Longevity · Protocol
Rapamycin
An immunosuppressant being studied off-label at low intermittent doses for longevity. The most experimental thing we prescribe, and we will say so.
Already know this is what you want? The second option books the appointment straight away. Not sure yet? See the labs first.
Your consult is free. We will not prescribe this, or anything, before a clinician has spoken with you. Final cost depends on the form and dose prescribed.
Mechanism
Inhibiting mTOR.
Rapamycin inhibits mTOR, a nutrient-sensing pathway that governs cell growth and autophagy, the process by which cells clear damaged components.
It is the most consistent lifespan-extending compound in animal studies across multiple species. Whether that translates to humans is unproven.
Longevity protocols use low weekly dosing rather than the daily immunosuppressive dosing used in transplant medicine, aiming to trigger autophagy without meaningful immune suppression.
Protocol
How treatment usually runs.
A typical schedule. Yours is set by your clinician, and adjusted as you go.
| Phase | Weeks | Typical | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline | Week 0 | Labs and history | Lipids, glucose, complete blood count. |
| Start | 1–8 | Low dose, once weekly | Conservative entry point. |
| Recheck | 8–12 | Repeat labs | Lipids and glucose in particular. |
| Maintenance | 13+ | Weekly, adjusted | Periodic breaks are common. |
What to expect
Honestly, over time.
Usually nothing
Most patients feel no acute effect. That is expected.
Lab monitoring
Lipids and glucose are watched closely.
Reassess
Continuation reviewed against labs and tolerance.
Unproven
Human longevity benefit has not been demonstrated.
Evidence
What the research shows.
Rapamycin extends lifespan in yeast, worms, flies and mice, the most reproducible result in longevity research.
Human longevity benefit is not established. Off-label longevity use is experimental, and anyone telling you otherwise is overselling it.
Results vary. Clinical trial results apply only to the FDA-approved branded medication specifically identified and do not apply to compounded medications. All medications must be prescribed by a licensed provider based on medical necessity.
Safety and eligibility
Your consult and labs screen for all of the following.
- Do not use with active infection, immunosuppression or planned surgery.
- Can raise cholesterol, triglycerides and blood glucose, monitoring is mandatory.
- Common side effects include mouth ulcers, delayed wound healing and increased infection risk.
- Off-label and experimental for longevity. Human benefit is unproven.
FAQ
Rapamycin questions.
There is no evidence that it does. Rapamycin reliably extends lifespan in animal models, which is why it is studied, but human longevity benefit has not been demonstrated. Off-label use for this purpose is experimental.
Weekly dosing is intended to avoid the immune suppression seen with daily transplant dosing, and is generally better tolerated. It still requires lab monitoring for lipids, glucose and blood counts, and is not appropriate for everyone.
Mouth ulcers, elevated cholesterol and triglycerides, raised blood glucose, delayed wound healing and increased infection risk. It should be paused before surgery and during any active infection.
We will not prescribe before we understand you.
Book a one-to-one consult with the clinical team. We talk through your goals, order the bloodwork that matters, and build a plan from what we find.