A new study from Sichuan University in China has found that taking blood pressure medication at bedtime may work better than taking it in the morning—especially for controlling nighttime blood pressure.
This is important because high nighttime blood pressure is linked to a higher risk of heart attack and stroke, even more than daytime readings.
High blood pressure, or hypertension, affects nearly 300 million people in China alone.
Yet, fewer than 17% have their blood pressure under control. One of the biggest challenges is lowering blood pressure during sleep.
Doctors have debated for years about whether it’s better to take blood pressure medicine in the morning or at night. This new research helps provide a clearer answer.
The study, called the OMAN trial, involved 720 adults between the ages of 18 and 75. All participants either had never taken blood pressure medicine or had stopped taking it for at least two weeks before the study.
They were randomly assigned to take their medication either in the morning (between 6:00 and 10:00 AM) or at night (between 6:00 and 10:00 PM). Everyone took a common combination pill containing olmesartan and amlodipine. Doctors adjusted the dosage if needed based on regular blood pressure checks.
After 12 weeks, the results showed that people who took their medication at bedtime had better nighttime blood pressure control than those who took it in the morning.
On average, the bedtime group had a 3 mm Hg greater drop in nighttime systolic pressure and better overall control. In fact, nearly 8 out of 10 people in the bedtime group reached their nighttime blood pressure goals, compared to about 7 out of 10 in the morning group.
Morning blood pressure was also slightly better in the bedtime group, and fewer people in that group needed their doses increased during the study. Importantly, taking the medicine at night did not increase the risk of very low blood pressure during sleep or cause more side effects.
Researchers say these results support the idea of bedtime medication for better around-the-clock blood pressure control.
While more studies are needed, this trial adds strong evidence that simply changing the time you take your medicine could help protect your heart more effectively.
