Purim: What It Is, How It’s Used, and What You Need to Know

When people search for Purim, a Jewish holiday commemorating the salvation of the Jewish people in ancient Persia, as told in the Book of Esther. Also known as the Feast of Lots, it’s celebrated with costumes, noisemakers, and traditional foods like hamantaschen. But if you’ve landed here looking for a drug named Purim, you’re not alone—some confuse it with medications because of similar-sounding names like purine or purin. There is no medication called Purim. It’s not a drug, not a supplement, not a brand name. It’s a holiday. And that matters—if you’re taking medications like blood thinners, antidepressants, or immunosuppressants, what you eat, drink, or even how much you sleep during Purim can affect your treatment.

Many people celebrate Purim with alcohol, especially wine, which is traditionally part of the feast. If you’re on Naltrexone, a medication used to treat alcohol use disorder by blocking the pleasurable effects of drinking, drinking during Purim defeats the purpose of the drug. Similarly, if you’re taking azathioprine, an immunosuppressant used for autoimmune conditions like lupus or Crohn’s disease, mixing it with heavy drinking can increase liver stress. Even if you’re not on medication, overindulging in sweets and salty snacks during Purim can spike blood sugar or raise blood pressure—especially risky if you have diabetes, a condition where high blood sugar damages nerves, kidneys, and blood vessels over time or angina, chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart.

And here’s something most don’t think about: if you’re switching antidepressants or managing side effects from tricyclic antidepressants, older medications that can cause drowsiness, dry mouth, and confusion, especially when mixed with antihistamines, the late nights, stress, and disrupted routines during Purim can trigger mood swings or worsen symptoms. Even something as simple as forgetting to take your pill because you’re at a party can throw off your whole regimen.

This page pulls together real, practical advice from posts that help you stay safe and in control during holidays like Purim—whether you’re managing chronic illness, watching drug interactions, or just trying to avoid a bad reaction. You’ll find guides on how to handle medication changes, what supplements might help or hurt, how to spot dangerous combos like fish oil and aspirin, and how to use savings programs to keep your prescriptions affordable—even if you’re buying them online. No fluff. No guesswork. Just what works.