The D+Q Protocol: Complete Dasatinib + Quercetin Clinical Guide
Expert Summary
The D+Q protocol consists of dasatinib 100 mg + quercetin 1,000 mg taken orally on 2 consecutive days, repeated every 1–3 months. This is the most clinically validated senolytic intervention in human medicine, with published evidence from 5+ institutional trials showing senescent cell clearance and physical function improvement.
Key Facts
- Dosing: Day 1: dasatinib 100 mg in the morning + quercetin 1,000 mg (split into 2 doses) with fat. Day 2: same as day 1. Then no treatment for 1–3 months.
- Physician role: Prescribe dasatinib (prescription-only), order baseline labs (CBC, LFTs, CMP, ECG), and review contraindications (platelet count, cardiac history, drug interactions).
- Baseline requirements: Platelet count >150,000/μL, QTc interval <450 ms, no concurrent strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, no active bleeding disorder.
- Post-cycle monitoring: CBC at 2 weeks post-cycle to check platelet recovery. If platelets stable, subsequent cycles may need less frequent monitoring.
- Senolytic response biomarkers: Measure hsCRP, IL-6, MMP-3 before and 2 weeks after cycle. Reductions confirm senolytic activity. Lack of change suggests inadequate quercetin absorption (switch to phytosome form).
- Adjuncts: Add low-dose spermidine (2–4 mg/day) continuously between D+Q cycles. Add fisetin on D+Q days for additional senolytic coverage. These do not require additional physician prescriptions.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find a physician who prescribes D+Q?
Search directories for longevity or functional medicine physicians. Organizations like A4M (American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine), the Longevity Medicine Academy, and telehealth platforms (Fountain Health, Lifeforce) have practitioners familiar with D+Q.
Can I use quercetin phytosome instead of standard quercetin at lower dose?
Yes. Phytosome quercetin achieves equivalent or superior plasma levels at 200–500 mg vs 1,000 mg standard quercetin. Inform your physician; some may document this dose substitution.
What happens if dasatinib is unavailable?
Substitute fisetin (20 mg/kg) for dasatinib. Fisetin + quercetin is the best natural D+Q alternative, covering overlapping but not identical mechanisms.
Scientific References
- Xu M et al. Senolytics improve physical function and increase lifespan in old age. Nature Medicine. 2018. PMID: 29988130
- Hickson LJ et al. Senolytics decrease senescent cells in humans. EBioMedicine. 2019. PMID: 31542391