Dosage times.

[PrettySoldier]

How important is it to take your dosage at the same time each day? I asked my physician this at my last follow up & he told me it wasn't a huge deal but I am also curious of other opinions. I try to take it at the same time every day as best as I can but sometimes I don't & might take it an hour or 2 late. Will this cause any negative effects?

[MyKa]

Not at all. I try to stay consistent and take my mones each morning when I get up. Don't worry!

[Jamie D]

Very, very few medications are time sensitive.  As long as you don't overdose at any one time, you should be fine.

A hour or two should make no difference, if you are talking about HRT meds.  Some people even split their pills and take them about 12 hours apart.

Think about the common delivery systems.  Injections are given every week or two.  Patches last several days to a week.  The are long-term implants.  And pills with a number of dosing schedules.

[Cindy]

Physicians and Pharmacists usually say to take drugs at the same time each day so that you get in a habit of taking them so you don't forget. There are some medications that work best when you are asleep, several of the anti-cholesterol medications are best taken before sleep, your liver does the cholesterol dance while you are asleep.

I may be mistaken but I've not heard of any of the female hormones being more effective at night or day, and as Jamie said many of us have implants anyway that release the hormone around the clock.

Contraceptives are usually advised to be used at the same time each day both for the habit and for keeping the hormone levels equivalent on a daily basis, but that is to prevent conception. Usually recommend to be taken in the morning, as many drugs are, because you are less likely to forget in the morning than you are in the evening.

[Floritine]

Taking HRT meds and other medications at the same time daily is about getting you use to a routine so you don't forget, but missing the by a few hours or more will not hurt your body,
As Miss Cindy has said cholesterol med work best while your asleep as I found over the years, but don't stress if you forget it or miss your normal time as you will be fine just continue the next day as normal..

[dapplepool]

I am really bad about taking my meds at regular times since my sleep schedule varies so much from day to day. I haven't experienced any negative side-effects from being a few hours off... more than that might not be good though. Also if you forget, don't take double dosage. Too much estrogen will convert to testosterone.

[Beth Andrea]

About the same time(s) each day. I try to balance them (E) out time-wise so I have a steady level of E in me...but I haven't noticed any change if I delay one pill, or double-up*.

*Not that I have, or anything...*whistling innocently*

[JoanneL]

It can be difficult when on certain patches eg estrodot which are changed every 3 and a half days. Recommendation is to write the time down

[aibeecee]

I started with taking hormones only in the morning but after a year changed to taking half of the dose each in the morning and before bedtime (estrogen & anti-androgen). No problems with side effects (water retention, depression, tiredness, etc.).

[snowboarderchic]

I should start taking mine at the same time everyday. I used to be really OCD about it, now I can't seem to ever remember taking them, including today!