The present invention provides methods of treating early morning pathologies using a time-specific controlled release dosage formulation which is administered prior to sleep, and which permits or achieves delivery of a pharmaceutically active agent effective for the treatment of the specific early morning pathology to be treated, at about the time of awakening. The time-specific controlled release dosage formulation comprises (1) a core including the pharmaceutically active agent(s) effective for the treatment of the early morning pathology, and (2) a swellable polymeric coating layer substantially surrounding the core. The swellable polymeric coating layer delays the release of the pharmaceutically active agent from the core for a predetermined period of time dependent upon the thickness of the swellable polymeric coating layer, to effect delivery of the pharmaceutically active agent at about the time of awakening.