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How often should you take a med if you wake up & go to bed?
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Jan 11, 2010 · Do time your medications properly before bedtime and plan for a full night's sleep. Make sure that you've scheduled enough time for a full night's sleep, typically seven to eight hours...
- Overview
- How often do I take a medicine that says 3 times a day? Does 3 times a day mean every 8 hours?
- How many hours apart is 3 times a day?
- How often do I take a medicine that says 4 times a day? Does 4 times a day mean every 6 hours?
- How many hours apart is 4 times a day?
If your prescription says three times a day or four times a day – how many hours apart is that? What does 3x or 4x a day really mean?
You may be surprised to learn that 3 times a day and 4 times a day are not standardized terms nor do they correspond to specific time intervals in hours. They are more an English translation from the Latin TID (stands for ter in die which translates to three times a day) or QID (stands for quater in die which translates to four times a day) that doctors will write on a prescription so a pharmacist can write instructions on the label about how many times to take it. See our article Medical Abbreviations on Pharmacy Prescriptions for more information on medical abbreviations.
If you are told to take a medicine 3 times a day, then that usually means to take it at close to even intervals while you are awake. It does not mean you have to get up in the middle of the night to take your medicine unless your doctor or pharmacist has specifically told you to do so.
For example, if you have been told to take your medicine 3 times a day and you usually wake up at 7am and go to bed at 10pm then the best time to take a medicine 3 times a day would be:
•7 am (when you wake up)
•2 pm (early afternoon)
•9 pm (just before you go to bed).
If you have been told to take your medicine 3 times a day WITH FOOD, the best time to take a medicine 3 times a day with food would be:
A medicine written 3 times daily should roughly be taken every 7 hours apart while you are awake assuming you wake up at 7am and go to bed at 10pm. If you wake up or go to bed at different times then you will need to adjust the time interval between doses but the instruction “3 times a day” has enough leeway in its dosing regimen that taking the medication an hour or two earlier or later will not affect the medication’s effectiveness.
If a doctor has intended you to take the medicine at strict intervals then they will usually say “every 8 hours” sometimes with exact instructions, such as 7 am / 3 pm / 11 pm.
Taking a medicine 4 times a day is not so easy for a person at home to do, and fortunately, there aren’t many drugs that need precise dosing 4 times a day.
If you are told to take a medicine 4 times a day, then that usually means to take it at close to even intervals while you are awake. It does not mean you have to get up in the middle of the night to take your medicine, unless your doctor or pharmacist has specifically said to.
For example, if you have been told to take your medicine 4 times a day and you usually wake up at 7am and go to bed at 10pm then an appropriate way to take the medicine would be:
•7 am (when you wake up)
•12 noon (midday)
•4 pm (late afternoon)
A medicine written 4 times daily should roughly be taken 4 or 5 hours apart while you are awake assuming you wake up at 7 am and go to bed at 10 pm, for example:
•7 am (when you wake up)
•12 noon (midday)
•4 pm (late afternoon)
•9 pm (just before you go to bed).
If you wake up or go to bed at different times then you will need to adjust the time interval between doses but the instruction “4 times a day” has enough leeway in its dosing regimen that taking the medication an hour or two earlier or later will not affect the medication’s effectiveness.
Only take a sleeping pill when you know you can get a full night's sleep of at least 7 to 8 hours. A few short-acting sleeping pills are intended for middle of the night awakenings, so you may take them when you can stay in bed for at least four hours.
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Aug 15, 2024 · Basically, you want to be sure you give ample time for the medication to wear off throughout the night to avoid waking up feeling groggy. For most sleep medications, this window is 7 to 8 hours. The best time to take your sleep medication can also depend on which medication you’re taking.
Nov 8, 2023 · Most sleep aids are designed to be effective during four or eight hours. Taking a pill when you need to wake up before this time may cause next-day grogginess. For people who have trouble falling asleep but sleep soundly once they are asleep, it may be more appropriate to use a shorter-acting sleep aid.
Dec 3, 2013 · Timing When to Take Your Daily Medications. Some drugs are best used in the morning, others should be taken in the evening or right before going to bed. Take meds at the right time and get the greatest benefit with lowest risk of unpleasant side effects. Illustration by Simone Tieber.
Aug 10, 2023 · Insomnia. Research suggests that melatonin might slightly reduce the time it takes to fall asleep, but its effects on sleep quality and total sleep time aren't clear. Melatonin might be more beneficial for older adults who could be melatonin deficient. Jet lag.
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related to: how often should you take a med if you wake up & go to bed everyA Different Rx Medication For Adults Who Have Trouble Falling Or Staying Asleep. Take The First Step In Managing Insomnia: Consult A Doctor About Your Treatment Choices.
