When a prescription label reads, "Take one tablet by mouth once daily," does that mean every day at 8 a.m? Whenever you eat lunch? Whatever time works best for you?

It depends.

Timing is everything, and that includes the best times to take your prescriptions. When you take your medication can have a profound effect on its performance and potentially reduce unpleasant side effects, says Tom Lawley, a compounding pharmacist in Boca Raton, Florida.

"Certain medications should be taken in the morning or evening to provide maximum benefits," he tells Newsmax. But once you establish a routine, do try and take them at the same time every day.

Here are some examples of common conditions and when best to take the meds prescribed.

1. High Blood Pressure. High blood pressure usually follows a 24-hour cycle, with numbers higher during the day and lower at night. However, those over the age of 55 do not experience this condition called "non-dipping," so it's important to take at least one of the medications at night and the others in the morning.
2. High Cholesterol. Statin drugs are used together with diet and exercise to reduce LDL, or "bad" cholesterol levels. Take statins at night before bedtime because cholesterol production in the liver is highest after midnight, advises the British Heart Foundation.
3. Rheumatoid Arthritis. When the immune system that normally attacks foreign bacteria and viruses mistakenly attacks cells lining the joints, you experience swelling, stiffness, and pain. Taking RA medicines at night is more effective in providing relief than taking them in the morning, when symptoms are more pronounced.
4. Heartburn. The stomach produces two to three times more acid between 10 p.m. and 2. a.m. than any other time of the day. So, if you suffer from this painful condition caused by as backup of stomach acids into the esophagus, take your acid-reducing medication called an H-2 blocker 30 minutes before your evening meal. The medication helps control the secretion of stomach acid both after the meal and during the critical overnight period.
5. Asthma. Asthma attacks occur 50 to 100 times more often between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. than during the day. Four in 10 people wake up every night with difficulty breathing. Take your oral medication mid-afternoon and, if you are using an inhaled steroid, the best time is late afternoon. This gives the medications time to reduce inflammation and relax airways.
6. Thyroid. It's best to take thyroid medication first thing in the morning, according to Aurora Health Care. Thyroid medications can interact with other meds, so always take them on an empty tomach with no other medications.