PillTime<\/a>, says juggling multiple prescriptions can be confusing, but the timing of each tablet is just as important as remembering to take it.<\/p>\nHe\u2019s advised that not reading the instructions properly can make medicines less effective and increase the risk of unwanted side effects. \u201cToo often, people don\u2019t read or fully follow the instructions that come with their medication \u2013 and that can have a real impact on how well those medicines work,\u201d said Peter, who has more than 20 years\u2019 experience in the pharmaceutical sector.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomething as simple as taking a pill at the wrong time of day, or not alongside food when it\u2019s needed, can reduce its effectiveness or even cause unwanted side effects. Building a consistent routine and understanding the \u2018when\u2019 as well as the \u2018what\u2019 of your medication is key to getting the best results for your health.\u201d<\/p>\n
Statins \u2013 a common example<\/p>\n
One of the most common types of medication taken at the wrong time is certain statins, a cholesterol-lowering drugs that help protect against heart disease. Millions of people in the UK, particularly those over 40, are prescribed statins such as simvastatin and lovastatin.<\/p>\n
These types of statins work best in the evening because the body\u2019s cholesterol production peaks at night. Despite this, many people take them in the morning simply out of habit, alongside other medications.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany people take their statins in the morning, simply because it\u2019s when they take the rest of their medication,\u201d Peter explained. \u201cBut for certain types, such as simvastatin, research shows they work best when taken in the evening \u2013 when the body naturally produces more cholesterol. If you take them at the wrong time, you could be reducing their effectiveness without even realising it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Supplements and other medications<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not just prescription medicines that can be affected by timing \u2013 supplements are also often taken at the wrong time, reducing their benefits. Iron tablets, for example, are often taken in the morning with breakfast or a quick cup of tea before rushing out the door. But food \u2013 particularly dairy \u2013 and drinks like tea or coffee can significantly reduce how much iron the body absorbs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are plenty of people who take morning supplements like iron tablets to \u2018get them through the day\u2019 \u2013 often gulped down quickly before heading to work,\u201d Peter said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut iron is actually absorbed best on an empty stomach, and things like dairy, tea or coffee can block absorption. That\u2019s why the best advice is to take iron tablets as soon as you get up, before breakfast.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"pack](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1756456237_617_0_featureimage.jpg\")
Many people take statins(Image: PA)The importance of planning<\/p>\n
Peter\u2019s advice also underlines the importance of planning \u2013 particularly for people managing multiple prescriptions. Leighton Humphreys, CEO of PillTime, says the company\u2019s pouching service can be a vital tool, taking the hassle and uncertainty out of managing medicines: \u201cI know it\u2019s not the most exciting task, especially if you have multiple medications that need to be taken at different times of the day or night. But the only way to get the most from your medication is to carefully follow the instructions from your pharmacist.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you can\u2019t do that, whether due to lack of time or physical ability, there are options to have your medications pre-sorted into pouches. This means the pharmacist will review the instructions for each prescription and organise your medicines into clearly labelled pouches showing the dose, date and time. There\u2019s no guesswork \u2013 just the right medication at the right time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Common medications people take at the wrong timeStatins, such as Simvastatin<\/p>\n
Best taken in the evening as cholesterol production is at its highest at nice. A dose before bed can maximise effectiveness.<\/p>\n
Iron supplements<\/p>\n
Best on an empty stomach, ideally first thing in the morning before breakfast. Remember, dairy, tea, and coffee can block absorption.<\/p>\n
Levothyroxine, for an underactive thyroid<\/p>\n
Best to take first thing in the morning, at least 30 minutes before eating food and drink to reduce absorption.<\/p>\n
Some pain relief, such as Ibuprofen and Naproxen<\/p>\n
Known as NSAIDS, these tablets can irritate the stomach \u2013 so it\u2019s best to take them with food or a glass of milk.<\/p>\n
Certain ADHD medications, such as methylphenidate<\/p>\n
Stimulant ADHD medications can cause insomnia if taken too late, so morning doses are recommended to manage symptoms during waking hours without disrupting sleep.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A pharmacist has spoken about the importance of timingTiming is important(Image: PA) A pharmacist says millions of people…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":103835,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[64,63,137,490,3285],"class_list":{"0":"post-103834","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-medication","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-health","11":"tag-medication","12":"tag-nhs"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103834","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=103834"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103834\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/103835"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=103834"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=103834"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=103834"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"woman](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_featureimage.jpg\")
Timing is important(Image: PA)<\/p>\n