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Dietary supplement

Bitter Melon 500 mg Full Spectrum Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Swanson

Bitter Melon 500 mg Full Spectrum label
See full label image
Capsule Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 9, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking Bitter Melon 500 mg Full Spectrum against your medications. The heart of this page is the interaction checker and the full interaction report — how this product’s ingredients may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medicines you may be taking.

Around that, we add a pharmacist’s high-level view of the product as a whole — what’s inside, the evidence for its stated use, how transparent the label is, and what safety data exists — so you can see the full picture in one place. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases and the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist — not medical advice — and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Bitter Melon 500 mg Full Spectrum is a dietary supplement by Swanson with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for blood sugar support, diabetes, digestive complaints.Based on those ingredients, 282 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Bitter Melon. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

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Check Your Meds Against Bitter Melon 500 mg Full Spectrum by Swanson

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with Bitter Melon 500 mg Full Spectrum by Swanson — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Bitter Melon 500 mg Full Spectrum by Swanson

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

Generated from HelloPharmacist’s pharmacist-curated databases and editorial rules · Last generated Jul 12, 2026

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This product contains one active ingredient: bitter melon, supplied as a full-spectrum extract at 500 mg per capsule. Bitter melon is a tropical fruit used traditionally in Asia for centuries.

The capsule itself is made from gelatin and filled out with microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, and silica — standard inactive ingredients that help form and stabilize the supplement.

Does it work?

Not established
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not established

The graded evidence we hold for these ingredients covers different conditions than the ones this product is marketed for, so there's no established rating for its stated use — see Bitter Melon's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: maintains healthy blood glucose and digestive support.
  • We looked for evidence on: Diabetes, Impaired glucose tolerance (prediabetes), Dyspepsia, Constipation, Metabolic syndrome, Blood sugar regulation — and 3 related terms.
  • The closest evidence on file: Bitter Melon is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Constipation (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Bitter Melon is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Diabetes, Dyspepsia, Impaired glucose tolerance (prediabetes), Metabolic syndrome.

The evidence we hold for bitter melon doesn't establish that it works for any condition. Our data rates its effectiveness as insufficient for amenorrhea, athletic performance, liver disease, constipation, diabetes, and digestive upset (dyspepsia).

That doesn't mean it has no effect — it means reliable clinical evidence isn't yet available in the sources we track. If you're thinking about it for a specific reason, your pharmacist can point you toward what research does exist.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Bitter Melon

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Bitter melon taken by mouth is generally well tolerated, but gastrointestinal side effects are common — heartburn, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, and belly discomfort showed up in about 3 to 16% of people in studies. Dizziness, fatigue, and headache have also been reported.

Rarely, very low blood sugar (hypoglycemic coma) and seizures in children have occurred. One case reported kidney inflammation after months of high-dose bitter melon extract; kidney function recovered when the supplement was stopped.

For pregnancy, the safety data advises against it — bitter melon seeds and high doses have traditionally been avoided because they may cause uterine or other harmful effects. If you're breastfeeding, there isn't enough reliable safety information, so talk with your doctor or pharmacist before using it.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Bitter Melon

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Bitter Melon.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: diabetes medications.
  • For scale: 282 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Before taking this product, have your pharmacist or doctor check whether you take any antidiabetes drugs (insulin, metformin, sulfonylureas) — bitter melon raises the risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) when combined with these (Moderate severity). Also check if you take pazopanib or other cancer medications that depend on the P-glycoprotein pump — bitter melon may increase their levels.

Many other common drugs use this pump too, so run your full medication list through the checker below.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no established evidence rating for its marketed use. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Bitter melon may be worth considering if you're interested in traditional remedies, but the evidence for its effectiveness isn't yet established in our data. The main concern is drug interactions — particularly with diabetes medications and certain cancer drugs.

If you take any prescription medication, check it against the list on this page before you start, and talk to your pharmacist or doctor.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Mar 22, 2024.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Bitter Melon 500 mg Full Spectrum, straight from the product label.

Brand Swanson
Barcode (UPC) 087614111612
Net contents 60 Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Mar 22, 2024
DSLD ID 308539
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years)
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Bitter Melon 500 mg Full Spectrum by Swanson, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
1 Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Capsule(s)
UPC/BARCODE
087614111612
IngredientAmount% DV
Bitter Melon500 mg--

Other ingredients: Microcrystalline Cellulose, Magnesium Stearate, Silica, Gelatin

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Formulation

Maintains healthy blood glucose levels Supports healthy digestion Promotes hormone balance

Blood sugar support

General Statements

Science-backed quality since 1969

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested use: As a dietary supplement, take one capsule two times per day with water.

Precautions

Warning: For adults only. Keep out of reach of children.

