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Dietary supplement

Bitter Melon Powder Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Banyan Botanicals

Bitter Melon Powder label
See full label image
Powder Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 16, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking Bitter Melon Powder 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 Powder is a dietary supplement by Banyan Botanicals 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 Powder by Banyan Botanicals

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with Bitter Melon Powder by Banyan Botanicals — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Bitter Melon Powder by Banyan Botanicals

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 a single active ingredient: bitter melon powder. Bitter melon is a plant traditionally used in herbal medicine, and the powder form lets you mix it into food or drink.

There are no inactive fillers or other ingredients listed.

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: Maintain balanced blood sugar levels.
  • We looked for evidence on: Diabetes, Impaired glucose tolerance (prediabetes), Metabolic syndrome, Blood glucose metabolism, Insulin sensitivity, Carbohydrate metabolism.
  • The closest evidence on file: Bitter Melon is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Diabetes (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Bitter Melon is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Impaired glucose tolerance (prediabetes), Metabolic syndrome.

The evidence supporting bitter melon for any specific health condition isn't established in the data we hold. We have insufficient reliable evidence to rate its effectiveness for amenorrhea, athletic performance, liver disease, constipation, diabetes, or indigestion.

If you're considering it for one of these reasons, that's a conversation worth having with your doctor or pharmacist.

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 is generally well tolerated when used as a food, but supplement amounts carry some caution. The most common side effects are gastrointestinal — heartburn, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal discomfort occur in roughly 3% to 16% of people taking it in studies.

Rare serious effects include very low blood sugar (hypoglycemic coma) and seizures in children. One case report also noted kidney function decline with long-term high-dose use, which reversed after stopping.

Pregnancy safety data advises against bitter melon because traditional use has avoided it due to concern about seeds and high doses causing uterine or other harmful effects. For breastfeeding, there isn't enough reliable safety information, so it's best avoided until you've talked with your doctor or pharmacist.

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 you take this bitter melon powder, double-check with your pharmacist if you're on P-glycoprotein substrates (a class that includes some chemotherapy drugs), antidiabetes medications (insulin, metformin, and others), or the cancer drug pazopanib. These are the documented moderate-severity interactions in our data.

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 powder might appeal to you if you're interested in traditional herbal support, but the interaction data — especially with blood sugar medications and certain cancer drugs — means you should check with your pharmacist before you start. Pregnant people and those breastfeeding should skip it.

Anyone on antidiabetes medications needs blood sugar monitoring if they do use it.

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 Powder, straight from the product label.

Brand Banyan Botanicals
Barcode (UPC) 618192073124
Net contents 0.5 Pound(s); 227 Gram(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Mar 22, 2024
DSLD ID 305595
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Powder
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Organic
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 Powder by Banyan Botanicals, 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:
0.25 Teaspoon(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
0.5 Teaspoon(s)
Servings per container
267
UPC/BARCODE
618192073124
IngredientAmount% DV
Bitter melon0.5 Tsp(s)--

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.
Formula

(Momordica charantia)

Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) is a vegetable known for the bitter flavor it brings to traditional meals around the world. In its powdered form, bitter melon is used as an herb to maintain balanced blood sugar. Also known as karela, this bumpy bitter gourd is related to the cucumber, and it is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and Africa where it has been used in culinary dishes and herbal formulas for thousands of years. In Ayurveda, bitter melon is renowned for its ability to help maintain normal blood sugar levels and support a healthy pancreas by promoting normal glucose metabolism. The bitter taste that is prevalent in bitter melon helps to clear excess kapha and stimulate the digestive fires without aggravating pitta or vata.

Formulation

Organic Ayurvedic Herbs

Supporting your Ayurvedic Lifestyle

USDA Organic

Non GMO

Maintains normal blood glucose metabolism Supports a healthy heart and circulatory system Supports balanced blood sugar levels already within the normal range

Certified Organic by: QAI

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Seals/Symbols

USDA Organic

Sustainably Sourced Fairly Traded

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested Use: 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon with warm water, once or twice daily, or as directed by your health practitioner.

Precautions

If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition, please consult with your healthcare practitioner prior to the use of this product.

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.

General Statements

Banyan Botanicals was founded in 1996 with the mission to help people achieve and maintain optimal health and well-being. As an Ayurvedic lifestyle company, we specialize in products made from Ayurvedic herbs that are organically grown, sustainably sourced, fairly traded, and made in the USA. Banyan is committed to providing exceptional customer service, inspiring educational content, and the highest quality Ayurvedic herbs that are safe, pure, and effective. Illuminate your path to well-being Get your free Ayurvedic Profile at banyanbotanicals.com/illuminate

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See for yourself

Bitter Melon Powder by Banyan Botanicals label

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

Bitter Melon Powder 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 Powder by Banyan Botanicals

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

Serving size0.25 Teaspoon(s) Dosage formPowder Servings per container267 Amounts shown are per serving.

Bitter melon

Interacts with
282 drugs
0.5 Tsp(s) 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
Interaction report

Bitter Melon Powder by Banyan Botanicals Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Bitter Melon Powder?

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 Powder interact with 282 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

1 of the 1 ingredient in Bitter Melon Powder 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 Powder 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 Powder, from the product label.

Banyan Botanicals

See all Banyan Botanicals products
Name
Banyan Botanicals
City
Albuquerque
State
NM
ZipCode
87113
Phone Number
1-800-953-6424
Web Address
banyanbotanicals.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Bitter Melon Powder by Banyan Botanicals: Common Questions

Does Bitter Melon Powder by Banyan Botanicals interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Bitter Melon Powder 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 Powder 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 this lower my blood sugar if I'm not diabetic?
Bitter melon can lower blood glucose levels, so in theory it could affect blood sugar in anyone. The main concern is if you're already taking drugs that lower blood sugar — the combination raises your risk of going too low. If you don't take those medications, talk to your pharmacist about your individual situation.
What are the most common side effects?
Most side effects are stomach-related: heartburn, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and belly discomfort. In clinical studies, these happened in about 3% to 16% of people taking bitter melon. You might also notice dizziness, fatigue, headache, or flatulence.
Is it safe to take while breastfeeding?
There isn't enough reliable safety information to know, so it's best avoided while breastfeeding. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist for personalized advice.
Can I take this if I'm pregnant?
The safety data advises against bitter melon in pregnancy because traditionally it's been avoided due to concern that seeds and high doses may cause uterine or other harmful effects. Don't use it without talking to your doctor first.
Does this actually work for diabetes?
The evidence supporting bitter melon for diabetes isn't established in the data we hold — we rate it as having insufficient reliable evidence. That doesn't mean it doesn't work, just that we don't have strong proof one way or the other.
I'm on cancer medication. Can I use this?
If you're taking pazopanib or any P-glycoprotein substrate drugs, you need to check with your pharmacist first. There's a case report of someone on pazopanib developing serious pancreatitis after starting bitter melon juice, so this isn't something to add without professional guidance.

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

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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 Powder label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Bitter Melon Powder’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 Powder'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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