I tell my physicians here in HK because they need to know and they don’t care what you take. I see a different doctor every time I go to the hospital anyway. I see a specialist in the field whenever I have a problem. For health checks, I go to the same hospital clinic where they have all my information on file.
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I generally think its a good thing to tell your doctor you’re taking rapamycin, so they understand your blood tests better, but its not a good idea in all cases, thats for sure. Saw this recently…
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Good riddance to that doctor though: the arrogance is strong in that one. You don’t make a care plan for your patient but you make one together with your patient
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That must be a US thing, medical records in the Netherlands and probably other European countries are not even accessible to other doctors by default
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If I think it’s relevant. I don’t want to debate with a doctor about rapamycin or anything else. If a doctor hears about a patient taking medications for example that isn’t prescribed, they probably have a lot of alarm bells ringing. If I’m in a debate mood maybe I will.
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Absolutely! I was denied life insurance because I told my physician that I was approved for and using medical marijuana. Lesson learned.
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Nuanced response - or maybe just long-winded 
In Colorado, I get rapa Rx from Landrey Fagan, MD in Boulder - she’s one of the 2 in-state on the list here. I’m on UHC medicare, which I’m pretty happy with. In my locale it’s a high functioning system at present - June 2023. My Primary is a nice guy and never heard of it. When presented with a paper about an 78 yo MD using it, he said it was anecdotal, and wasn’t interested in learning more (https://www.healthrising.org/blog/2022/07/06/apamycin-resurgence-doctor-chronic-fatigue-syndrome/ it’s referenced on this site). Another MD friend said “danger Will Robinson” that’s for Xplant folks, and a gerontologist acquaintance said NFW.
I went to my dermatologist for a basal cell skin cancer excision, and he had never heard of rap cream for skin. I gave him a paper on it, and he was super-skeptical cuz he didn’t hear about from a convention or continuing ed or whatnot.
My limited sample of 5 docs (2 primaries, 1 gero, 1 public health, 1 derma) sez that many have never heard of it.
So my “nice guy” Primary wasn’t interested - he’s connected with a group family medicine practice that’s connected with the local hospital. So why isn’t he interested?
He’s a caring, competent guy … so what gives?
It’s Standard of Practice! SOP is a medical rule that’s enforceable by institutions, and if he deviates from it, he’s up for criticism and possible censure / liability, and non-reimbursement by insurance. I’ve only seen one deviation from it when I needed cardiac cath, and SOP didn’t cover it for my condition. My cardiologist went to bat for me (same medical system) and it was covered by insurance and he didn’t get his wrist slapped. So for an acute condtion with medical judgement they will deviate from SOP. But for a for a non-acute condition? Fuhgeddaboudit!
Howsoever … if you have a Lone Ranger MD who isn’t in a group practice and bills direct, you may get it.
What to do? Tell the Primary or not?
My opinion is yes, and if you don’t have the right primary, switch primaries.
I interviewed MDs in my regular United Health Care - Boulder Community Hospital team to find someone who was at least interested in the treatment. A younger guy, more open minded, and he’s interested - after he sees my results he may give it a whirl. But SOP doesn’t let him prescribe. Medicare ain’t gonna pay for no rap, as you know. However it will pay for most tests. Dr Fagan wanted a bunch of tests - nothing exotic, but some uncommonly used. I can get ‘em all from the hospital system, which I find convenient and competent, and my Primary can keep an eye out and even crosscheck. Oh - Dr Fagan costs $550 for the initial visit, and costplusdrugs.com charges 165 for 90 1 mg. To repeat my other posts, Mark Friggin’ Cuban’s costplusdrugs.com is a US pharmacy with US supply chain, and that’s important to me.
A couple parting points:
I continue to believe that 95% of MDs mean well, and do well, but you have to grab hold of the wheel and steer the process. Your primary should know what therapies you’re using, and if they balk at rap, find a different doc. I know that ain’t easy all the time, but sometimes it is. You also must do your part in terms of research, exercise and diet. Pills are insufficient, much to my dismay.
Landry Fagan costs $550 for a thourough intake interview. The subsequent 90 day eval is less costly, Yeah, it seems high, but MDs are knowledgable in multiple domains. Do you want to nickle-dime yourself into an early grave? Do you want to be your own doctor, and overlook something that a real doc would not?
Cheers!
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“then she remembered she actually published a paper” … hmmm. Scary
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Before scheduling my annual physical, I dropped off a bunch of test results with my primary physician that I have gotten on my own in the past year. Most were prompted by my having started rapamycin. It will be an interesting annual physical!
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Great idea. Let us know how it goes.
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If I told my doctors that I self-prescribe certain medications and supplements, they would label me as non-compliant, and it would go on my permanent record. They’ve already shredded my privacy, but I would argue that some things are none of their business.
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One of my former cardiologists dropped me instantly as a patient when I told him I was self-prescribing rapamycin. Tell your doctor at your own risk.
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It would be easy if it were just Rapamycin. I have also started taking Acarbose, Metformin and Tadalafil since my last visit. All for longevity. But I think it’s always better to tell your doctor what you’re taking.
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I can concur the Rapamycin, Acarbose and Tadalafil (and TRT… 1ml… 200 mg weekly) have been excellent for me. Rocking 65 years!
Pics taken today!
Grilling Brats! Happy 4th!!
Taking hubris to a new level. Lol.
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He is, indeed;
“The Most Interesting Man in the World”
Mosquitos refuse to bite him purely out of respect.
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My number #1 groupie Joseph, never fails me. Lol
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I just finished meeting with my doctor. I scheduled a visit before my annual physical just to update him on all of the new drugs I have added since my last visit. It is a long list — rapamycin, Metformin, Acarbose, Tadalafil. He wasn’t familiar with the off-label use of any of these drugs, but he was curious. His reaction to rapamycin was exactly the same as my other doctor — is it an expensive drug? More a worry about grifters. Other than being curious about Dr. Green and how I had found him (and how he is doing healthwise) he was supportive.
My physical isn’t for a couple of weeks, but he did agree to write me a prescription for ezetmibe.
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It’s really nice to have a supportive doctor.
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