Pills update

Get the most out of your medicines by taking them at the right time of day

Always take your medication exactly how it’s prescribed by your GP. If in doubt ask your pharmacist about how best to take your pills

Taking your pills at the correct time of day could make a huge difference to how well they work.

“Your GP should discuss with you how much and when to take the medicine they are prescribing and your pharmacist is always on hand to explain how best to take your tablets,” says Boots pharmacist Janky Raja. “Some medicines can be taken any time, but for others, to get the maximum benefit, when and how you take them is important.”

1 When you get up

It’s best to take levothyroxine for an underactive thyroid first thing in the morning before you have breakfast. “Take your tablets 30 minutes before any food or caffeine, both of which can affect how well the drug works,” says Janky. “Avoid calcium and other supplements for two hours either side too.”

2 At breakfast

“If you take any steroid medication it’s usually best to take these in the morning, because this is when your body produces cortisol,” says Janky. “Take them with food to protect your stomach from irritation.” Always read the information leaflet with your antibiotics. Some, such as flucloxacillin should be taken 20 minutes before food, while others, metronidazole and penicillin for example, should be taken with or after food. If you don’t follow this rule it can affect how well your body absorbs the medication.

3 At lunch

Take vitamins and minerals at lunchtime if you already take prescription drugs at breakfast. While not all drugs are affected by supplements some can be, so taking them separately could stop them interfering with each other.

4 At dinner

Warfarin helps to keep your blood thin to reduce your chances of heart attacks and strokes. It’s best to take it at around 6pm each day and the NHS recommend that you should always take your warfarin at the same point – before, during or after a meal

– to make sure it works in the same way. “Green, leafy vegetables have a high level of Vitamin K, which can interfere with warfarin, so only eat a small amount when you’re taking your pills,” says Janky. “Avoid cranberry juice – it stops warfarin from working.”

5 Before bed

Statins help to reduce your cholesterol and most of them, like simvastatin, are best taken in the evening. “This is when your body makes fresh cholesterol and so the drug can target this easily and help to lower your levels,” says Janky. Grapefruit juice stops statins from working so don’t drink it with your tablets.