When is the best time to take hormonal medication?

Patients with endocrine insufficiency require long-term treatment with hormones, but the results seem to vary greatly from patient to patient. One important factor is whether the timing of medication is appropriate or not?

Patient is having thyroid ultrasound - Photo: HUYNH THAO

According to Dr. Nguyen Quang Bay, head of the endocrinology - diabetes department, Bach Mai Hospital, in addition, the evaluation of treatment results based on hormone tests is also greatly affected by the time of blood collection, before or after taking the medication.

Citing a recent study from Endocrine Reviews, Dr. Bay said that in some cases, hormone test results were quite high due to measuring the amount of hormones recently taken.

In particular, new research shows the powerful influence of circadian rhythms on metabolic processes. This has important implications for the treatment of diseases such as diabetes and obesity.

Various hormones, such as cortisol, antidiuretic hormone (ADH), and testosterone, have marked circadian fluctuations, so it is important to determine the optimal timing of medication administration.

In addition, recent advances in the development of long-acting hormonal formulations have somewhat reduced the need for timed dosing, helping to balance patient compliance and treatment accuracy.

"But more research is needed to clarify the optimal time to use hormonal drugs, to improve effectiveness and reduce side effects," Dr. Bay stated.

According to this expert, there are recommendations on when to use some important hormones and when to take blood samples for testing to accurately assess treatment results.

In particular, for thyroid hormone testing (TSH, FT3, FT4), blood needs to be taken in the morning, so fasting is recommended. Hormones should be taken on normal days early in the morning. On the day of testing, they should be taken immediately after blood is taken.

Adrenal hormone test (Cortisol), blood is taken in the morning, should be fasted. Take hormones on normal days, patients with adrenal insufficiency take them when they first wake up. On the day of the test, take them after blood is taken (in patients with adrenal insufficiency, to check hormone levels at their lowest point).

For sex hormone testing (Testosterone), blood is drawn between 8-10am, requiring fasting. Use normal hormones in the morning (to check hormone levels at their lowest point) or 2 hours before blood is drawn (to check absorption).

On the day of the test, the patient should take the medicine after the blood is drawn (to check the hormone concentration at the lowest point) or before the blood is drawn (to check absorption).

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LINH HAN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/uong-thuoc-noi-tiet-vao-luc-nao-dat-hieu-tot-nhat-20250722120843437.htm