Hypertension medications work better when taken at bedtime, study says

If you’re on medication for hypertension, taking it before bedtime will not only improve nighttime blood pressure control but also reduce risk of diabetes, suggests a recent Spanish study in Diabetologia. The study involved more than 2,000 people with hypertension (but not diabetes initially), half of whom were told to take their blood pressure medication before bedtime, half upon awakening. During six years of follow-up, the bedtime group had better nocturnal blood pressure control as well as only half the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, compared with the morning group. The greatest protection against diabetes was seen in people taking angiotensin receptor blockers, ACE inhibitors and beta blockers. This is the first study to find this benefit, so it will need to be confirmed by further research. Discuss your medication schedule with your health care provider before changing it. — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY WELLNESS LETTER