Consult your physician before using this or any other product if you are pregnant or nursing, taking medication or have a medical condition.

Do not use if seal is broken.

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

FDA Statement of Identity

Herbal Supplement

Formula

Bitter Melon 500 mg per capsule

Is this label outdated? Report a formula or label change and our pharmacy team will review it.

See for yourself

Bitter Melon 500 mg Full Spectrum by Swanson label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

Bitter Melon 500 mg Full Spectrum label

Label images are published by the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database for the version of this product on file. Always read your actual product label.

View the full label (PDF)
What’s inside

The Ingredients in Bitter Melon 500 mg Full Spectrum by Swanson

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Amounts shown are per serving.

Bitter Melon

Interacts with
282 drugs
500 mg per serving

Bitter melon is a tropical fruit eaten as food and used in traditional medicine, most often for blood sugar control. While some small studies hint it...

Bitter Melon monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Microcrystalline Cellulose, Magnesium Stearate, Silica, Gelatin. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Bitter Melon 500 mg Full Spectrum by Swanson Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Bitter Melon 500 mg Full Spectrum?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

 Go to the checker
282Drugs
282 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Bitter Melon 282

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in Bitter Melon 500 mg Full Spectrum interact with 282 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

1 of the 1 ingredient in Bitter Melon 500 mg Full Spectrum interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. Bitter Melon

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Bitter Melon 500 mg Full Spectrum with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Bitter Melon3 drug types · 282 drugs

Antidiabetes Drugs

Taking bitter melon with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Bitter melon can lower blood glucose levels and might have additive effects when used with antidiabetes drugs. This might increase the risk of hypoglycemia in some patients. Monitor blood glucose levels closely.

Likelihood Probable Evidence B
P-Glycoprotein Substrates

Theoretically, bitter melon might increase levels of P-glycoprotein substrates.
Bitter melon might inhibit the p-glycoprotein (P-gp) intestinal pump and increase intracellular levels of P-gp substrates. In vitro research in intestinal cells shows that 1-monopalmitin, a constituent of bitter melon, increases levels of daunomycin, a P-gp substrate. Additionally, drinking bitter melon juice has been associated with a case of acute pancreatitis in a patient who had been taking pazopanib, a P-gp substrate, for 8 years. Researchers theorize that inhibition of P-gp led to increased levels of pazopanib, resulting in pazopanib-induced pancreatitis.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Pazopanib (Votrient)

Theoretically, bitter melon might increase levels of pazopanib, potentially increasing the risk of adverse effects.
In one case, a 65-year-old patient taking pazopanib for 8 years for renal cell carcinoma experienced signs and symptoms consistent with acute pancreatitis 4 days after drinking bitter melon juice at a dose of 100-150 mL daily. The patient's symptoms, amylase levels, and lipase levels improved upon discontinuation of bitter melon and pazopanib. Pazopanib treatment was re-initiated with no further evidence of pancreatitis. Researchers theorize that inhibition of P-glycoprotein by bitter melon led to increased levels of pazopanib, a P-glycoprotein substrate, resulting in pazopanib-induced pancreatitis.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Bitter Melon full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Bitter Melon 500 mg Full Spectrum, from the product label.

Swanson

See all Swanson products
Name
Swanson Health Products
City
Fargo
State
ND
ZipCode
58104
Phone Number
1-800-437-4148
Web Address
swanson.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Bitter Melon 500 mg Full Spectrum by Swanson: Common Questions

Does Bitter Melon 500 mg Full Spectrum by Swanson interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Bitter Melon 500 mg Full Spectrum has a known interaction with 282 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Bitter Melon 500 mg Full Spectrum contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Will bitter melon actually lower my blood sugar?
Bitter melon does lower blood glucose levels, which is why it's a concern when combined with diabetes drugs. But whether it works well enough on its own for diabetes has insufficient evidence in the data we hold — we can't rate its effectiveness yet. If you have diabetes, talk with your doctor before trying this.
What side effects might I feel?
The most common ones are stomach upset — nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, and bloating showed up in 3 to 16% of people in studies. Dizziness, fatigue, and headache also happen. Rare cases of very low blood sugar and, in children, seizures have been reported.
Is this safe to take while I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
For pregnancy, the safety data advises against it — bitter melon seeds and high doses may cause uterine or other harmful effects. If you're breastfeeding, there isn't enough reliable safety information to know either way, so talk with your doctor or pharmacist for personalized advice.
What exactly is bitter melon?
It's a tropical fruit used for centuries in traditional Asian medicine. This product delivers a full-spectrum extract — all the active compounds from the plant — at 500 mg per capsule.
Does bitter melon actually work for constipation or digestion?
The evidence in our data is insufficient to say whether it works for constipation or digestive upset. Ironically, it can actually cause stomach discomfort and diarrhea in some people, so it might not help if that's your reason for trying it.

