Interactions on record — worth a quick check against your medications. Based on 1 of 2 ingredients. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

Organic Bitter Melon Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Himalaya

Organic Bitter Melon label
See full label image
Other (e.g. Tea Bag) 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 Organic 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

The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Organic Bitter Melon is a dietary supplement by Himalaya with 2 active ingredients. 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 organic Bitter Melon powder. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

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Check Your Meds Against Organic Bitter Melon by Himalaya

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

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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Organic Bitter Melon by Himalaya

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 Aug 27, 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 2 of its 2 active ingredients.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

Himalaya's Organic Bitter Melon has 2 active ingredients: organic bitter melon powder and organic bitter melon extract. The product contains no inactive fillers or other ingredients — just the bitter melon itself in tea-bag form.

Both forms of bitter melon are the same plant extract in different processing states.

Does it work?

Couldn't assess
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 assessable

This is a single-ingredient Bitter Melon product and its label doesn't state a use — see Bitter Melon's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.

The evidence for bitter melon's effectiveness isn't established in the data we hold. The facts show insufficient reliable evidence to rate it for all conditions checked: amenorrhea (absent periods), athletic performance, liver disease, constipation, diabetes, and indigestion (dyspepsia).

That doesn't mean it doesn't work — it means studies haven't yet demonstrated a clear benefit for these uses in humans.

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 food, but supplement doses may lower blood sugar and cause stomach upset. The most common side effects from clinical studies are gastrointestinal: heartburn, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, and belly discomfort — occurring in about 3% to 16% of people who took it.

Rarely, serious effects like low blood sugar coma or seizures in children have been reported. One case also described kidney function decline over months of high-dose extract use, which improved after stopping.

Don't use this in pregnancy — traditional use advises against it because seeds and high doses may cause uterine or other harmful effects. There isn't enough reliable safety data to use it while breastfeeding; talk with your doctor or pharmacist about whether it's right for you.

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, check with your doctor or pharmacist if you take diabetes medication (insulin, metformin, sulfonylureas, or others) — bitter melon can add to their blood-sugar-lowering effect and raise low-blood-sugar risk. Also check if you're on pazopanib (Votrient) for cancer or any drug in the P-glycoprotein substrate family, which bitter melon may slow your body's ability to clear, raising drug levels.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no assessable stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Bitter melon may appeal to you if you're exploring traditional remedies, but the evidence for its effectiveness isn't clear yet. If you take diabetes medication, cancer therapy, or any prescription drug, check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting — interactions with several important medication types are documented.

Stomach upset is common, and pregnancy and breastfeeding require personalized advice from your own healthcare provider.

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

Assessment coverage: 2 of 2 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Mar 22, 2023.

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 Organic Bitter Melon, straight from the product label.

Brand Himalaya
Barcode (UPC) 605069422017
Net contents 60 Caplet(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Mar 22, 2023
DSLD ID 282973
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Other (e.g. Tea Bag)
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Vegan, Vegetarian, Adult (18 - 50 Years), Organic, Gluten Free, Dairy Free
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 Organic Bitter Melon by Himalaya, 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 Caplet(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Caplet(s)
Servings per container
60
UPC/BARCODE
605069422017
IngredientAmount% DV
organic Bitter Melon powder410 mg--
organic Bitter Melon extract250 mg--

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

No wheat, corn, soy, or dairy. No ingredients of animal origin Gluten free

Vegan friendly

cGMP

Certified Organic by Control Union Certifications, CU 867461

Product of India

Ancient physicians used it to strengthen the digestive potential for sweet foods and to support balance.

For balanced blood sugar levels already within normal range

Non GMO Project Verified nongmoproject.org

USDA Organic

This popular vegetable is revered both in ayurvedic medicine and curry dishes alike. Its bitterness was key to its early discovery by ancient physicians who used it to strengthen the digestive potential for sweet foods and to support balance.

General Statements

Neutral Code No.: KR/Drugs/DLA AUS-83 Mfg. Lic. No. AUS-83

1 month supply

Happiness through wellness Crafting traditional medicines based on Ayurveda, a 5,000 year old science that believes the journey back to wholeness begins with nurturing the capacity for joy. Trusting the gifts of nature and the irreplaceable relationship between the plant and its native soil for consistent healing properties. Contributing to the wellness of the earth by teaching our family of farmers to grow native plants sustainably on their land and reduce the demand on the local environment. Building communities by advocating women in farming, protecting fair prices, providing maternal health, sponsoring clinical services and offering school wellness programs. Believing that if wellness is the path to happiness, we must contribute to the wellness of all things. Wellness of people, wellness of the environment, wellness of our communities. Family owned for over 90 years

HUS-5050061

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.

