Any reason NOT to switch BP med from morning to bedtime?

[Jingthing]

OK, I've been taking Lisinopril (ACE inhibitor) medication for hypertension for decades always in the morning. I'm guessing the original scrip probably said take in the morning for some reason. Now I read this research. So why not switch to taking it at bedtime? I'm pretty sure typical doctors here wouldn't have a strong opinion as to when to take it either way, which is why I'm posting here.

 

Quote

 

Study: Taking hypertension meds at bedtime cuts health risks significantly

 

When people take their hypertension medications at bedtime, blood pressure is better controlled during the night and the risk of death or illness due to cardiovascular disease is significantly lowered, a new study suggests.

Researchers who followed nearly 20,000 patients for a median of six years found that patients who took their medications at bedtime cut their overall risk of dying from cardiovascular causes during the study nearly in half compared with those taking the drugs in the morning, the study found.

 

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/study-taking-hypertension-meds-at-bedtime-cuts-health-risks-significantly/2019/10/25/90d84c4e-f688-11e9-ad8b-85e2aa00b5ce_story.html

 

 

Edited October 29, 2019 by Jingthing

[uhuh]

This is not new,  the recommendations to switch from morning to evening have been coming for a couple of years.

 

If you want to switch do it under medical supervision. Your evening and morning blood pressure may all off a sudden be much lower than what you are used to. You may experience dizziness, and sleepiness in the morning. You may have to adjust your medication. 

[Slip]

Is this only true for ACE inhibitors or all blood pressure meds?  1st I've heard of it, and thanks for the post JT.  I just take in the morning as that what is the doc originally suggested. 

I can't see a problem with the morning/ evening switch.  I'll just wait 12 hours same as when I forget.

[Sheryl]

It is pretty standard to say once in the morning for any med that is a once a day dosage presumably because most  people are more apt to remember and take on time that way.

 

There is no problem taking in the evening instead if you are sure you will remember.

 

Making the switch suggest you first split the pill in hakf taking half morning and half at night then whole tab at night the next day. This will partially offset the temporary dip in nlood level that will occur.

[Jingthing]

11 hours ago, Slip said:

Is this only true for ACE inhibitors or all blood pressure meds?  1st I've heard of it, and thanks for the post JT.  I just take in the morning as that what is the doc originally suggested. 

I can't see a problem with the morning/ evening switch.  I'll just wait 12 hours same as when I forget.

I don't think the study really got into differentiation of the different types of BP meds. 

[Jingthing]

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

It is pretty standard to say once in the morning for any med that is a once a day dosage presumably because most  people are more apt to remember and take on time that way.

 

There is no problem taking in the evening instead if you are sure you will remember.

 

Making the switch suggest you first split the pill in hakf taking half morning and half at night then whole tab at night the next day. This will partially offset the temporary dip in nlood level that will occur.

Thanks. That was my guess as well. To remember. 

 

This is another case though of whether to take action or not in reaction to news about medical research in the popular press. 

[Guderian]

I tried changing it a few months ago and found after a week that my blood pressure had actually increased, so I changed back to mornings. Maybe I should have given it longer, I don't know, but doctors back in the UK who generally see controlling blood pressure as a cheap and effective way of improving health outcomes aren't getting worked up about it.

[Speedo1968]

There was a report on a BBC Radio 4 early morning program a couple of days ago about recommendations to change to an evening dose.
Research seems to show considerable lowering of BP, as for why the team still seems to be out on that question.     Some think that if you take your daily tab in the evening it starts your day off with a lower reading thus giving more room for any increase during the day.
I take a single dose in the morning as my waking BP is always the highest of the day, so will give it a go.