine:

Step one: Find product information

For individuals using the PIL

  • Take out the PIL from the medicine packaging
  • Look for information about the active ingredients and excipients under the section ‘Further information’ or ‘Contents of the pack and other information’ (sometimes the order or heading titles may differ)
  • Go to ‘Step 2’.

Alternatively, if a PIL is not available in the packaging, you can ask your pharmacist to download and print a PIL from the emc website:

    • Go to the emc website (log in may be required)
    • Search a medicine by medicine name or company and click enter
    • Select and click the correct medicine, ensuring you select the right name or brand, formulation, strength and pharmaceutical company name
    • Click the ‘Patient Leaflet (PIL)’ tab for the PIL
      • Click the PDF or link that opens up the PIL (download or print as required)
    • Go to ‘Step 2’.

    If you are still unsure if your medicine contains a particular ingredient and/or excipient, or having difficulties finding the PIL for your medicine, you can speak to a pharmacist for help and support.

    For HCPs or individuals using the SmPC

    • Go to the emc website (log in may be required)
    • Search a medicine by medicine name or company and click enter
    • Select and click the correct medicine, ensuring you select the right name or brand, formulation, strength and pharmaceutical company name
    • Click the ‘Healthcare Professionals (SmPC)’ tab for the SmPC
      • Check the Product Licence number (PL number) on your medicine box (usually on the side) is the same as the PL number under section 8 ‘Marketing authorisation number(s)’ to make sure you have the right product
    • Go to ‘Step 2’.

    If you are having difficulties in understanding or navigating the SmPC, ask a pharmacist for help and support.

    Step two: Check ingredients/excipients

    For individuals using the relevant product PIL

    Remember, individuals can find information about the active and excipients using the PIL, which can be found in the medicine packaging or on the emc website (see step one):

    • In the PIL, see the section ‘Further information’ or ‘Contents of the pack and other information’ (sometimes the order or heading titles may differ)
      • Cross-check the excipients against our list under ‘Ingredients and excipients in medicines’, to see which ingredients and/or excipients to look for e.g. if it may be animal-derived or if it contains ethanol. Here, you can click each resource to find out more about the ingredients and/or excipients that you find.
    • Go to ‘Step 3’.

    If you are still unsure if your medicine contains a particular ingredient and/or excipient, speak to a pharmacist for help and support.

    For HCPs and individuals using the relevant product SmPC

    • To check the active ingredients, click on section 2. ‘Qualitative and quantitative composition’
      • Cross-check the active ingredients against our list under ‘Ingredients and excipients in medicines’, to see which ingredients to look for e.g. if it may be animal-derived. Here, you can click each resource to find out more about the ingredients and/or excipients that you find.
    • To check the excipients, click on section 6. ‘Pharmaceutical particulars’,
      • Then click on section 6.1 ‘List of excipients’
      • Cross-check the excipients against our list under ‘Ingredients and excipients in medicines’, to see which excipients to look for e.g. if it may be animal-derived or if it contains ethanol. Here, you can click each resource to find out more about the ingredients and/or excipients that you find.
    • Go to ‘Step 3’.

    If you are still unsure if your medicine contains a particular ingredient and/or excipient, speak to a pharmacist for help and support.

    Step three: Seek more details (if needed) to help you determine if a medicine is permissible

    Sometimes, there may not be sufficient information available in the SmPC to help you determine if a medicine is halāl or harām to take/use. Therefore, you may need to contact the pharmaceutical companies to find out further information.

    For example, you may need to find out about the:

    • Source of the ingredient(s) and/or excipient(s)
    • Percentage of ethanol in the final product
    • Potential for cross-contamination or potential contact with harām sources during the manufacturing process – this information is not always readily available from all pharmaceutical companies
    • Halāl certification of excipients to ensure halāl-compliant manufacturing. 

    Sometimes, the pharmaceutical company cannot provide sufficient information about the sources of ingredients and/or excipients for various reasons e.g:

    • Different suppliers may be used in the manufacturing process
    • The sources, suppliers and formulation of ingredients and/or excipients may change
    • Different companies who make the same medicinal product may use ingredients and/or excipients from different sources and suppliers.

    Therefore, it is important to check this information regularly and for each product, to ensure the most up-to-date halāl status and suitability. If the excipient information is unclear or you require further information, then ask the pharmaceutical company for reassurance. If the pharmaceutical company cannot provide sufficient information, you can still classify your medicine using our resource on ‘Determining if a medicine is permissible to take/use’.

    Contacting the pharmaceutical company

    Individuals and HCPs can find pharmaceutical company contact details at the bottom of the SmPC for the relevant product or in the PIL (please note the pharmaceutical company contact details may be listed under Marketing Authorisation Holder (MAH) and may or may not be the same company as the manufacturer).

    Individuals and HCPs may wish to use our email template (click envelope below) or this link, which you can copy and paste into an email to send to the relevant product pharmaceutical company medical information teams, to help you gather further information. The information you receive may help you in discussions with your HCP, local Imam or trusted Islamic scholar to determine halāl status and suitability.

    Using the information you have gathered above, you can classify the ingredients and/or excipients to help you determine if the medicine is permissible. Find out how to classify using our resources ‘Reason codes: putting the classifications into practice‘ and ‘How we classify medicines based on ingredients and excipients’ for further guidance. Please note: a ‘Green’ 🟩 classification mentioned in this resource, means the medicine is acceptable; however, the risk of cross-contamination, although minimal, cannot be completely ruled out. If you are concerned about cross-contamination, contact the pharmaceutical company for clarification.

    ✅If you are satisfied that your medicine does not contain harām ingredients and/or excipients from harām sources and there is no cross-contamination → continue or commence taking/using the medicine as directed/prescribed.

    ⚠️If you find out the medicine does contain harām ingredients and/or excipients from harām sources or there is cross-contamination → see our resource on ‘What to do if a medicine contains harām ingredients and/or excipients‘


    Please take/use your medicine(s) as directed/prescribed by your healthcare professional. 

    If you are seeking information about halāl status or alternatives, do not stop, delay, change, or change the way you take/use your medicine(s) without discussing this first with the healthcare professional who prescribed/supplied it to you. 

    Always consult your healthcare professional if you have any questions and before making any decisions about your treatment. 

    Practical considerations for healthcare professionals

    For HCPs and anyone involved in delivering care and support, it is important to:

    • Understand which ingredients and/or excipients in medicines may be a concern for practising Muslims and why. For further information, see our resources under ‘Ingredients and excipients in medicines‘
    • Have open discussions with individuals about their personal values or beliefs that may relate to their care and support where possible – e.g. some individuals may wish to avoid certain ingredients/excipients in medicines due to religious beliefs, others may not be as practising or have the same beliefs, so it is important to ask
    • Discuss ideas, concerns and expectations – e.g. during consultations, you may be asked to help individuals to understand whether certain ingredients/excipients are present in their medicine(s), its source, and whether it is likely to be considered permissible in Islam/suitable for a halāl diet
    • Respect and support individuals in making informed decisions about their treatment
    • Understand that you may be asked to explore alternative formulations that meet the individual’s religious requirements (where available), alternative pharmaceutical companies that make the medicine without a particular excipient/ingredient (where possible), or alternative treatment options for the condition (where clinically appropriate)

    Further resources

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