Formula

Bitter Melon is revered in Ayurvedic Medicine.

Modern research has revealed an array of unique plant compounds in Bitter Melon that mirror and support pancreatic function and insulin production. Featured herb on front: Bitter melon (fruit)

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Recommended Use: Adults take 1 caplet twice daily after meals.

Precautions

Caution: As with any supplement, consult a healthcare practitioner before use if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, have a medical condition or are planning any medical procedure.

Discontinue use and consult a healthcare practitioner if any adverse reactions occur.

Keep out of reach of children.

Brand IP Statement(s)

Himalaya since 1930

Seals/Symbols

Non GMO Project Verified nongmoproject.org USDA Organic

FDA Statement of Identity

Herbal Supplement

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

See for yourself

Organic Bitter Melon by Himalaya label

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

Organic Bitter Melon 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 Organic Bitter Melon by Himalaya

These are the 2 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Caplet(s) Dosage formOther (e.g. Tea Bag) Servings per container60 Amounts shown are per serving.

Most supplement products combine several ingredients, and a medication can interact with the product through any one of them. Each ingredient below shows whether it has known drug interactions.

Organic Bitter Melon powder

Interacts with
282 drugs
410 mg per serving Form: Bitters

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...

Organic Bitter Melon powder monograph & interactions

Organic Bitter Melon extract

Interacts with
282 drugs
250 mg per serving Form: Bitters

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...

Organic Bitter Melon extract monograph & interactions
Interaction report

Organic Bitter Melon by Himalaya Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Organic 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 checker
282Drugs
282 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

organic Bitter Melon powder 282

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in Organic Bitter Melon interact with 282 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

1 of the 2 ingredients in Organic Bitter Melon interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. organic Bitter Melon powder

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Organic 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.

organic Bitter Melon powder3 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
organic Bitter Melon powder full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Organic Bitter Melon, from the product label.

Himalaya

See all Himalaya products
Name
The Himalaya Drug Company
Street Address
1101 Gillingham Lane
City
Sugar Land
State
Texas
ZipCode
77478
Phone Number
1-800-869-4640
Web Address
www.himalayausa.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Organic Bitter Melon by Himalaya: Common Questions

Does Organic Bitter Melon by Himalaya interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Organic Bitter Melon 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?
Organic Bitter Melon contains 2 active ingredients, and an interaction can come from any of them. We check every ingredient, combine the results into one list per medication, and show which ingredient and mechanism is 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.
Can I take this if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
Bitter melon is traditionally avoided in pregnancy because seeds and high doses may cause uterine or other harmful effects. There isn't enough reliable safety data for breastfeeding either. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about your situation before using this product.
What side effects should I watch for?
The most common ones are gastrointestinal — heartburn, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and belly discomfort — happening in roughly 3% to 16% of people in studies. You might also feel dizzy, tired, or get a headache. Rarely, it can lower blood sugar dangerously or (in children) cause seizures.
Does this actually work for diabetes?
The evidence we have isn't strong enough to say whether it works for diabetes. The data shows insufficient reliable evidence — so it hasn't been proven effective in rigorous studies, even though bitter melon has a traditional use for blood sugar management.
Why does it say it interacts with so many medications?
Most of those 282 medications fall into one category: P-glycoprotein substrates. That's a large group of different drugs (from heart meds to antivirals) that your body clears using the same pump in your intestines — bitter melon may slow that pump, affecting them all similarly.
Is it safe to take if I'm on a diabetes drug?
That's a question for your doctor or pharmacist — it depends on your specific medication and dose. Bitter melon lowers blood sugar on its own, so combining it with diabetes drugs increases the risk of your blood sugar dropping too low, and you'd need close monitoring.
What's the difference between the powder and the extract in this product?
Both are bitter melon — just processed differently, one as a dried powder and one as a concentrated extract. Either form carries the same interactions and side effects, so from a safety standpoint they're equally important to monitor.

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

Not sure if Organic Bitter Melon is safe with your meds?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

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.

Organic Bitter Melon label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Organic Bitter Melon’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

Organic 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.

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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