Rapamycin Dosing Calculator
Personalized Dosing Guide
Based on clinical research, optimal anti-aging dosing is typically 0.1 mg/kg body weight per dose, administered once weekly or twice weekly. This differs significantly from transplant doses. Always consult a physician before use.
Why Low-Dose Matters
Unlike transplant doses (which can be 10-20x higher), this dosing:
- Targets mTOR for autophagy without significant side effects
- Reduces inflammation markers like IL-6
- Works best with healthy lifestyle habits
- Provides the most favorable risk-to-benefit ratio
There’s no magic pill that erases wrinkles overnight. But if you’re asking what the most powerful anti-aging drug is, the answer isn’t a cream, a laser, or a supplement you buy online. It’s a compound that’s been studied in labs for decades, shown to extend lifespan in animals, and now-finally-being tested in humans with real, measurable results. That drug is rapamycin.
Rapamycin Isn’t Just Another Supplement
You’ve probably heard of resveratrol, NMN, or colostrum touted as anti-aging wonders. But none of them have the same level of evidence as rapamycin. It’s not sold in health food stores. You can’t buy it on Amazon. It’s a prescription drug originally developed in the 1970s as an antifungal agent, then repurposed as an immunosuppressant for organ transplant patients. But researchers noticed something strange: mice given low doses of rapamycin lived longer. Not just a little longer-up to 60% longer in some studies.
The reason? Rapamycin targets mTOR, a protein that acts like a cellular switch for growth and metabolism. When mTOR is constantly turned on-by eating too much, especially protein and sugar-it pushes cells to grow, divide, and age faster. Rapamycin gently turns that switch off, triggering autophagy: the body’s natural cleanup process. Cells start removing damaged parts, recycling waste, and repairing themselves. This isn’t just about looking younger. It’s about staying healthier longer.
What Does the Human Data Show?
Early human trials are promising. A 2023 study from the University of Washington gave low-dose rapamycin to healthy adults over 65. After six months, participants showed improved immune response to flu vaccines, reduced inflammation markers, and better skin elasticity. Another trial at the Mayo Clinic found that participants had lower levels of IL-6, a key inflammatory protein linked to heart disease, arthritis, and Alzheimer’s.
These aren’t cosmetic changes. They’re biological shifts that reduce the risk of multiple age-related diseases at once. That’s why researchers call rapamycin a “geroprotector”-a drug that targets aging itself, not just its symptoms.
Why Not Metformin or NAD+ Boosters?
Metformin, the diabetes drug, is often mentioned alongside rapamycin. It’s cheaper, widely available, and has decades of safety data. But while metformin helps regulate blood sugar and may reduce cancer risk, it doesn’t trigger autophagy as directly or powerfully as rapamycin. In head-to-head animal studies, rapamycin consistently outperforms metformin in extending lifespan.
NAD+ boosters like NMN and NR are popular too. They aim to replenish a molecule that declines with age and supports mitochondrial function. But human trials show mixed results. A 2024 study in Nature Aging found that NMN improved blood flow in older adults-but didn’t reduce inflammation or improve muscle strength. Rapamycin, by contrast, hits multiple aging pathways at once: autophagy, inflammation, cellular senescence, and metabolic function.
Senolytics: A Different Approach
Then there are senolytics-drugs that kill off “zombie cells” that accumulate as we age and pump out harmful chemicals. Dasatinib and quercetin are the most studied. A 2022 trial showed they improved physical function in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. But senolytics are more like targeted surgery: they remove bad cells, but don’t fix the underlying aging process. Rapamycin does both. It reduces senescent cell buildup while also boosting repair mechanisms.
The Real Risk: Side Effects
Rapamycin isn’t risk-free. At high doses, it can cause mouth sores, elevated blood sugar, or lowered immunity. But the key is low-dose, intermittent use. Most longevity experts recommend 5 mg once a week or 2.5 mg twice a week. That’s far below transplant doses. Side effects are rare and usually mild. Many users report better sleep, clearer skin, and more energy after a few months.
It’s also not for everyone. People with active infections, pregnant women, or those with severe liver disease should avoid it. Always work with a doctor who understands aging biology. This isn’t self-prescribing territory.
How to Get It Legally
Rapamycin is FDA-approved for transplant patients. Off-label use for aging is legal in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. You can get it through a compounding pharmacy with a prescription. Some clinics specializing in longevity medicine now offer it as part of personalized aging protocols. Prices vary: a month’s supply (5 mg tablets, once weekly) typically costs between $30 and $80 USD, depending on the pharmacy.
Don’t buy it from unregulated online vendors. Counterfeit versions are common. Look for pharmacies that provide third-party lab testing certificates.
What About Lifestyle?
Rapamycin isn’t a substitute for sleep, movement, or eating whole foods. In fact, it works best when paired with them. Fasting, resistance training, and avoiding excess sugar amplify its effects. One 2024 study showed that combining weekly rapamycin with intermittent fasting doubled the increase in autophagy compared to either alone.
Think of it this way: rapamycin doesn’t replace healthy habits. It supercharges them.
Is It the Future of Aging?
The FDA doesn’t yet recognize aging as a disease. That’s why no drug is officially labeled “anti-aging.” But the science is clear: rapamycin is the most potent, best-studied compound we have that directly slows aging in mammals-including humans.
It’s not a cure. It’s not a fountain of youth. But it’s the closest thing we have to a biological reset button for aging. And unlike skincare routines or expensive lasers, it’s working at the root level: your cells.
If you’re serious about aging differently-not just looking younger, but feeling stronger, thinking clearer, and staying healthier into your 80s and 90s-rapamycin is the only drug with the evidence to back it up.
