Indication-specific dosing for balsam apple, balsam pear, bitter apple bitter melon in combination, frequency-based adverse effects, comprehensive interactions, contraindications, pregnancy & lactation schedules, and cost information.

Sections

Sections Bitter Melon
Suggested Dosing
Suggested Uses
Interactions
Adverse Effects
Warnings
Pregnancy
Pharmacology

Suggested Dosing

Diabetes

50-100 mL qD OR

900 mg of fruit TID

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

Interaction Checker

Enter a drug name and Bitter Melon

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Interactions Found

Contraindicated

Serious - Use Alternative

Significant - Monitor Closely

Minor

All Interactions Sort By:

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.

acarbose
Monitor Closely (1)bitter melon increases effects of acarbose by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.
bendroflumethiazide
Minor (1)bitter melon, bendroflumethiazide. Mechanism: pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown. Hypokalemia.
bumetanide
Minor (1)bitter melon, bumetanide. Mechanism: pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown. Hypokalemia.
chlorothiazide
Minor (1)bitter melon, chlorothiazide. Mechanism: pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown. Hypokalemia.
chlorpropamide
Monitor Closely (1)bitter melon increases effects of chlorpropamide by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.
chlorthalidone
Minor (1)bitter melon, chlorthalidone. Mechanism: pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown. Hypokalemia.
cyclopenthiazide
Minor (1)bitter melon, cyclopenthiazide. Mechanism: pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown. Hypokalemia.
ethacrynic acid
Minor (1)bitter melon, ethacrynic acid. Mechanism: pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown. Hypokalemia.
furosemide
Minor (1)bitter melon, furosemide. Mechanism: pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown. Hypokalemia.
glimepiride
Monitor Closely (1)bitter melon increases effects of glimepiride by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.
glipizide
Monitor Closely (1)bitter melon increases effects of glipizide by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.
glyburide
Monitor Closely (1)bitter melon increases effects of glyburide by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.
hydrochlorothiazide
Minor (1)bitter melon, hydrochlorothiazide. Mechanism: pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown. Hypokalemia.
indapamide
Minor (1)bitter melon, indapamide. Mechanism: pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown. Hypokalemia.
insulin aspart
Monitor Closely (1)bitter melon increases effects of insulin aspart by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.
insulin detemir
Monitor Closely (1)bitter melon increases effects of insulin detemir by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.
insulin glargine
Monitor Closely (1)bitter melon increases effects of insulin glargine by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.
insulin glulisine
Monitor Closely (1)bitter melon increases effects of insulin glulisine by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.
insulin lispro
Monitor Closely (1)bitter melon increases effects of insulin lispro by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.
insulin NPH
Monitor Closely (1)bitter melon increases effects of insulin NPH by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.
insulin regular human
Monitor Closely (1)bitter melon increases effects of insulin regular human by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.
metformin
Monitor Closely (1)bitter melon increases effects of metformin by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.
methyclothiazide
Minor (1)bitter melon, methyclothiazide. Mechanism: pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown. Hypokalemia.
metolazone
Minor (1)bitter melon, metolazone. Mechanism: pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown. Hypokalemia.
miglitol
Monitor Closely (1)bitter melon increases effects of miglitol by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.
nateglinide
Monitor Closely (1)bitter melon increases effects of nateglinide by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.
pioglitazone
Monitor Closely (1)bitter melon increases effects of pioglitazone by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.
repaglinide
Monitor Closely (1)bitter melon increases effects of repaglinide by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.
rosiglitazone
Monitor Closely (1)bitter melon increases effects of rosiglitazone by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.
saxagliptin
Monitor Closely (1)bitter melon increases effects of saxagliptin by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.
shark cartilage
Minor (1)shark cartilage increases effects of bitter melon by pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown. Enhanced blood sugar lowering effects (theoretical interaction).
sitagliptin
Monitor Closely (1)bitter melon increases effects of sitagliptin by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.
tolazamide
Monitor Closely (1)bitter melon increases effects of tolazamide by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.
tolbutamide
Monitor Closely (1)bitter melon increases effects of tolbutamide by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.
torsemide
Minor (1)bitter melon, torsemide. Mechanism: pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown. Hypokalemia.
vildagliptin
Monitor Closely (1)bitter melon increases effects of vildagliptin by pharmacodynamic synergism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of hypoglycemia.

Adverse Effects

Not specified

Contraindications

Pregnancy

Cautions

Concomitant hypoglycemic medications

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.

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

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

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Sections Bitter Melon
Suggested Dosing
Suggested Uses
Interactions
Adverse Effects
Warnings
Pregnancy
Pharmacology

Bitter Melon (Herb/Suppl)