ASK THE DOCTOR:

Question:  

What schedule should be used for taking PD meds, especially if the patient gets up at different times each day (such as rising at 3 am one day and 7 am the next or traveling across time zones)?  Guidance for taking PD meds with other prescriptions?

Response:

 1.   In general meds should be taken on, or as close to on schedule as possible. Most important is the time interval between meds. Therefore, if you take your meds every 4 hours this should be followed regardless of the time that you take your initial dose. Whether it is 6am or 7am on a given day the next dose should follow at the appropriate interval  - for instance 4 hours later. Some people are well for an hour or two in the morning and can do without meds first thing in the day, others need meds to get out of bed. Again, each case is unique and these questions should be discussed with one’s doctor.

2.    In general other meds can safely be taken with PD meds. With blood pressure(BP) meds, some people find that PD meds lower their BP a bit right after they take them. If taking all of these together makes one feel tired, lightheaded etc. then it is worth separating the PD meds from the BP meds. This is trial and error.  PD meds first then breakfast then BP meds. It also depends of what your BP med is and when you are supposed to take it – first thing in the am, lunchtime, nighttime etc.