Mark, imo, if your father eats three meals, then he probably would be better taking whole tablets 30 to 45 minutes before each. some of the medication will be metabolized in the stomach. but, taking some after a meal is likely to be mostly metabolized there. does he benefit from the whole pill before bed? I would reduce or eliminate that one if he has vivid dreaming or disturbances of sleep. Ron Vetter 1936, PD dz 1984 [log in to unmask] http://www.ridgecrest.ca.us/~rfvetter