Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) should be taken at the same time every day. Some experts think the best time of day to take any blood pressure pill may be at night. But HCTZ can make you have to urinate more often than usual. Many people take it in the morning, so they are less likely to have to get up and urinate at night. No matter what time you choose, remember to take it every day! 

A recent study compared people who took their blood pressure pill at night with people who took it first thing in the morning. Although some people in the study were taking HCTZ, most were taking other types of BP pills. People in the study who took their pills at night had lower blood pressure readings. They also had about half as many heart attacks, strokes, and other heart problems during the 6-year follow-up period. This is compared to people who took their medicine in the morning. The higher your risk of a heart attack, the bigger the effect of nighttime dosing will be. In actual numbers, this means that a person who has a 1 in 10 chance of having a heart attack taking their blood pressure pill in the morning, will have a 1 in 20 chance of having a heart attack if they take their pill at night.

Doctors think that blood pressure control while you sleep may be even more important for your health than during the day. Talk to your doctor about the best time of day to take your blood pressure pill.

The same time every day, that's the way!