Circadian dosing

circadian dosing

Circadian dosing means timing the delivery of a medicine or treatment to match the body's natural 24-hour biological rhythms. Our bodies follow daily cycles that control sleep, hormone release, metabolism, and cell repair, and these cycles change how drugs are absorbed, processed, and how tissues respond. By giving a drug at the point in the cycle when it will work best or cause the fewest side effects, treatment can become more effective and safer. For example, some blood pressure medicines work better when taken at night, while sleep aids and hormones like melatonin are most helpful at specific times. Timing can also influence long-term outcomes by aligning treatments with times of active repair or lower vulnerability in tissues. Circadian dosing matters because it recognizes that one-size-fits-all schedules may miss opportunities to improve benefit and reduce harm. It can allow lower doses to produce the same effect, reduce side effects, and improve adherence when schedules fit a person's daily routine. Designing a timing plan often requires knowledge of a person's sleep-wake pattern, other medicines, and lifestyle factors like shift work. Researchers are still learning which treatments benefit most from timing and how to personalize schedules for individuals with different internal clocks. If you're considering timing a medication, talk with your clinician before changing when you take it, because timing adjustments should be safe and based on evidence for that specific drug.