Why do some medications need to be taken every few hours while some can be taken daily, weekly, or monthly?
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There are several factors:
– The actual chemical compound of the medication can be a factor. Our bodies get rid of some medicines faster than others. For some medications, it can be possible to make special forms that will last somewhat longer or have a “delayed release”
– How it’s delivered into the body. Some ways of giving a medication are great if you need quick effects, others are better for slower effects. For example, some implants can deliver birth control for months/years.
– What its job is. Some medications need to be continually present at a certain level to work. Others may only be needed at certain intervals.
Different medications metabolize at different rates. So you need to take them often to avoid too much or too little medication in your system. There are very few medication which have effects lasting more then a week though. And when you are dealing with monthly medication you are most likely talking about medications that needs to be taken at certain points in the menstrual cycle or slow release delivery. The last one is pills which take a long time to dissolve and will release small amount of medications as they do so. Obviously this can not be done orally but needs to be injected.
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