Safety Profile
Overall safety rating: Professional Guidance Recommended
Rapamycin (Longevity Context) Side Effects & Safety
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Potential Side Effects
- Immunosuppression — the primary concern; daily dosing suppresses immunity, but weekly low-dose protocols aim to minimize this
- Mouth sores (aphthous ulcers) — the most common side effect at longevity doses; often dose-limiting
- Impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance at higher/continuous doses
- Delayed wound healing
- Lipid elevation (increased LDL and triglycerides)
- Potential fertility effects — reversible in animal models but relevant concern
Drug & Supplement Interactions
- CYP3A4 inhibitors (ketoconazole, grapefruit, clarithromycin) — dramatically increase rapamycin blood levels; potentially dangerous
- CYP3A4 inducers (rifampin, St. John's Wort) — reduce rapamycin levels
- Live vaccines — contraindicated due to immunosuppressive effects
- Other immunosuppressants — additive immune suppression
- Metformin — commonly combined in longevity protocols; potential additive glucose effects
Maximum Dose
Do not exceed: 6mg/week for longevity protocols (daily dosing at transplant doses causes immunosuppression)
References
- Harrison DE, Strong R, Sharp ZD, et al. (2009). Rapamycin fed late in life extends lifespan in genetically heterogeneous mice. Nature. DOI PubMed
- Mannick JB, Del Giudice G, Sabatini M, et al. (2014). mTOR inhibition improves immune function in the elderly. Science Translational Medicine. DOI PubMed
- Blagosklonny MV (2019). Rapamycin for longevity: opinion article. Aging. DOI PubMed