Drug interactions
Bitter melon + Glipizide-metformin
Severity: Moderate
Bitter melon and Glipizide-metformin: 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 properties and may add to the effect of glipizide and metformin. Hypoglycemia is possible, particularly with concentrated products.
What this interaction means in plain words
Bitter melon and Glipizide-metformin 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 pharmacodynamic glucose-lowering via insulin-like compounds and increased glucose uptake.
What to do
Advise the patient to disclose herbal use and monitor blood glucose; reduce the glipizide dose 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?
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Other interactions of Glipizide-metformin
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Bitter melon with Glipizide-metformin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Bitter melon and Glipizide-metformin 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 properties and may add to the effect of glipizide and metformin. Hypoglycemia is possible, particularly with concentrated products.
How serious is the interaction between Bitter melon and Glipizide-metformin?
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 the patient to disclose herbal use and monitor blood glucose; reduce the glipizide dose if hypoglycemia occurs.
What other medicines interact with Glipizide-metformin?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Glipizide-metformin with, for example, Contrast media, Diatrizoate meglumine / diatrizoate, Diatrizoate. The full list is on the Glipizide-metformin page.
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