I slept well before I began Rapa. I sleep somewhat less now but at 72 i know that’s normal
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Great question, and one that hopefully will be researched. For several years, I have had interrupted sleep, not being able to sleep deeply, continuously, throughout the night. I was hoping that, since sleep quality tends to decline with aging, Rapamycin would restore a more youthful sleep pattern. I have been taking 6mg Sirolimus once weekly, but it has only been one month. I have not noticed any changes in my quality of sleep. I will post an update if I experience any changes after 3 months.
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Rapa definitely affected my sleep. I take 6mg early Friday mornings and am wired through half-life. My cardiologist also takes rapa (as do more than half the docs in his office) and he gave me an Ambien scrip… I break one in half for use on Fri and Sat nites and take a 2mg time-release melatonin for the next couple nites. I actually look forward to weekends sleep now.
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Woah, Ambien? Rapamycin must really keep you up then lol.
Thanks
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Perhaps TMI:
As I am an “elderly” person, ~81 yrs old, I have suffered from age-related sleep problems for the last 20 yrs. My main problem is not going to sleep but remaining asleep for 6 - 8 hours.
I have tried many “sleep stacks” and here are my subjective results of the ones I am currently using every day or periodically:
Melatonin is a must. Other supplements, OTCs, etc.:
Trazadone: 50 mg: Originally developed as an anti-depressant, but has proven to be more effective as a sleep aid. (If your physician won’t prescribe, you can also get these from many sources in India quite cheaply.) Trazadone has proven to be my most reliable “supplement” for staying asleep. It is generally considered safe for long-term use and is not addictive.
Kirkland Signature Sleep Aid Doxylamine Succinate 25 Mg. I only use this when I am overstimulated and have trouble going to sleep. This is not a good supplement for regular use, especially for older people. (Of course, older people are its main users. LOL)
Tryptophan: helps with staying asleep, plus has some antidepressant effects and is also a weak NAD+ precursor.
Glycine: Sleep aid, plus longevity effects.
I have also tried Ambien and love it. It provides me with a “clean” night’s sleep with no morning after effects. Unfortunately, it is not good or safe for long-term use.
TRAZADONE:
Trazodone for Insomnia: A Systematic Review:
“This review article has found that trazodone can be an effective option when treating insomnia with little to no risk in most cases”
Treatment of insomnia – effect of trazodone
and hypnotics on sleep:
“It should be noted that low doses of trazodone
(50 mg) do not increase, but rather decrease, daytime sleepiness and have no negative
effect on the ability to drive vehicles.”
“A special feature of trazodone, mianserin, and mirtazapine is their ability to
increase the amount of deep sleep.”
http://www.psychiatriapolska.pl/uploads/images/PP_4_2021/ENGver743Wichniak_PsychiatrPol2021v55i4.pdf
The effects of trazodone on human cognition: a systematic review"
Overall, seven studies showed no effect of trazodone on cognition, five showed a beneficial effect by improving or reducing cognitive decline, and four evidenced impaired cognitive function. Our analysis highlights the possibility of a dose-independent dual effect of trazodone on human cognition.
Effects of Trazodone on Sleep Quality and Cognitive Function in Arteriosclerotic Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Comorbid With Chronic Insomnia
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i take the usual 5mg once a week (well, every 1-2 weeks i’m not super consistent). My oura ring before rapamycin put me at an average of 50 mins deep sleep a night. After rapamycin, i’d say it’s more like 1:15 average deep sleep. But then it could be that I have the new Oura ring as well. But I def feel like I’m getting more deep sleep. I’m 56 and generally healthy.
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Just started 2Mg a week last week. Took first dose mid-morning and definitely felt sleep disturbance first night. Rest of week was fine. I am typically a good sleeper and use ‘sleep tracker’ every night. That first night I scored a 67 and usually am north of 80. Today I took 3mg, with grapefruit juice, as a step on the way to 6mg a week. I plan to take a melatonin supplement before bed tonight. We’ll see.
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I found I had a little sleep disturbance if I took rapamycin in the afternoon - so now I just take it first thing in the mornings - and the problem has gone away.
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I have been taking Rapamycin for 2 months weekly. I track sleep with an Oura ring. There has been no difference in my quality or quantity of sleep. Subjectively I don’t feel any effects on my sleep not even around the day of dosing.
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For those who are experiencing some sleep disturbance I would suggest skipping coffee on the day you take your dose as they seem to have an additive effect.
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For what it is worth Melatonin did the trick. Slept fine even with the bigger dose.
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Hi…a couple studies in mice have reported treatment with rapamycin reduces sleep fragmentation…nothing in the literature regarding effects on sleep for humans. My personal experience…I have always slept well and haven’t noticed any change one way or the other since taking rapamycin for the past 9 months.
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I have not noticed any change since starting Rapamycin, but I am still exploring dosing.
Separately, I did have issues with sleep onset, and found the addition of magnesium (600mg liquid magnesium chloride) just before bed extremely beneficial. I also take my zinc/Vitamin D at night as well, all three are associated with better sleep onset. I also wear an earmuff/blackout device to drown out noise and light, also very beneficial. And try to practice good sleep hygiene with a regular sleep schedule.
I have several sleep risk interventions, a ketogenic diet/one meal a day eating (impact on circadian rhythm), and I drink a lot of black coffee in the AM for satiation and ketone boosting (done by noon though). I still have some residual issues with awakenings during my sleep session, trying to hack.
I would caution using pharmacological methods to treat…they are highly associated with cognitive risk.
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FWIW - I took my once a week 10mg and GF dose last night before bed and as has been typical since upping to a higher dose and using GF (the past month) - sleep was more like being in a “half-dream state”. I go out initally but wake all through the night and time seems really slow as I check the clock during my more wakeful moments. An hour feels like it was much more. This occurs only on the night of my Rapa dose and then I sleep soundly the rest of the nights until the next time. I run on about 7 hours sleep - never get to bed before midnight up at 6:45 am. Even on Rapa dose night, I awake fresh and ready to go – dispite the disturbed waking pattern all night. Might just be my body’s response to the changes. Also, since going on Rapa my body fat is gone and my arms are pretty veined out all the time. Like I just came from a workout at the gym. On Rapa the next morning my veins go small and deep (this was on 6mg past year and same for 10 mg now) - veins not very noticeable at all. I don’t work out for 48 hours after my Rapa dose and then do a normal gym work out and my veins return and stayed fully pumped until the next time.
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Have you tried taking your dose in the morning?
Generally I take my rapamycin before noon because I’ve found I would have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep if I took it in the evening.
Dr. Green has also noted that for some people there is a stimulatory effect of rapamycin and generally I believe he recommends morning dosing.
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To be honest – I haven’t had an interest in taking Rapa in the morning or day time.
I have only taken it before bed. Maybe it is just me, but I like the idea of Rapa initially working while I am in a rested - non-active state. As stated, sleep is not deep - but not uncomfortable and I wake ready to go. One additinal note: especially after the 1st year being on Rapa my dreams are more vivid - seemingly real - and easily remembered.
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RapAdmin, you taking 20 mg every 10 days now? Why every 10 days and not every other week (14 days)?
Right now I’m taking 6mg with GFJ - so somewhere around 18 to 20mg or so, effective dose. I’ve got a lot going on right now - so dates / schedules slip sometimes. I take it every 10 to 14 days… I’m not religious about the schedule right now, just due to other work activities, etc.
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Have you had any adverse side effects from your dosage?