Drug interactions
Bitter melon + Repaglinide
Severity: Moderate
Bitter melon and Repaglinide: 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 glucose-lowering activity in its own right. Taken with repaglinide, it may add to the hypoglycemic effect and raise the risk of low blood glucose episodes.
What this interaction means in plain words
Bitter melon and Repaglinide 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 effects; the herbal product's potency and content are variable.
What to do
Monitor blood glucose more often if the patient uses bitter melon, and counsel on recognizing hypoglycemia. Reduce the repaglinide dose if glucose falls.
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 Repaglinide
- Gemfibrozil + Repaglinide Contraindicated
- Clarithromycin + Repaglinide Major
- Clopidogrel + Repaglinide Major
- Cobicistat + Repaglinide Major
- Cyclosporin + Repaglinide Major
- Deferasirox + Repaglinide Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Bitter melon with Repaglinide?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Bitter melon and Repaglinide 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 glucose-lowering activity in its own right. Taken with repaglinide, it may add to the hypoglycemic effect and raise the risk of low blood glucose episodes.
How serious is the interaction between Bitter melon and Repaglinide?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor blood glucose more often if the patient uses bitter melon, and counsel on recognizing hypoglycemia. Reduce the repaglinide dose if glucose falls.
What other medicines interact with Repaglinide?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Repaglinide with, for example, Gemfibrozil, Clarithromycin, Clopidogrel. The full list is on the Repaglinide page.
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