Time of day to take BP meds

[ellaliv]

I am trying to figure out what time of day I should take atenolol--am or pm?

Any suggestions?

[Evie606]

Hi Ellaliv,

I’ve just swapped from bisoprolol to atenolol and i was told to take it in the morning.

I take it at 7am every morning with no ill effects so far.

E

[Henry20]

I suggest you phone the pharmacy and talk to the pharmacist; or phone your GP.

Best to talk to someone qualified to give medical advice.

[Jay777]

This might help - nhs.uk/medicines/atenolol/

[Sunnie2day]

Welcome to the forum!

Read the leaflet and ask the medic who prescribed it, also the chemist, as to the best time for you to take your new beta blocker.

When I was prescribed the beta blocker Bisoprolol 1.25mg (+300mg aspirin) I was told most of the common beta blockers are the same and I would need to work out on my own which time of day to take it.

For me that time of day worked out to be morning but there are others who report taking it at night works best for them. The medication for me taking it in the morning means I'm a little slower to become fully awake first thing in the morning (and safe to try housework, lol) and pretty much useless after 9pm but during the day I'm my usual self. I've read other morning takers posting here and elsewhere say trying it at night gave them horrific nightmares and made them seem to need several more hours night sleep to get through the next day without feeling groggy all day and needing an afternoon kip.

I don't have the patience for nightmares, all-day grogginess, and an afternoon nap!

But everyone is different - you may find the medication works better for you taken at bedtime.

If you for whatever reason can't speak with the medic who prescribed the beta blocker, you might consider talking with one of the cardiac nurses on the BHF Heart Helpline. The following link is to their contact details page:

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

[JennyRx]

There’s some evidence that if you’re on more than one bp med then take one in the morning and one in the evening as many people’s bp rises overnight. As a pharmacist we would help patients find the best time to optimise their meds. Sometimes side effects can dictate when is the best time as well as other factors.

And please can I ask that people call us pharmacists. Chemists do chemistry. We’re trying desperately as a profession to drop the ‘chemist’ tag. But I understand why people use it. But it needs consigning to history.

[BritTania]

I was on Propranolol until 3 months ago when swapped onto Atenolol. The Propranolol made me extremely tired so took it at just before bedtime. My theory being it was better to be tired when I needed to sleep, not during the day when I needed to concentrate. I also found that the effects lasted longer during busy mornings and I could feel them wearing off as the evening came along. So I stuck with that routine fir the Atenolol. I’ve had no issues staying on an evening tablet. If you’ve had them before then stick to your normal pattern. If taking it for the first time, read the leaflet or ask your prescriber for their advice. In my opinion, it comes down to what’s convenient for you - after what’s been told to you to do.

[GoodTimesBadTimes]

I’m on Bisoprolol 7.5 mg, I take them at night to avoid the dizziness.

[MountainGoat52]

I take all my medication with my breakfast cereal (Bisoprolol, Losartan, Vit B), then have my soluble Aspirin and follow this up with a cup of tea. I can then forget all about medication and get on with my day. When I have been prescribed evening medication I found I often missed the odd dose. Strange how routine is so easy in the morning, but not later on.