Ramadan, Fasting and Mental-Health Treatment

This article is general information published by the practice of Dr. Sholeh Toobaei, Specialist Psychiatrist, Dubai. It has not yet been individually reviewed by a clinician and is not a substitute for personal medical advice. Published: 1 September 2026.

Scope: This article is general information. It is not a religious ruling and not personal medical advice. Whether you should fast, and how your treatment should be arranged around fasting, are decisions for you, your own doctor, and — if you wish — your religious adviser.

Can I fast during Ramadan while receiving psychiatric treatment?

Many people do, safely, with planning — but it should never be decided alone or at the last minute. The right time to raise it is several weeks before Ramadan, in a routine appointment, so your treatment can be reviewed and adjusted thoughtfully rather than improvised on the first night of the fast.

Islam itself exempts people for whom fasting would cause harm — the ill, travellers, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and others. Many scholars and clinicians consider significant mental illness to fall within this exemption when fasting would risk relapse. Wanting to fast is deeply understandable: Ramadan is not only about food, and being unable to fast can bring grief, guilt, and a feeling of exclusion from family and community. A good conversation with your doctor takes those feelings seriously rather than dismissing them. The goal is to find the path that protects both your health and, where possible, your participation.

How does fasting affect mental health directly?

Fasting changes sleep, meal timing, caffeine intake, and daily rhythm — all four of which are pillars of mental stability. The most disruptive change for most people is not hunger but sleep: late nights, pre-dawn suhoor, and fragmented rest can destabilise mood within days, particularly for people with bipolar disorder, for whom sleep loss is a known trigger of relapse.

Other common effects: caffeine withdrawal headaches and irritability in the first days; low mood or poor concentration in the late afternoon; and, for some, a genuine improvement — many people find the structure, spirituality, family connection, and shared purpose of Ramadan stabilising and uplifting. Both experiences are real. The point is to know which risks apply to you and to plan for them: protecting a core block of sleep even if it means napping, keeping wake times as regular as the month allows, and watching for early warning signs rather than pushing through them.

What about medication timing during Ramadan?

Medication schedules can often be adapted to the fasting day — for example, shifting doses to iftar or suhoor — but this must be done with your doctor, never on your own. Some medicines tolerate a simple time shift; others do not. Some are taken once daily and move easily; others are taken twice daily and need genuine redesign.

Three rules cover most situations. First: do not change timing, skip doses, or stop medication to accommodate fasting without discussing it — abrupt changes are a common cause of relapse during and after Ramadan. Second: raise the topic early, because a good adjustment may need to be phased in over days or weeks. Third: if you feel unwell during the fast — dizzy, confused, severely agitated, or noticing early signs of relapse — breaking the fast to take medication and fluids is a health decision, and religiously permitted for those who are ill.

Who should be especially careful about fasting?

People with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or other psychotic conditions, a recent episode of illness, a recent medication change, or an eating disorder should seek individual advice before deciding to fast. In these situations the risks of sleep disruption, missed doses, or disordered eating patterns are highest.

This is not a verdict that fasting is impossible — it is a statement that the decision deserves a real conversation, with your history on the table, rather than a guess. If you are advised not to fast this year, that advice is about this year and this stage of your recovery, not about your worth or your faith. Many patients fast in later years once their condition is stable.

What about family and community pressure?

Pressure to fast — or to hide that you are not fasting — is common, and it can be handled with a simple, true statement: "My doctor has advised me not to fast this year for health reasons." You owe nobody your diagnosis. Illness is a recognised exemption, and you are not required to disclose which illness.

When should I seek urgent help?

During Ramadan or at any time, seek urgent help if you or someone you are with has thoughts of self-harm or suicide, signs of relapse into mania or psychosis (severely reduced sleep with elevated mood, hearing or seeing things, confused or frightening behaviour), or physical danger signs from fasting such as fainting or confusion. In the UAE, call 999 (police) or 998 (ambulance), or go to the nearest emergency department. For non-urgent planning before Ramadan, this practice can be reached on +971 58 143 2494.