The body doesn’t respond to medications in the same way at different times of the day. Some drugs are not as effective or as well tolerated if they’re taken at the wrong time. Follow this blog below to determine the best time for some of the common medicines.
ADHD medicines:
- ADHD drugs, such as Adderall and Ritalin, are stimulants that work to increase alertness and energy levels. It’s best to take these meds when you first wake up, at least 45 minutes prior to eating.
Allergies
- Take once-a-day antihistamines in the evening. Take twice-a-day antihistamines morning and evening. Otherwise follow label directions, taking at least one dose in the evening. Once-daily antihistamines reach their peak 12 hours after taking them, so evening use produces better control of morning symptoms.
Asthma
- Take in midafternoon if it’s an oral medication, or late afternoon if it’s an inhaled steroid. Asthma attacks occur 50 to 100 times more often between 4 and 6 a.m. than during the day. Four in 10 people with asthma wake up every night with trouble breathing. Medications to reduce inflammation and relax airways will take effect when asthma attacks are most likely to strike. For example, a single dose of inhaled steroid in the afternoon helps prevent asthma trouble that night, researchers found. The same dose taken in the morning or at night does not significantly reduce the number of attacks.
Vitamins & Supplements
- Calcium and magnesium. Break up calcium intake into doses of 500 mg or less, because that’s all your body can use at once. It’s good to take vitamin D at the same time, since it aids absorption of the minerals.
- Iron: For maximum absorption, it’s best to take iron on an empty stomach. Unless you have a sensitive stomach, take it first thing in the morning with orange juice. (The caffeine in coffee and the calcium in dairy can interfere with its absorption, while vitamin C can enhance it.) To prevent constipation, avoid the ferrous sulfate form, and be sure to drink plenty of water and eat ample fiber.
- Vitamin D: It is better absorbed if taken with a meal that contains fat. Don’t take D at dinner if you eat late, though, since it interrupts the body’s production of melatonin and can disrupt sleep.
- Vitamin B: Split B vitamins into morning and afternoon doses—before breakfast and lunch—and take them on an empty stomach. They’re best absorbed on an empty stomach, but if you have a sensitive tummy, take them with a little food.
- Vitamin C: Take it with breakfast and lunch. Vitamin C enhances calcium absorption, but may interfere with the absorption of vitamin B12, so take them separately if possible.
- Fish Oil: Fish oil can cause gastric distress (like nausea and indigestion), so it should always be taken with food.
- Probiotics: Swallow them before or as you eat breakfast or at night before bed. When we eat, there is a natural increase in digestive enzymes and bile salt production as your digestive system prepares to digest your food. Those enzymes and bile salts can kill the bacteria in our probiotics long before they ever get to our small and large intestines, where their real work is done. One team of researchers found that the common bacteria Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium have the best chances of survival when taken up to 30 minutes before a meal. It noted that those taken 30 minutes after munching didn’t survive in high numbers.
Blood Pressure (BP) Medicines
- Take at least one blood pressure-lowering medication at bedtime. Drugs called ACE inhibitors and ARBs are the most effective when taken at this time. Non-dipping is a major risk factor for stroke, heart attack and kidney disease. Taking one or more of the prescribed medications just before bedtime normalizes daily blood pressure rhythm and significantly decreases the risk, studies have found.
Cholesterol Medicine:
- Take statins at bedtime, advises the British Heart Foundation. Cholesterol production in the liver is highest after midnight and lowest during the morning and early afternoon, so statins are most effective when taken just before bedtime.
Depression:
- Disrupted sleep is a common side effect of some SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), such as Prozac and Paxil, which is why experts often recommend that patients take them when they wake up.
Heartburn
- An acid-reducing H-2 medication have a chemical name that ends in "tidine" (cimetidine, famotidine, ranitidine, nizatidine). Take them 30 minutes before your evening meal.
Thyroid Medicines:
- Take it approximately one hour prior to eating—and definitely before having any dairy. In fact, you should avoid calcium- and iron-rich roods—including milk, yogurt, and green, leafy vegetables—for four hours before or after taking the medication, since they can interfere with absorption and, as a result, make your dosage less effective.
Source: Internet and other
The views expressed in this article should not be considered as a substitute for a physician’s advice. Always make sure to seek a doctor or a professional’s advice before proceeding with the home treatment plan.