These medications that absolutely must be taken at a fixed time

There are medications to take in the morning, others at lunchtime or even in the evening. And then there are medications that must always be taken at the same time. This is important for the success of the treatment.

Anti-hypertensives and certain heart medications

When you suffer from high blood pressure, anti-hypertensive medications are essential to avoid any complications of this disease, such as a heart attack, stroke or even kidney failure. However, in order to properly control the body’s blood pressure, it is very important not to forget your treatment and to take it at a fixed time every day. The reason is simple: the anti-hypertensivehave, like all other medications, a defined duration of action, at the end of which their effect begins to diminish. Therefore, because blood pressure must be as constant as possible throughout the day, taking your treatment at a fixed time helps ensure this stability. This is valid for other cardiology drugs such as amiodarone or digoxin, but also for eye drops based on bimatoprost or latanoprost (against intraocular hypertension) which must also be taken at a fixed time.

Painkillers (like paracetamol)

That they are used to fight against mild chronic pain or on the contrary very intense, painkillers (from paracetamol to opioids) must be taken regularly and at fixed times in order to exert their effect continuously. Although we are tempted toconsume as little as possible in the long term, it is better relieve pain and prevent it from recurring. It is more difficult to control it when it varies in intensity or when it returns after it had disappeared. A higher dose will then be required. of medicine to relieve it (with therefore a increased side effects) and wait for the treatment to work again while in pain, which has a significant physical and mental impact. Taking pain medication regularly and at the times recommended by the doctor allows you to keep a stable quantity of medication in the blood, at an effective dose against pain.

The contraceptive pill

Contraceptive pills, to ensure optimal protection against unwanted pregnancies, must be taken every day at a fixed time. Even if a occasional forgetting of less than 12 hours is generally safe for most of them, this is not the case for levonorgestrel progestin-only pills since there is a risk of pregnancy if the forgetting exceeds 3 hours compared to the usual intake time. If you forget, you are advised to contact your pharmacist or doctor; taking a morning-after pill may be recommended. Note that taking a medication at a fixed time also establishes a routine and helps avoid forgetting.

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids, anti-inflammatory drugs, should be taken ideally when waking up around 8 a.m., when the physiological cortisol peak occurs. The body thus more easily assimilates these drugs with a structure close to that of the natural hormone, which increases their effectiveness. Note that taking them the evening could compromise the quality of sleepcortisol also being the wakefulness hormone.

Some bronchodilators

Tiotropium (Spiriva), an anticholinergic bronchodilator, must be taken at a fixed time each day (time of the patient’s choice) due to its mechanism of action and its pharmacology. Likewise, combinations of a bronchodilator with a corticosteroid are administered every day at a regular time, i.e. in the morning at 8 a.m. and in the afternoon at 3 p.m. or 5 p.m. depending on the medication concerned.

Certain antiplatelet agents (Plavix®) and anticoagulants

Clopidogrel (Plavix®), just like anticoagulants (AVKs such as Coumadin® or Previscan®the Lovenox®the Xarelto®), must be taken every day at the same time, in order to ensure stability of their effects. A time difference of a few hours compared to the usual schedule can compromise their effectiveness and constitute a danger. Concerning enoxaparin in particular, it is important to respect the times between 2 injections if necessary, as well as the recommended times in the case of preventive injection before a surgical procedure. It is also recommended for certain anticoagulants to take them in the evening, because this allows the treatment to be adjusted during a blood test carried out in the morning.

Immunosuppressants

Cyclosporine, tacrolimus, sirolimus, mycophenolate, etc. Immunosuppressants, used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases or to prevent transplant rejection, are to be taken every day at set times (generally in the morning and evening with a interval of 12 hours between 2 doses). It is important not to forget or postpone the doses at the risk of seeing their effectiveness diminish.

Basal insulin

Most slow insulins (like Lantus) or intermediate insulins are injected every day at a fixed time, in order to obtain an adequate response to balance blood sugar levels. Some, like nits, last for 24 hours, others like intermediates last for around 12 hours and therefore need to be taken twice a day at regular times. Compliance with these dosing times is important in order not to risk hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia in the event of a delay from the usual dosing time.

Treatments for osteoporosis

Due to their low bioavailability in the body and their numerous interactions with other drugs or foods, bisphosphonates (used against osteoporosis) must be taken at the same time of day each day, namely in the morning 1/2 hour before breakfast. It is important to respect this schedule in order to potentiate their effectiveness.

Thyroid hormones (levothyroxine)

Thyroid hormones and in particular levothyroxine (Levothyrox) are necessary for the proper functioning of the body throughout the day, due to the role they play in various physiological functions. Thus, they must be taken in the morning, and more preferably 1/2 hour before breakfast because their administration must also be done on an empty stomach.

Hypnotics and drugs with sedative effects

Unsurprisingly, drugs with hypnotic or sedative action (desired or constituting an adverse effect) are to be taken at bedtime, generally every day at the same time. Hypnotics also have a rapid onset of action and for some, a very limited duration of action. Taking them at another time of the day would make them ineffective on sleep disorders and on the other hand it would be dangerous, due to the risk of falling asleep or drowsiness that they cause.