Q: I usually take my cortisone tablets at 8am/6pm--about once a month I get up at 4.30am to drive to London (from East Sussex). Do I take my tablets when I get up or wait until the normal time?

A: Hydrocortisone tablets should be taken on waking, on an empty stomach before getting out of bed and in the early evening sometimes a midday dose is also required. When work patterns change hydrocortisone should be taken according to the activity i.e. on waking and at the time equivalent to lunch and the evening,