Drug interactions
Bitter melon + Glibenclamide
Severity: Moderate
Bitter melon and Glibenclamide: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Bitter melon has hypoglycemic activity and may add to glyburide's effect, increasing the risk of low blood glucose. Product potency varies.
What this interaction means in plain words
Bitter melon and Glibenclamide can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Why it happens
Additive glucose-lowering via insulin-like and glucose-uptake-enhancing constituents.
What to do
Advise patients to disclose herbal use and monitor blood glucose closely; reduce glyburide if hypoglycemia occurs.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Bitter melon and Glibenclamide, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Glibenclamide
- Bosentan + Glibenclamide Contraindicated
- Cholic acid + Glibenclamide Major
- Ciprofloxacin + Glibenclamide Major
- Clarithromycin + Glibenclamide Major
- Fluconazole + Glibenclamide Major
- Glibenclamide + Insulin degludec-liraglutide Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Bitter melon with Glibenclamide?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Bitter melon and Glibenclamide can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Bitter melon has hypoglycemic activity and may add to glyburide's effect, increasing the risk of low blood glucose. Product potency varies.
How serious is the interaction between Bitter melon and Glibenclamide?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Advise patients to disclose herbal use and monitor blood glucose closely; reduce glyburide if hypoglycemia occurs.
What other medicines interact with Glibenclamide?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Glibenclamide with, for example, Bosentan, Cholic acid, Ciprofloxacin. The full list is on the Glibenclamide page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
