Page 178 - Mind Games The Aging Brain and How to Keep it Healthy

162 • Chapter 6

It is common knowledge that the risk of heart attack is
highest in the morning when you wake up. But this is the
time when the level of many medicines taken to reduce the
risk of heart attack is at its lowest. Other diseases, such as
arthritis and even the common cold, have general times of
the day when sufferers expect symptoms to be at their max-
imum levels. Medicines to counteract these diseases should
be matched to biological rhythms. Proper timing of medica-
tions increases effectiveness, decreases side effects, allows
you to manage your condition better, and may allow you to
take smaller doses. Later, we have a section devoted to your
medications and the effects they can have on your cognitive
abilities. Perhaps if you can reduce the dosage using more
efficient administration techniques, you can minimize the
effects on your mental processes. Do not attempt to reduce
the dosage of prescription medicines, however, without con-
sulting with your physician first.
As an example, compare the general pain cycles of osteo-
arthritis, the most common form of arthritis, and rheuma-
toid arthritis. Those suffering from osteoarthritis and those
suffering from rheumatoid arthritis often take the same non-
steroidal anti-inflammatory remedy, such as Ibuprofen, to
alleviate their pain. Those with osteoarthritis tend to have
more pain in the evening than in the morning and should
take the pain reliever around noon or midafternoon. Those
suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, in which pain is higher
in the morning, should take the pain reliever in the evening.
Please keep in mind that these are only suggestions. If your
doctor has told you to take the pain reliever at your conve-
nience, then you might want to consider altering the time of
day when you take it. However, if your doctor has told you
a specific time to take your medicine, you must ask your
doctor before you change your schedule.
Researchers already are investigating this concept of
matching the timing of medication administration to the
symptom cycle and call it chronotherapy. They predict that
pharmaceutical companies, doctors, and patients will soon
become familiar with this term. Medicines will need to be