Bitter Melon (Herb/Suppl)

Brand and Other Names:balsam apple, balsam pear, more...bitter apple, bitter cucumber, bitter gourd, karela, lakwa, margose, momordica charantia, wild cucumber

Suggested Dosing

Diabetes

50-100 mL qD OR

900 mg of fruit TID

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Suggested Uses

Diabetes, psoriasis, GI upset, anti-microbial, HIV, cancer, fertility, skin diseases

Efficacy

Preliminary research shows that it decreases blood glucose & HgbA1C in type 2 diabetes

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Interactions

Interaction Checker

and Bitter Melon

No Results

     activity indicator 
    No Interactions Found
    Interactions Found

    Contraindicated

      Serious - Use Alternative

        Significant - Monitor Closely

          Minor

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             activity indicator 

            Contraindicated (0)

              Serious - Use Alternative (0)

                Monitor Closely (23)

                • acarbose

                  bitter melon increases effects of acarbose by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.

                • chlorpropamide

                  bitter melon increases effects of chlorpropamide by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.

                • glimepiride

                  bitter melon increases effects of glimepiride by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.

                • glipizide

                  bitter melon increases effects of glipizide by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.

                • glyburide

                  bitter melon increases effects of glyburide by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.

                • insulin aspart

                  bitter melon increases effects of insulin aspart by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.

                • insulin detemir

                  bitter melon increases effects of insulin detemir by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.

                • insulin glargine

                  bitter melon increases effects of insulin glargine by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.

                • insulin glulisine

                  bitter melon increases effects of insulin glulisine by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.

                • insulin lispro

                  bitter melon increases effects of insulin lispro by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.

                • insulin NPH

                  bitter melon increases effects of insulin NPH by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.

                • insulin regular human

                  bitter melon increases effects of insulin regular human by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.

                • metformin

                  bitter melon increases effects of metformin by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.

                • miglitol

                  bitter melon increases effects of miglitol by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.

                • nateglinide

                  bitter melon increases effects of nateglinide by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.

                • pioglitazone

                  bitter melon increases effects of pioglitazone by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.

                • repaglinide

                  bitter melon increases effects of repaglinide by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.

                • rosiglitazone

                  bitter melon increases effects of rosiglitazone by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.

                • saxagliptin

                  bitter melon increases effects of saxagliptin by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.

                • sitagliptin

                  bitter melon increases effects of sitagliptin by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.

                • tolazamide

                  bitter melon increases effects of tolazamide by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.

                • tolbutamide

                  bitter melon increases effects of tolbutamide by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.

                • vildagliptin

                  bitter melon increases effects of vildagliptin by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.

                Minor (13)

                • bendroflumethiazide

                  bitter melon, bendroflumethiazide. Mechanism: pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown. Hypokalemia.

                • bumetanide

                  bitter melon, bumetanide. Mechanism: pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown. Hypokalemia.

                • chlorothiazide

                  bitter melon, chlorothiazide. Mechanism: pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown. Hypokalemia.

                • chlorthalidone

                  bitter melon, chlorthalidone. Mechanism: pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown. Hypokalemia.

                • cyclopenthiazide

                  bitter melon, cyclopenthiazide. Mechanism: pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown. Hypokalemia.

                • ethacrynic acid

                  bitter melon, ethacrynic acid. Mechanism: pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown. Hypokalemia.

                • furosemide

                  bitter melon, furosemide. Mechanism: pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown. Hypokalemia.

                • hydrochlorothiazide

                  bitter melon, hydrochlorothiazide. Mechanism: pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown. Hypokalemia.

                • indapamide

                  bitter melon, indapamide. Mechanism: pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown. Hypokalemia.

                • methyclothiazide

                  bitter melon, methyclothiazide. Mechanism: pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown. Hypokalemia.

                • metolazone

                  bitter melon, metolazone. Mechanism: pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown. Hypokalemia.

                • shark cartilage

                  shark cartilage increases effects of bitter melon by pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown. Enhanced blood sugar lowering effects (theoretical interaction).

                • torsemide

                  bitter melon, torsemide. Mechanism: pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown. Hypokalemia.

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                Adverse Effects

                Not specified

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                Warnings

                Contraindications

                Pregnancy

                Cautions

                Concomitant hypoglycemic medications

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                Pregnancy & Lactation

                Pregnancy Category: X

                Lactation: N/A

                Pregnancy Categories

                A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.

                B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk.

                C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.

                D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk.

                X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist.

                NA: Information not available.

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                Pharmacology

                Metabolism: N/A

                Excretion: N/A

                Mechanism of Action

                Polypeptide P: insulin-like properties (onset 30-60min; peak 4 hours)

                Also has anticancer proteins

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                Medscape prescription drug monographs are based on FDA-approved labeling information, unless otherwise noted, combined with additional data derived from primary medical literature.