Drug & supplement interaction

Bitter Almond + Raltegravir

Raltegravir brand name: Isentress.

No Known Interaction

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 20, 2026

The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Bitter Almond and Raltegravir in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first.

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Interaction report

Bitter Almond and Raltegravir

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Raltegravir and Bitter Almond in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Bitter Almond safety at a glance

Bitter Almond overall Avoid Bitter almond can release cyanide in the body and is considered unsafe to consume.

Pregnancy Avoid It may be poisonous and could harm the pregnancy; do not use.

Breastfeeding Likely Unsafe When used orally. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of bitter almond when used topically. Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Raltegravir and Bitter Almond? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›

How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Raltegravir

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Raltegravir is filed under 4 classifications — including integrase inhibitors, glucuronidated drugs, oral drugs. Bitter Almond has documented interactions with 1 drug class — the most serious being cns depressants (moderate) — and none of Raltegravir’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Bitter Almond Does Interact With Other Medications

Bitter Almond has 248 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Raltegravir isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 248 No known interaction 2,582 (incl. Raltegravir)

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Bitter Almond

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Bitter Almond. Pick one to open its full report.

What to actually watch for

What Bitter Almond Itself Has Been Linked To

This is not an interaction — nothing below involves Raltegravir. It is the side-effect record for Bitter Almond on its own, from the licensed Natural Medicines monograph. If something new turns up after you add Bitter Almond, this list is the first place to look. 2 entries are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

A severe allergic reaction Worth acting on Additional detail

“Orally, bitter almond and its oil can be toxic due to its amygdalin content.

Most Common Adverse Effects:

Oral: Central nervous system depression with respiratory failure.

Serious Adverse Effects (Rare):

All routes of administration: Allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis.”

Bitter Almond · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in depression.
An allergic reaction Worth acting on Additional detail
“Tree nuts, which includes bitter almond, can cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Due to the prevalence of this allergy in the general population, tree nuts are classified as a major food allergen in the United States.”

Bitter Almond · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in allergic rhinitis (hay fever).
1 source cited

105410. Food and Drug Administration. Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA); Public Law 108-282, Title II. Accessed on May 19, 2021. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/food/food-allergensgluten-free-guidance-documents-regulatory-infor

Everything above comes from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record for Bitter Almond — expand a row for the licensed statement it rests on. We read the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of Raltegravir’s FDA label too, and the two lists don’t meaningfully overlap — which is why no Raltegravir column appears here.

Special populations

Bitter Almond in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Lactation Likely Unsafe

When used orally. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of bitter almond when used topically.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Raltegravir

This page covers Bitter Almond only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Raltegravir page lists 33 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Breadfruit (moderate), Brussels Sprout (moderate), Cabbage (moderate) and Calcium (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 22 moderate · 10 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Raltegravir page

“For someone taking raltegravir (Isentress) to keep HIV suppressed, a steady drug level is what blocks rebound and resistance, and this list deserves genuine vigilance. The lone major-rated entry is activated charcoal, which can soak up the medicine in the gut and cut what reaches your blood.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Raltegravir interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Bitter Almond as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 2 real supplement products containing Bitter Almond, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Bitter Almond. Even though Bitter Almond itself has no known interaction with Raltegravir, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Bitter Almond and Raltegravir Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Bitter Almond

Steady interest

#1,165 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Medication Raltegravir

Steady interest

#2,208 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Where does our data come from?

Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Bitter Almond reference on this page ↓
Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Bitter Almond and Raltegravir records this page draws on were last updated July 11, 2026.
What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.

Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS.

Supplement

About Bitter Almond

What is Bitter Almond?

Cough suppressant
Muscle spasms (antispasmodic)
Itching and skin conditions
Flavoring agent
Sedative or 'narcotic' effects

Bitter almond is a variety of almond that contains amygdalin, a compound the body converts into cyanide, making it potentially poisonous. Because of this serious toxicity risk, bitter almond should not be eaten or used internally, and there is no reliable proof it treats any health condition. If you want almond's nutrition, choose ordinary sweet almonds instead.

Prunus dulcis var. amara · Rosaceae · Seeds (kernels) and the essential oil pressed from them · Essential oil, distilled water, flavoring extract

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Bitter Almond is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Bitter Almond record says about it on its own.

Bitter Almond: dosing

There is no safe, established dose of bitter almond or untreated bitter almond oil for taking by mouth, because of the cyanide poisoning risk.If you have a product that lists bitter almond as a flavoring, it should be cyanide-free and used only as directed on the label. Never try to dose raw bitter almonds or untreated oil yourself.

From our Bitter Almond monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Bitter Almond monograph & all interactions

Medication

About Raltegravir

What Is Raltegravir Used For?

Brand name: Isentress

Raltegravir — available as Isentress and as the generic raltegravir tablet — is used to treat HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus) infection. It is always used together with other antiretroviral (anti-HIV) medicines, never on its own.

Isentress is approved for adults and for children weighing at least 2 kg. Raltegravir tablets are approved for adults and for children weighing at least 25 kg who can swallow a tablet whole.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Raltegravir

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (16,418 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Foetal exposure during pregnancy 1,078 reports

Depression 1,017 reports

Anxiety 966 reports

Emotional distress 789 reports

Anhedonia 708 reports

See full Raltegravir drug information

Keep checking

Other Drugs & Bitter Almond

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Bitter Almond — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major

248Moderate

0Minor

2,581No known interaction

248 Moderate 2,581 No interaction

Moderate

248 interactions

Showing 60 of 248 moderate interactions — see all 248 on the Bitter Almond page.

No interaction 2,581 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Bitter Almond against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,581 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Bitter Almond list.

See the full Bitter Almond interactions page

See every supplement checked against Raltegravir, ranked by severity

Evidence & sources

Bitter Almond References

The 3 references that drive our Bitter Almond monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
Food and Drug Administration. Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA); Public Law 108-282, Title II. Accessed on May 19, 2021. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/food/food-allergensgluten-free-guidance-documents-regulatory-infor

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Bitter Almond and Raltegravir Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Bitter Almond with Raltegravir?

We do not list a known interaction between Bitter Almond and Raltegravir. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.

How was the Bitter Almond and Raltegravir combination checked?

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Raltegravir is filed under 4 classifications, and Bitter Almond has documented interactions with 1 drug class — none of Raltegravir's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.

Does Bitter Almond interact with any other medications?

Yes. Bitter Almond has 248 documented drug interactions in our database — Raltegravir is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.

Does Raltegravir interact with any supplements?

Yes. Raltegravir has documented interactions with 33 supplements in our database — Bitter Almond is not one of them. The Raltegravir interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Where next

Keep Exploring

Bitter Almond monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Raltegravir drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Raltegravir supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Raltegravir, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z Every drug we’ve checked against herbs & supplements References The 3 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Raltegravir and Bitter Almond?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.