However, theres growing evidence that most blood pressure medications are more effective when people take them at night.
This is largely due to a concept calledchronotherapy.
The biggest and most significant of these was the Hygia Chronotherapy Trial.
Taking high blood pressure medication.BSIP/UIG/Getty Images
It was a six-year study of more than 19,000 people with high blood pressure.
The researchers divided the participants into two groups.
One group took their blood pressure medication in the morning.
The other took them at night.
At least once a year, all of the participants used ABPM to record their blood pressures.
One is that many people are more likely to take their medication before bed rather than in the morning.
None of this is to say you should never take your blood pressure medication in the morning.
In fact, this might be better if you take diuretics.
They work by helping the kidneys to get rid of excess fluid in the body.
They can cause you to urinate more, which may mean more trips to the bathroom at night.
For people who work night shifts, it might be best to take your blood pressure medications before bedtime.
Always take any medication according to your healthcare providers instructions.
How Blood Pressure Medication Works
There are 11 categories of blood pressure medication.
When Is Blood Pressure Highest?
Blood pressure rises and falls in a fairly predictable pattern.
When you wake up in themorning, it surges.
It then increases throughout the day.
At night, during sleep, it tends to drop again.
However, this isnt always the case for people with high blood pressure.
In fact, there are four distinct patterns of nighttime blood pressure shifts.
They are:
All three types of abnormal dips in blood pressure are associated with various health risks.
They can affect the arteries and heart, kidneys, blood sugar levels, and more.
One way to do this is with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM).
This technique involves wearing a blood pressure cuff like the one your healthcare provider uses in their office.
The equipment automatically takes your blood pressure every 15 or 30 minutes.
You use it for a specified period of time, usually 24 or 48 hours.
ABPM measures blood pressure during sleep as well as during waking hours.
Be sure to ask your healthcare provider about the best schedule and timing for all your medications.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, there is not necessarily a best medicine for high blood pressure.
In many cases, the effects of blood pressure medicationare gradual.
The length of time it takes to work can also depend on the throw in of medicine.
Before you switch taking blood pressure medicine from morning to night, talk to your healthcare provider.
They will help decide which time of day is best for you.
2021;100(5):e24127.
doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000024127
American Heart Association.Types of blood pressure medications.
