Bitter Melon Ingredients & Drug Interactions
by Emerald Labs
What is this page for?
First and foremost: checking Bitter Melon 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
Bitter Melon is a dietary supplement by Emerald Labs 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 Fruit Extract, Powder. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.
Check Your Meds Against Bitter Melon by Emerald Labs
Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with Bitter Melon by Emerald Labs — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.
AI summaries are generated from our interaction database for education only — always confirm with your pharmacist. How we use AI
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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Bitter Melon by Emerald Labs
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.
What’s inside
Full disclosure
Bitter Melon by Emerald Labs contains one active ingredient: Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder. The capsule itself is made from vegetable cellulose.
That's it — a straightforward single-ingredient supplement.
Does it work?
Not established
The evidence for bitter melon doesn't support its use yet. Our data shows insufficient reliable evidence to rate it for diabetes, liver disease, amenorrhea, constipation, athletic performance, or indigestion (dyspepsia).
The research just isn't solid enough to say whether it works for any of these. That doesn't mean it doesn't work — it means we don't have good evidence either way.
How safe is it?
Well-documented data
Bitter melon is generally well tolerated when eaten as a food, but supplement doses may lower your blood sugar and cause stomach upset. The most common side effects are gastrointestinal — heartburn, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, and belly discomfort occurred in about 3 to 16 percent of people in studies.
Rare serious side effects include dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemic coma) and, in children, seizures. One case report also linked long-term high-dose bitter melon extract to kidney inflammation that reversed when the supplement was stopped.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Bitter melon is traditionally avoided in pregnancy because seeds and high doses may cause uterine contractions or other harmful effects. There isn't enough reliable safety information for breastfeeding, so it's best avoided while nursing.
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before using it if you're pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
Meds to double-check
Moderate interaction found
Before you take Bitter Melon, double-check it with your pharmacist if you take pazopanib (Votrient) for cancer, any antidiabetes drug (insulin, metformin, glyburide, and others), or P-glycoprotein substrates — a broad category that includes many heart drugs, cancer drugs, and immunosuppressants. All three carry moderate interaction risk.
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 is not established to work for the conditions it's marketed for. If you take antidiabetes drugs, cancer medications, or P-glycoprotein substrate drugs, this supplement could be risky — check with your pharmacist first.
It's generally well tolerated but can cause stomach upset and lower blood sugar. Skip it in pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
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 Jun 20, 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
General information
Key facts about Bitter Melon, straight from the product label.
| Brand | Emerald Labs |
|---|---|
| Barcode (UPC) | 743650002115 |
| Net contents | 60 Vegetable Cap(s) |
| Market status | On market |
| Date entered into DSLD | Jun 20, 2024 |
| DSLD ID | 302538 |
| Product type | Botanical |
| Supplement form | Capsule |
| Dietary claims / uses | All Other, Structure/Function |
| Intended target group(s) | Vegan, Vegetarian, Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free, Dairy Free |
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 by Emerald Labs, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.
Supplement Facts
| Ingredient | Amount | % DV |
|---|---|---|
| Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder | 1000 mg | -- |
Other ingredients: Vegetable Capsule
Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.
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.
Formula
Bitter Melon contains naturally-occurring compounds such as vicine, polypeptide-P and charantin, which are reported to help support: Glucose Management
Bitter Melon 4:1 Fruit Extract
General Statements
Emerald Labs is family owned and operated since our beginnings in 1996.
Doctor-Formulated
Formulation
We are committed to providing your family with additive-free formulas and superior nutrient forms in therapeutic amounts.
Clinical Potency
Made with Non-GMO Ingredients No Magnesium Stearate Gluten-Free
Vegan Formula
This product is free of: Milk, salt, yeast, soy, added sugar, wheat, artificial flavors and preservatives.
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 disease.
Brand IP Statement(s)
Copyright 2021 Emerald Labs, Inc. Emerald Labs The Additive-Free Company
FDA Statement of Identity
Dietary Supplement
Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions
Suggested Use: Adults, take two (2) capsules daily or as directed by your health care practitioner.
Precautions
Keep out of reach of children.
Do not use if safety seal on cap or printed inner seal is missing or broken.
Consult a physician if pregnant, lactating, currently on prescription medication or diagnosed with a medical condition.
Product is manufactured in a facility that processes milk, egg, soy, tree nuts, fish and shellfish.
Storage
Store in a cool, dry place.
Is this label outdated? Report a formula or label change and our pharmacy team will review it.
Bitter Melon by Emerald Labs label
The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.
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)The Ingredients in Bitter Melon by Emerald Labs
This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.
Serving size2 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container30 Amounts shown are per serving.
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder
Interacts with282 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...
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder monograph & interactionsOther (inactive) ingredients: Vegetable Capsule. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.
Bitter Melon by Emerald Labs Drug Interactions
HelloPharmacist Interaction Report
Bitter Melon by Emerald Labs contains one active ingredient that does interact with medications.
The most serious concern is with pazopanib (Votrient), a cancer drug — bitter melon may raise pazopanib levels in your blood, increasing the risk of side effects. One case reported a patient on long-term pazopanib who developed acute pancreatitis a few days after starting bitter melon juice.