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

Not sure if Bitter Melon 500 mg Full Spectrum is safe with your meds?

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Ask a pharmacist

Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Bitter Melon 500 mg Full Spectrum label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Bitter Melon 500 mg Full Spectrum’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Herb & supplement monograph

Bitter Melon

Interacts with 282 drugs

Bitter melon is a tropical fruit eaten as food and used in traditional medicine, most often for blood sugar control. While some small studies hint it may modestly lower blood sugar, the evid...

Read the full Bitter Melon monograph →
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Bitter Melon 500 mg Full Spectrum's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 18 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Bitter Melon 18 references
  1. Leatherdale B, Panesar RK, Singh G, et al. Improvement in glucose tolerance due to Momordica charantia. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1981;282:1823-4.
  2. Welihinda J, et al. Effect of Momordica charantia on the glucose tolerance in maturity onset diabetes. J Ethnopharmacol 1986;17:277-82. PubMed
  3. Srivastava Y, Venkatakrishna-Bhatt H, Verma Y, et al. Antidiabetic and adaptogenic properties of Momordica charantia extract: An experimental and clinical evaluation. Phytother Res 1993;7:285-9.
  4. Baldwa VS, Bhandari CM, Pangaria A, Goyal RK. Clinical trial in patients with diabetes mellitus of an insulin-like compound obtained from plant sources. Ups J Med Sci 1977;82:39-41. PubMed
  5. Aslam M, Stockley IH. Interaction between curry ingredient (karela) and drug (chlorpropamide). Lancet 1979:1:607. PubMed
  6. Ahmad N, Hassan MR, Halder H, Bennoor KS. Effect of Momordica charantia (Karolla) extracts on fasting and postprandial serum glucose levels in NIDDM patients (abstract). Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 1999;25:11-3.
  7. Basch E, Gabardi S, Ulbricht C. Bitter melon (Momordica charantia): a review of efficacy and safety. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2003;60:356-9. PubMed
  8. Yin RV, Lee NC, Hirpara H, Phung OJ. T. The effect of bitter melon (Mormordica charantia) in patients with diabetes mellitus: s systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutr Diabetes. 2014;4:e145.
  9. Rahman IU, Khan RU, Rahman KU, Bashir M. Lower hypoglycemic but higher antiatherogenic effects of bitter melon than glibenclamide in type 2 diabetic patients. Nutr J. 2015;14:13. PubMed
  10. Alam MA, Uddin R, Subhan N, Rahman MM, Jain P, Reza HM. Beneficial role of bitter melon supplementation in obesity and related complications in metabolic syndrome. J Lipids. 2015;2015:496169. PubMed
  11. Konishi T, Satsu H, Hatsugai Y, et al. Inhibitory effect of a bitter melon extract on the P-glycoprotein activity in intestinal Caco-2 cells. Br J Pharmacol. 2004;143(3):379-87. PubMed
  12. Peter EL, Kasali FM, Deyno S, et al. Momordica charantia L. lowers elevated glycaemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: Systematic review and meta-analysis. J Ethnopharmacol. 2019;231:311-24. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2018.10.033. PubMed
  13. Cortez-Navarrete M, Martínez-Abundis E, Pérez-Rubio KG, González-Ortiz M, Méndez-Del Villar M. Momordica charantia administration improves insulin secretion in type 2 diabetes mellitus. J Med Food. 2018;21(7):672-7. doi: 10.108
  14. Kim SK, Jung J, Jung JH, et al. Hypoglycemic efficacy and safety of Momordica charantia (bitter melon) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Complement Ther Med. 2020 Aug;52:102524. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102524. PubMed
  15. Unsal O, Sütcüoglu O, Yazici O. Dangerous interaction of bitter melon (Momordica charantia) with pazopanib: a case of acute pancreatitis. J Oncol Pharm Pract 2022;28(2):486-8.
  16. Bae W, Kim S, Choi J, et al. Acute interstitial nephritis associated with ingesting a Momordica charantia extract: a case report. Medicine (Baltimore) 2021;100(27):e26606. PubMed
  17. Chattopadhyay K, Wang H, Kaur J, et al. Effectiveness and Safety of Ayurvedic Medicines in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Management: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Pharmacol. 2022;13:821810. Published 2022 Jun 8. PubMed
  18. Kim B, Lee HS, Kim HJ, et al. Momordica charantia (bitter melon) efficacy and safety on glucose metabolism in Korean prediabetes participants: a 12-week, randomized clinical study. Food Sci Biotechnol 2022;32(5):697-704. PubMed

See these in context on the Bitter Melon monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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