Time to take medicine

When patients are sick, they need to take a lot of medicines for treatment. Different diseases and different treatment drugs require different times for taking medicines. Most medicines for stomach problems are taken before meals, while medicines for other diseases are taken after meals. Mastering the correct time to take medicines can maximize the efficacy of the medicines. So, what is the normal time to take medicines?

Pay attention to the best time for medication, that is, arrange the time of medication to coincide with the human body's biological rhythm (i.e., biological clock) to reduce side effects and maximize the effect of the drug.

1. Antihypertensive drugs: It is advisable to take them at 7 am, 2 pm and 7 pm respectively. The dosage in the morning and evening should be slightly less than that in the afternoon. Do not take blood pressure medications before going to bed at night.

2. Hypoglycemic drugs: Diabetics are most sensitive to insulin in the early morning. At this time, the amount of insulin injected is small and the effect is good. When taken orally at 8 a.m., methylglyoxaline (D860) has a strong and long-lasting effect. A large dose is required in the afternoon to achieve the same effect.

3. Cardiotonic drugs: Heart patients are most sensitive to digitalis, digoxin and digoxin in the early morning, and their effects are about 40 times higher than at other times.

4. Anti-asthma drugs. For example, aminophylline is best taken around 7 a.m. for best results.

5. Anti-allergic drugs: If cyproheptadine is taken around 7 am, the drug effect can be maintained for 15-17 hours, while if taken at 7 pm, it can only last for 6-8 hours.

6. Hormone drugs: Since the secretion of adrenal cortex hormones from midnight to 9 am accounts for about 70% of the total secretion in 24 hours, it is best to take them before 9 am. The peak of secretion is around 7 am, so a one-time dose at 7 am every day is most effective.

7. Anti-cold medicine: Take it in the morning and evening when symptoms are severe.

8. Antipyretic and analgesic drugs: such as aspirin, if taken around 7 am (after meals), can make the effect good and lasting. If taken at 6 pm and 10 pm, the effect will be poor.

9. Cholesterol-lowering drugs: Since the production of cholesterol and other blood lipids in the human body increases at night, patients should take cholesterol-lowering drugs at dinner.

10. Anti-ulcer drugs: Since human gastric acid secretion reaches its peak at night, the daily dose should be taken twice a day, morning and evening.