Medications are most effective (and cause the worst side effects) when they reach peak concentration in your blood. The timing of this peak depends on how your body absorbs, distributes, uses, and removes each drug.
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“Medications release into the body at different times depending on the type of medication and how they are made (such as immediate release vs. extended release),” says Dunham, who adds that your DNA can also affect how you process medications.
Taking your medications at specific times in the day can help your body use it better, says Tobias Dang, MD, a psychiatrist and the medical director of mental health and wellness at Kaiser Permanente in Seattle, Washington.
“[For example,] if the drug makes you feel sleepy, it would most likely work best to take the medication at nighttime,” says Dr. Dang. “[But] if a drug makes you go to the bathroom more, taking it in the morning might be best.”
Side effect timing can also vary based on when you take the medication, whether you ate beforehand, other medications you take, and underlying medical conditions you might have, says Dang.
Your circadian rhythm plays a huge role in optimal medication timing.
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Your internal clock influences how a drug gets absorbed, moved to the right place, and used, so the right timing can maximize effectiveness and minimize side effects.
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Dunham also recommends taking certain medications around the same time each day to keep your circadian rhythm stable.
