Key takeaways:
There are some medications that you should take at night because they can cause drowsiness or fatigue. Examples include certain antidepressants, sedatives, and antiviral medications.
Other medications may be more effective if you take them at night. This includes short-acting statins as well as some anticoagulants and blood pressure medications.
If you use long-acting insulin, your prescriber may recommend injecting it at night to help with overnight and morning blood sugar levels.
Talk to your healthcare team about the best time to take your medications before making any changes. They can help determine if taking your medication at night is safe and appropriate.
Many people take their medication first thing in the morning. And most medications work the same no matter what time of day you take them. But there are some medications that may work better or have fewer side effects if you take them at night.
Below, we’ll discuss seven medications you should take at night — and why.
1. Statins
Statins are a group of medications used to treat high cholesterol. You can take some statins at any time of the day. But other statins may work better if you take them at night. This is because your body makes most of its cholesterol overnight.
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There are long-acting statins and short-acting statins. If you take a long-acting statin in the morning, it will still be effective overnight. But short-acting statins don’t last as long. So these statins may work better to lower your cholesterol if you take them in the evening.
Examples of short-acting statins that you should take at night include:
Simvastatin (Zocor)
Pravastatin (Pravachol)
Lovastatin (Altoprev)
Fluvastatin (Lescol) — the immediate-release (IR) version only
Long-acting statins, such as atorvastatin (Lipitor) and rosuvastatin (Crestor), work the same no matter what time of day you take them. But it’s still best to take them at the same time every day for consistent effects.
2. Some antidepressants
Antidepressants are medications used to treat depression and other mental health conditions. Certain antidepressants can cause drowsiness. It may be best to take these antidepressants before bed to avoid daytime drowsiness. You may also prefer to take your antidepressant at night to avoid nausea or other side effects during the day.
Antidepressants that may be better to take at night include:
Mirtazapine (Remeron)
Doxepin (Silenor)
Best time to take vitamins: The best time of day to take a vitamin can depend on what vitamin you are taking. Learn more about which vitamins may be better to take in the evening.
Medications to take with food: It may be better to take some medications with a meal. Take a look at what medications you should take with food and why.
Medications to take on an empty stomach: Certain medications work better when you separate them from food. Here is a list of different medications you should take on an empty stomach.
Other antidepressants, such as bupropion (Wellbutrin XL) and fluoxetine (Prozac), may cause insomnia (trouble sleeping). So it’s typically better to take these in the morning. Your healthcare team can review the specific side effects of your antidepressant with you to help you determine the best time of day for you to take it.
3. Sedatives
Sedatives are a group of medications that calm down the brain and body. If you take a sedative during the day, it can make you sleepy and impair your performance. So it may be better to take sedatives at night, if possible.
Examples of sedatives include:
Zolpidem (Ambien)
Eszopiclone (Lunesta)
Zaleplon (Sonata)
Alprazolam (Xanax)
Lorazepam (Ativan)
Temazepam (Restoril)
Triazolam (Halcion)
Phenobarbital (Luminal)
You may not be able to avoid taking a sedative during the day. In this case, you should avoid activities that require attention, such as driving, for the next several hours or until you’re feeling alert.
Good to know: Certain sleep medications, such as zolpidem and zaleplon, can cause you to sleepwalk or perform other activities, such as cooking or online shopping, while you’re asleep. To reduce the risks, it’s recommended that you take these medications right before you physically get into bed to go to sleep.
4. Long-acting insulin
Long-acting insulin helps control blood glucose (sugar) levels in people living with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Examples of long-acting insulin include:
There is no clear consensus on the best time of day to inject long-acting insulin. But many people use long-acting insulin at bedtime to help with overnight and morning blood sugar levels.
If you’re prescribed Levemir, it’s recommended to inject it with your evening meal or at bedtime. If you use a different long-acting insulin, the timing of your doses can be more flexible. Insulin glargine is similarly effective if you inject it at breakfast, dinner, or bedtime. And you can inject insulin degludec any time of day. Check with your healthcare team to determine the best time of day for you to administer your long-acting insulin based on your blood sugar levels.
5. Some blood pressure medications
There are many different types of medications used to lower high blood pressure. One benefit of taking your blood pressure medication at night is that it may reduce the risk of experiencing side effects, such as dizziness and upset stomach, during the day. Your prescriber may also recommend taking your blood pressure medication at night if you tend to have higher blood pressure levels first thing in the morning.
Taking blood pressure medication at night may also lower your risk of having a heart attack or stroke, especially if you take more than one. But it’s best to speak with your healthcare team about the best time of day for you to take your blood pressure medication before making any changes.
Keep in mind that diuretics (water pills), such as hydrochlorothiazide, can make you pee more often. So you may want to avoid taking these medications at bedtime to avoid nighttime bathroom trips.
6. Some anticoagulants
Anticoagulants, also referred to as blood thinners, are medications that help prevent and treat blood clots. It may be better to take some anticoagulants in the evening.
For example, if you’re taking rivaroxaban (Xarelto) once daily for atrial fibrillation, it’s recommended to take it with your evening meal. Blood clots may be more likely to occur in the early morning hours. So taking rivaroxaban in the evening helps ensure medication levels remain effective during this time.
Warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven) is another anticoagulant your prescriber may recommend taking in the evening. But this isn’t related to its effectiveness. Warfarin often requires frequent dosage changes based on regular blood tests. Taking it in the evening makes it easier to make these changes the same day as your blood tests, instead of having to wait for the next morning.
7. Some antiviral medications
Some antiviral medications may be better to take at night.
For example, you should take Atripla (efavirenz / emtricitabine / tenofovir), which treats HIV, at bedtime. This is because it can cause side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, and trouble focusing. These side effects may be more bothersome if you take the medication in the morning.
Another antiviral medication that may be better to take at night is entecavir (Baraclude). Entecavir treats hepatitis B. You should not take entecavir within 2 hours before or after a meal. So it may be more convenient to take it at night. Plus, it can cause side effects, such as fatigue and dizziness, that may be worse if you take it in the morning.
Fatigue is also a common side effect of medications used to treat hepatitis C, such as Harvoni (ledipasvir / sofosbuvir), Epclusa (sofosbuvir / velpatasvir), and Mavyret (glecaprevir / pibrentasvir). So these antiviral medications may also be better to take at bedtime.
Can you take thyroid medication at night?
Yes, you can take thyroid hormone medications at night. It’s usually recommended to take thyroid medications, such as levothyroxine (Synthroid), 30 to 60 minutes before breakfast. This is because taking these medications on an empty stomach helps your body absorb them better.
But it’s also fine to take thyroid medications at night. In fact, taking levothyroxine at night may even work better than taking it in the morning. Just make sure that you take it on an empty stomach, at least 3 hours after your evening meal.
The bottom line
There are several medications that are better to take at night than in the morning. Medications that cause drowsiness or fatigue, such as sedatives and some antidepressants and antivirals are one example. Other medications, such as short-acting statins, some anticoagulants, and certain blood pressure medications, may work better if you take them at night. If you use long-acting insulin, your prescriber may recommend injecting it at night to help with overnight and morning blood sugar levels.
Talk to your healthcare team about the best time to take your medications before making any changes. They can help determine if taking your medication at night is safe and appropriate.
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