Read the full breakdown — every affected drug type, severity by severity
Bitter melon also has moderate interactions with antidiabetes drugs (insulin, metformin, glyburide, and others). Because bitter melon itself lowers blood sugar, taking it alongside diabetes medication raises the risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
If you take antidiabetes drugs, you'll need to monitor your blood glucose closely.
Another moderate concern is P-glycoprotein substrates — a broad class of drugs that includes some cancer medications, heart drugs, and immunosuppressants. Bitter melon may block the intestinal pump that normally removes these drugs from your body, causing them to build up.
Altogether, these interactions span 275 individual medications.
Check your exact medications with the tool on this page before you start, especially if you take cancer drugs, diabetes medication, or heart or immunosuppression drugs.
Check your own medications below · Editorial policy · How we use AI
Want to check YOUR meds against Bitter Melon?
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 checkerIngredients driving the most interactions
Individual Drug Interactions
The ingredients in Bitter Melon interact with 282 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.
1 of the 1 ingredient in Bitter Melon interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder
AcalabrutinibCalquence
How Acalabrutinib interacts with Bitter Melon — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, PowderP-glycoprotein Substrates Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, bitter melon might increase levels of P-glycoprotein substrates.
Read the full Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder + Acalabrutinib interactionAcarboseGlucobay, Prandase, Precose
How Acarbose interacts with Bitter Melon — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Taking bitter melon with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Read the full Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder + Acarbose interactionAcetohexamideDymelor
How Acetohexamide interacts with Bitter Melon — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Taking bitter melon with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Read the full Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder + Acetohexamide interactionAfatinib DimaleateGilotrif
How Afatinib Dimaleate interacts with Bitter Melon — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, PowderP-glycoprotein Substrates Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, bitter melon might increase levels of P-glycoprotein substrates.
Read the full Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder + Afatinib Dimaleate interactionAlbiglutideTanzeum
How Albiglutide interacts with Bitter Melon — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Taking bitter melon with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Read the full Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder + Albiglutide interactionAlogliptinNesina
How Alogliptin interacts with Bitter Melon — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Taking bitter melon with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Read the full Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder + Alogliptin interactionAlogliptin, MetforminKazano
How Alogliptin, Metformin interacts with Bitter Melon — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Taking bitter melon with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Read the full Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder + Alogliptin, Metformin interactionAlogliptin, PioglitazoneOseni
How Alogliptin, Pioglitazone interacts with Bitter Melon — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Taking bitter melon with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Read the full Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder + Alogliptin, Pioglitazone interactionAlvimopanEntereg
How Alvimopan interacts with Bitter Melon — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, PowderP-glycoprotein Substrates Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, bitter melon might increase levels of P-glycoprotein substrates.
Read the full Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder + Alvimopan interactionAmbrisentanLetairis, Volibris
How Ambrisentan interacts with Bitter Melon — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, PowderP-glycoprotein Substrates Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, bitter melon might increase levels of P-glycoprotein substrates.
Read the full Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder + Ambrisentan interactionAmphotericin, TetracyclineMysteclin-F
How Amphotericin, Tetracycline interacts with Bitter Melon — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, PowderP-glycoprotein Substrates Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, bitter melon might increase levels of P-glycoprotein substrates.
Read the full Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder + Amphotericin, Tetracycline interactionAmprenavirAgenerase
How Amprenavir interacts with Bitter Melon — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, PowderP-glycoprotein Substrates Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, bitter melon might increase levels of P-glycoprotein substrates.
Read the full Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder + Amprenavir interactionAntidiabetes, Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 (dpp-iv) InhibitorGlyxambi
How Antidiabetes, Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 (dpp-iv) Inhibitor interacts with Bitter Melon — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, PowderP-glycoprotein Substrates, Antidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, bitter melon might increase levels of P-glycoprotein substrates.
Read the full Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder + Antidiabetes, Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 (dpp-iv) Inhibitor interactionApixabanEliquis
How Apixaban interacts with Bitter Melon — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, PowderP-glycoprotein Substrates Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, bitter melon might increase levels of P-glycoprotein substrates.
Read the full Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder + Apixaban interactionApomorphineAPO-go, APO-go Pen, APO-go PFS, Apokyn, Uprima
How Apomorphine interacts with Bitter Melon — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, PowderP-glycoprotein Substrates Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, bitter melon might increase levels of P-glycoprotein substrates.
Read the full Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder + Apomorphine interactionApomorphine HydrochlorideKynmobi
How Apomorphine Hydrochloride interacts with Bitter Melon — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, PowderP-glycoprotein Substrates Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, bitter melon might increase levels of P-glycoprotein substrates.
Read the full Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder + Apomorphine Hydrochloride interactionArmodafinilNuvigil
How Armodafinil interacts with Bitter Melon — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, PowderP-glycoprotein Substrates Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, bitter melon might increase levels of P-glycoprotein substrates.
Read the full Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder + Armodafinil interactionAtogepantQulipta
How Atogepant interacts with Bitter Melon — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, PowderP-glycoprotein Substrates Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, bitter melon might increase levels of P-glycoprotein substrates.
