A National Jewish Medical Center News Release reports that allergy and asthma sufferers can maximize the benefit of their medications by taking advantage of their bodies' natural circadian rhythms. Hay fever symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes, generally peak early in the morning, shortly after waking up. Those morning symptoms can be reduced if people take their allergy medications at night before going to bed. Asthma symptoms generally peak at about 4 a.m. For severe asthmatics on oral steroids, taking them at 3 p.m. helps reduce nocturnal symptoms. Inhaled steroids are a more widely used medication for people with mild to moderate asthma. Studies have shown that inhaled steroids have their greatest effect when taken between at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.