As people look for ways to live longer and healthier lives, some have turned to the drug rapamycin, which was originally approved by the FDA to prevent organ rejection in kidney transplant patients. Now, some aging scientists believe that rapamycin could have anti-aging properties that make it a potential solution for those seeking longevity. However, despite promising results from animal studies, there is still little evidence of its longevity benefits in humans.
Rapamycin is an immunosuppressant medication that is part of a group of drugs called mTOR inhibitors. These drugs suppress a cellular pathway responsible for cell growth in animals. According to aging researchers, reducing cell growth can help prevent chronic inflammation and stimulate autophagy, which is the process of cleaning out damaged cells. Autophagy naturally decreases with age, which can lead to a buildup of cellular waste that makes it more difficult for cells to repair themselves and function properly. By reducing inflammation and removing damaged cells, rapamycin could help prevent or delay the development of age-related diseases such as cancer.
Despite these potential benefits, rapamycin is not without risks. Its FDA label warns that users may become more vulnerable to infection and the potential development of lymphoma, and only doctors who are experts in immunosuppressive therapy should prescribe it. Transplant patients who often take higher and more frequent doses of the drug compared to those who take it for longevity have shown that the most common side effects were hypertension and cholesterol levels, mouth ulcers, and the loss of kidney function.
However, this hasn’t stopped the interest in rapamycin within the biohacking community and among some scientists who study aging. Some doctors at longevity-focused centers and telehealth apps have even started to write off-label prescriptions for patients. The drug, which is also known as sirolimus, is sold by Pfizer Inc. under the brand name Rapamune, and multiple drugmakers produce its generics. An off-label monthly supply of the drug can cost between around $150 for generics and about $1,000 for the brand-name product. Some people have turned to digital pharmacies outside of the U.S. that offer the drug for less.
A spokesperson for Pfizer has said that the company does not support off-label use of any of its drugs, and the FDA has stated that doctors are generally allowed to prescribe drugs for non-approved uses if they think it makes sense. However, the agency does not vouch for the safety or effectiveness of drugs used off-label.
One high-profile user of rapamycin is Deepak Chopra, a 76-year-old alternative health and wellness writer with numerous social media followers. He says he has taken 6mg of the drug a week for the last year and a half as part of a longevity program that includes supplements and two hours of yoga a day. Chopra is convinced of the drug’s potential and has even written a book on the topic, titled “The Healing Self: A Revolutionary New Plan to Supercharge Your Immunity and Stay Well for Life.”
Another person who has experimented with rapamycin is Robin Young, an AI and biotech entrepreneur who started trying out different doses of the drug about two years ago to determine what would work best for him. At the highest dose he tried, 20mg a week, he remembers getting several bad sinus infections. Now, he takes a lower dose every few weeks and avoids taking it altogether when he’s traveling due to the added stress on his body. He worries about potential side effects such as high cholesterol but says he feels compelled by the potential benefits.
It is important to note that longevity research is challenging because it is difficult to prove that one specific drug or action is responsible for prolonging a healthy lifespan, especially in humans who live for decades. Some actions and drugs that initially show promising results may later be found to be detrimental to health.