Read the full Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder + Atogepant interactionAtropine, Morphine SulfateAtropine, Morphine Sulfate
How Atropine, Morphine Sulfate interacts with Bitter Melon — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, PowderP-glycoprotein Substrates Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, bitter melon might increase levels of P-glycoprotein substrates.
Read the full Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder + Atropine, Morphine Sulfate interactionAvatrombopag MaleateDoptelet
How Avatrombopag Maleate interacts with Bitter Melon — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, PowderP-glycoprotein Substrates Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, bitter melon might increase levels of P-glycoprotein substrates.
Read the full Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder + Avatrombopag Maleate interactionBazedoxifene Acetate, Conjugated EstrogensDuavee
How Bazedoxifene Acetate, Conjugated Estrogens interacts with Bitter Melon — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, PowderP-glycoprotein Substrates Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, bitter melon might increase levels of P-glycoprotein substrates.
Read the full Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder + Bazedoxifene Acetate, Conjugated Estrogens interactionBeclometasone DipropionateBecotide
How Beclometasone Dipropionate interacts with Bitter Melon — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, PowderP-glycoprotein Substrates Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, bitter melon might increase levels of P-glycoprotein substrates.
Read the full Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder + Beclometasone Dipropionate interactionBeclomethasoneBeclovent, Vanceril
How Beclomethasone interacts with Bitter Melon — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, PowderP-glycoprotein Substrates Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, bitter melon might increase levels of P-glycoprotein substrates.
Read the full Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder + Beclomethasone interactionBeclomethasone DipropionateQNASL, Qvar
How Beclomethasone Dipropionate interacts with Bitter Melon — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, PowderP-glycoprotein Substrates Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, bitter melon might increase levels of P-glycoprotein substrates.
Read the full Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder + Beclomethasone Dipropionate interactionBelinostatBeleodaq
How Belinostat interacts with Bitter Melon — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, PowderP-glycoprotein Substrates Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, bitter melon might increase levels of P-glycoprotein substrates.
Read the full Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder + Belinostat interactionBerotralstat HydrochlorideOrladeyo
How Berotralstat Hydrochloride interacts with Bitter Melon — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, PowderP-glycoprotein Substrates Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, bitter melon might increase levels of P-glycoprotein substrates.
Read the full Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder + Berotralstat Hydrochloride interactionBetamethasoneCelestone, Diprolene AF, Diprosone
How Betamethasone interacts with Bitter Melon — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, PowderP-glycoprotein Substrates Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, bitter melon might increase levels of P-glycoprotein substrates.
Read the full Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder + Betamethasone interactionBetamethasone DipropionateSernivo
How Betamethasone Dipropionate interacts with Bitter Melon — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, PowderP-glycoprotein Substrates Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, bitter melon might increase levels of P-glycoprotein substrates.
Read the full Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder + Betamethasone Dipropionate interactionBetamethasone Dipropionate, CalcipotrieneEnstilar, Wynzora
How Betamethasone Dipropionate, Calcipotriene interacts with Bitter Melon — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, PowderP-glycoprotein Substrates Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, bitter melon might increase levels of P-glycoprotein substrates.
Read the full Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder + Betamethasone Dipropionate, Calcipotriene interactionBetamethasone ValerateLuxiq
How Betamethasone Valerate interacts with Bitter Melon — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, PowderP-glycoprotein Substrates Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, bitter melon might increase levels of P-glycoprotein substrates.
Read the full Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Powder + Betamethasone Valerate interactionEach ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects
For each ingredient in Bitter Melon 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 Melon Fruit Extract, Powder
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.
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.
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.
Brand information
Manufacturer and brand details for Bitter Melon, from the product label.
Emerald Labs
See all Emerald Labs products- Name
- Emerald Labs
- Street Address
- 20600 Belshaw Ave.
- City
- Carson
- State
- CA
- ZipCode
- 90746
- Phone Number
- 800-436-4366
- Web Address
- www.emeraldlabs.com
Bitter Melon by Emerald Labs: Common Questions
Does Bitter Melon by Emerald Labs interact with any medications?
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Where does this information come from?
Can I take bitter melon if I'm on diabetes medication?
What are the most common side effects?
Is bitter melon safe during pregnancy?
Can I take it while breastfeeding?
Does bitter melon actually work for diabetes or other conditions?
What's in this product besides the active ingredient?
Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy
Not sure if Bitter Melon is safe with your meds?
Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.
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.
The Full Monographs Behind Bitter Melon’s Ingredients
Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.
Sources & How We Checked
Bitter Melon'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.
- NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD) — The official product label on file for this supplement.
- Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — Evidence-graded clinical reference behind the ingredient interaction data.
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
- 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.
- Welihinda J, et al. Effect of Momordica charantia on the glucose tolerance in maturity onset diabetes. J Ethnopharmacol 1986;17:277-82. PubMed
- 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.
- 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
- Aslam M, Stockley IH. Interaction between curry ingredient (karela) and drug (chlorpropamide). Lancet 1979:1:607. PubMed
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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.
- 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
- 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
- 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
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