Medicine Timing

[vernonk]

If you took a pill at 6.30am, at what time would it take full effect?

[EcclesCake]

I would imagine it would depend very much on the type of pill.

I'd be very unhappy if I still had a headache nearly twelve hours after taking an aspirin!

[PringlesQueen]

It depends - exactly what 'pill' are you talking about?

[vernonk]

A statin

[Buenchico]

That's impossible to answer because some medications are designed to act extremely quickly, whereas others are deliberately 'slow release'. (Even different preparations of the same drug can act over different time spans).

[Nibble]

at 6.30am I'd hope the "morning after" pill would be quicker than EC's headache pill :)

[Buenchico]

Your post about statins wasn't there when I started typing my previous post.

A couple of quotes which may be relevant:
"Statins are generally taken as a single dose taken in the evening"
and
"Patients who take statin drugs begin to see the first results after a couple weeks"

So I'd suggest, based upon that, that looking for any 'on the day' effect might be pointless.

Source:
http://www.statinanswers.com/regimen.htm

[LazyGun]

Assuming for the moment it is not a purpose designed slow release pill, or a gelatin coated one, on an empty stomach, the pill should reach the duodenum and then the stomach within 15-20 mins, add another 10-15 minutes for it to dissolve / active ingredient to enter the blood stream = say about 30 -45 mins?

On a full stomach, maybe 3 hours?

My recollection of factors influencing drug absorption is a bit hazy nowadays....

[Sqad]

Which statin?

[PringlesQueen]

Statins take a period of time to work. After taking for one month, they should start to work. The GP should ask you to go back after taking the statin for a few months so they can see if they are having the desired effect or if the dosage needs to be changed

[Buenchico]

Further to both my post above and that of PQ, taking statins is akin to changing your diet. It can do you good but there's no point in expecting immediate benefits.

[boxtops]

You're supposed to take statins at bedtime, according to the literature in my pack of pills.