title: Timing is important in medication administration: a timely review of chronotherapy research.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronotherapy involves altering the timing of medication administration to improve the overall control of a disease and to minimise treatment side-effects, and is an emerging concept in the field of therapeutics.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this review is to conduct an in-depth analysis of the recent literature in order to identify and evaluate the evidence base for drug chronotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search was conducted in three databases (Medline, Embase, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts) using the search terms "Chronotherapy", "Chronopharmacology", "Chronopharmacokinetics", "Chronopharmacodynamics", "Chronoefficacy", "Chronoformulation", "Morning and Evening", "Morning and Bedtime" and their combinations. The selection criteria for the inclusion of articles in the review included currency (years 2008-Aug 2011), publication in English language, studies done in Humans and non-review articles that pertained to 'drug' therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our search revealed a total of 192 journal articles, of which 41 articles were selected for review. The specific hypothesis for the effectiveness of chronotherapy that was tested in these 41 studies was chronoeffectiveness (n = 34), followed by chronopharmacokinetics (n = 5), chronomodulation (n = 3) and chronopharmacodynamics (n = 2). The findings from two-thirds (n = 27) of the reviewed studies, support the notion of chronotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The review presents the scope of chronotherapy in drug utilization. We believe that the knowledge of chronotherapy is growing and the current research for chronotherapy is promisingly in the conceptualization or early experimental phase. Going forward, chronotherapy studies should also explore genetic, gender and age related differences. Preliminary screening of new drugs for chronotherapeutic potential may be a way of enhancing quality use of medicines.
authors: Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, Science Road, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia. gaga8947@uni.sydney.edu.au
authors: Gagandeep
authors: G
authors: Kaur
authors: Craig
authors: C
authors: Phillips
authors: Keith
authors: K
authors: Wong
authors: Bandana
authors: B
authors: Saini
mesh_terms: D055870:Drug Chronotherapy; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D006801:Humans; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010599:Pharmacokinetics; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations