APPLYING CHRONOTHERAPEUTIC PRINCIPLES TO DRUG-DELIVERY SYSTEMS, DOSING TIMES

Chronotherapy is the delivery of medications in varying amounts and ti mes during the 24-hour day, taking into consideration the human circad ian rhythms and the circadian variability of biologic factors or disea ses. Several drug regimens have been tailored to circadian rhythms of disease, including two that use drug delivery systems based on the chr onotherapeutic principle to improve control of disease: controlled-ons et, extended-release verapamil and evening dosing of timed-release the ophylline. Studies of chronotherapeutically optimized dosing regimens have shown improvements of certain endpoints, such as peak early morni ng blood pressure, angina incidences, pulmonary function, and nighttim e asthma attacks.