When is the best time to take hormone medication for optimal effectiveness?

Patients with endocrine gland dysfunction require long-term hormone therapy, but treatment outcomes appear to vary considerably among patients. One of the key factors is whether the timing of medication administration is appropriate.

The patient is undergoing a thyroid ultrasound - Photo: HUYNH THAO

According to Dr. Nguyen Quang Bay, head of the endocrinology and diabetes department at Bach Mai Hospital, the assessment of treatment results based on hormone tests is also significantly affected by whether blood is drawn before or after taking medication.

Citing recent research from Endocrine Reviews, Dr. Bay stated that in some cases, hormone test results are quite high due to the precise quantification of the newly ingested hormones.

Specifically, new studies show a strong influence of circadian rhythms on metabolic processes. This has significant implications for the treatment of diseases such as diabetes and obesity.

Different hormones, such as cortisol, antidiuretic hormone (ADH), and testosterone, exhibit significant circadian rhythmic fluctuations, making it necessary to determine the optimal time for medication administration.

Furthermore, recent advances in the development of long-acting hormone formulations have somewhat eased the need for punctual medication intake, helping to strike a balance between patient adherence and treatment accuracy.

"However, more research is needed to clarify the optimal timing for using hormone therapy, in order to improve effectiveness and reduce side effects," Dr. Bay stated.

According to this expert, recommendations are made regarding the timing of administering certain important hormones and the optimal time for taking blood samples for accurate treatment outcome testing.

Specifically, for thyroid hormone tests (TSH, FT3, FT4), blood samples should be taken in the morning and fasting is recommended. Normal hormone tablets should be taken early in the morning. On the day of the test, the hormone should be taken immediately after the blood sample is taken.

Adrenal hormone (Cortisol) testing involves taking a blood sample in the morning, and fasting is recommended. The hormone should be taken orally as usual; patients with adrenal insufficiency should take it upon waking. On the day of the test, it should be taken after the blood sample is taken (in patients with adrenal insufficiency, to check hormone levels at their lowest point).

For sex hormone (Testosterone) testing, blood is drawn between 8-10 am and fasting is required. The hormone solution, normally used on a daily basis, is taken in the morning (to check for the lowest hormone levels) or 2 hours before blood collection (to check for absorption).

On the day of the test, the patient should drink the supplement either after blood is drawn (to check hormone levels at their lowest point) or before 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