Comparison
Epitalon vs Rapamycin
Side-by-side of Epitalon and Rapamycin. Every row below is pulled from the compound schema and will update as our data grows. For deeper reads, follow through to each compound page.
Epitalon
Epitalon peptide (Epithalon, tetrapeptide AEDG): telomerase activation, lifespan extension data, anti-aging trials, dosage, half-life, and safety.
Rapamycin
Rapamycin for longevity: sirolimus, an mTOR inhibitor with ITP mouse lifespan data. Off-label geroprotective dosing remains investigational.
Effects at a glance
Epitalon
- •Synthetic tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) developed at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation
- •Russian clinical literature reports mortality reduction in elderly cohorts and improved melatonin output
- •Reported telomerase activation in human somatic cell culture and lifespan extension in mice and Drosophila
- •Independent Western replication is essentially absent; no FDA-standard RCTs
- •Anecdotal protocols use 5 to 10 mg subcutaneously daily for 10 to 20 day cycles, 2 to 4 times yearly
- •Not currently on the WADA Prohibited List
Rapamycin
- •Inhibits mTORC1 signaling by binding FKBP12, reducing protein synthesis and relieving autophagy suppression
- •ITP mouse program reproduced lifespan extension of ~10 to 25% across multiple genetic backgrounds and sexes
- •Mannick trials showed improved influenza vaccine response in elderly adults using analogs of rapamycin
- •PEARL human trial reported acceptable safety at 5 to 10 mg weekly with some functional and lean-mass signals
- •Common dose-limiting adverse effects include stomatitis, acne-like rash, and mildly elevated lipid markers
- •CYP3A4 substrate: grapefruit, ketoconazole, and clarithromycin substantially raise rapamycin exposure
Side-by-side
| Attribute | Epitalon | Rapamycin |
|---|---|---|
| Category | peptide | pharmaceutical |
| Also known as | Epithalon, Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly, AEDG, Epithalamin (precursor extract) | Sirolimus, Rapamune |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 0.5 | 62 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 5 | 6 |
| Dosing frequency | daily during cycle | weekly (longevity protocols); daily for transplant indication |
| Routes | subcutaneous, intramuscular, intranasal | oral |
| Onset (hr) | 24 | 1 |
| Peak (hr) | 168 | 2 |
| Molecular weight | 390.35 | 914.17 |
| Molecular formula | C14H22N4O9 | C51H79NO13 |
| Mechanism | Synthetic tetrapeptide proposed to interact directly with DNA and chromatin to modulate tissue-specific gene expression. Reported effects include telomerase activation, increased melatonin output from pineal cells, and circadian normalization. | Binds FKBP12, and the resulting complex inhibits mTORC1, reducing protein synthesis and autophagy suppression downstream of nutrient and growth-factor signaling. |
| Legal status | Not FDA approved; registered in Russia under domestic pharmaceutical framework; research-use-only grey market in US/EU | Prescription only (off-label for longevity) |
| WADA status | unknown | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | Not scheduled (research chemical) | Rx only (not a controlled substance) |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data; not recommended | Not recommended |
| CAS | 307297-39-8 | 53123-88-9 |
| PubChem CID | 219042 | 5284616 |
| Wikidata | Q5384126 | Q410174 |
Safety profile
Epitalon
Common side effects
- injection-site reactions
- occasional mild headache (rare)
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- lactation
- active malignancy (theoretical telomerase concern)
- concurrent immunosuppression
Interactions
- melatonin: potential additive effect on circadian and pineal output; no controlled data(minor)
Rapamycin
Common side effects
- mouth ulcers (stomatitis)
- acne-like rash
- GI upset
- altered lipid panel
- delayed wound healing
Contraindications
- active infection
- severe hepatic impairment
- planned surgery (delayed wound healing)
- pregnancy
- live vaccines within dosing window
Interactions
- strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (ketoconazole, clarithromycin, grapefruit): substantially raises rapamycin levels, toxicity risk(major)
- strong CYP3A4 inducers (rifampin, St John's wort): lowers rapamycin levels, reduced effect(major)
- ACE inhibitors: increased risk of angioedema(moderate)
- live vaccines: reduced vaccine efficacy due to immunosuppression(major)
Which Should You Take?
Rapamycin comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 2 catalogued goals, prescription-only, oral dosing, with a Tier-A outcome catalogued. Epitalon is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is sleep onset or sleep quality, pick Epitalon.
- → If your priority is circadian regulation, pick Epitalon.
- → If your priority is immune support, pick Rapamycin.
Edge case: If you cannot self-administer injections, Rapamycin is the only oral option in this pair.
Default choice: Rapamycin. Wider use case, a Tier-A evidence outcome catalogued, and broader goal coverage. Reach for Epitalon only if your priority sits squarely in the goals it owns above.
This verdict is generated from each compound's schema (goals, legal status, evidence outcomes, dosing route). It updates automatically as our compound data evolves; the deeper read sits on each individual compound page.
Common questions
What is the difference between Epitalon and Rapamycin?
Epitalon and Rapamycin differ in category (peptide vs pharmaceutical), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, Epitalon or Rapamycin?
Epitalon half-life is 0.5 hours; Rapamycin half-life is 62 hours.
Can you stack Epitalon with Rapamycin?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
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