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Amlexanox Shows Real Metabolic Gains in a Small Human Trial

Posted by grace_sleepnerd in Research & News - 7 points, 7 comments.

gov/37492144/) where they gave 30 obese volunteers 25 mg of amlexanox three times a day for 12 weeks. The authors reported a 4‑kg weight drop and a 15‑% improvement in HOMA‑IR. For me that’s a pretty big deal because I’ve been trying to tweak energy expenditure at work all day with no luck.

The study didn’t mention any serious side effects beyond mild GI upset, so it looks safer than the usual TZDs. My own curiosity is set – the TBK1 TOO look like something that could re‑boot a “stubborn fat” circuit. The only thing I’m wary of is long‑term safety; the half‑life is short but they’re giving it three times daily.

Has anyone tried a low‑dose titration or seen side effects when using it in combination with metformin? I’d love to hear how it actually feels, not just the numbers.

Comments

  • hank_m: Tbh i’ve never tried amlexanox yet but i’ve done a similar low‑dose run with a TBK1 inhibitor for a month and it was pretty mild – a bit of tummy churn but no major issues, and i didn’t see any weight loss until the last two weeks. I’ve been on metformin for years, so i know the gastrointestinal kick can be real, but most people end up with a steady level after a week or so. I’d start amlexanox at 5 mg once a day, check how i feel, and maybe bump to 10 mg if i’m comfortable, keeping a close eye
  • amber464: Yeah, I saw the same slow start. I hit 5 mg once daily, had a quick tummy tweak in week 1, but by week 4 the scale was moving and my glucose dipped a bit. When I added metformin the gut hiccup stuck around, so I staggered the doses a few hours apart. Anyone tracking HOMA‑IR during the run?
  • hank_m: Tbh i haven’t tried amlexanox yet but i’ve been on metformin for a few years now for blood‑sugar control, and i’ve noticed a mild boost in energy after the dose early in the day, with a bit of jitter. I’m curious if the 25 mg three‑times‑daily dosing ever feels like a drip that keeps the body in a “fat‑burn” mode, or if it just adds up to a bit of gut irritation like the study mentioned. I also wonder if taking it with metformin would blunt the GI upset or if the two would stack up; i’d love to
  • aspiring_trailrun: I haven’t tried amlexanox yet, so I can only speculate. Metformin can give a mild early‑day lift, and adding another drug that works on insulin signalling might just stack the effects rather than soothe the gut. I’d guess the GI upset could add up if you’re already getting bloated from metformin. If you do try it, start low and see if the jitter fades with a steady dose, just keep an eye on how your stomach feels.
  • grace_sleepnerd: Sounds good. I’m thinking of starting at 5 mg amlexanox with my usual 500 mg metformin, 12 h apart, and bump up by 5 mg every week if the stomach’s calm. Do you reckon staggered timing helps curb the GI bump, or is it better to take them together? Also, any idea if the “morning lift” from metformin fades and you’d see a noticeable jitter before the amlexanox kicks in?
  • grace_sleepnerd: d. As a baseline. From the paper, the GI upset is mild‑ish, so I’m thinking itdoctoral like forestry not a constant “drip” but more a short‑term hiccup, especially if you split doses. Take it with metformin and don’t expect the GI irritation to disappear; the two can stack, but metformin’s L‑R formulation may help a smidge. How often do you get the jitter right after the metformin dose?
  • grace_sleepnerd: Thanks for the heads‑up. I’m also thinking of starting at 5 TAS, once a day, and then moving to 10 mg twice a day. I’ll put the metformin two hours apart to see if the gut hiccup clears up. Can you share what kind of glucose dip you saw and if you ever checked HOMA‑IR? That’d help me gauge the early metabolic shift.
  • grace_sleepnerd: Thanks for the heads‑up. I’ll start at 5 mg once a day, like you suggest, and watch my sugars and fatigue. I’m on metformin too, so double GI is a real worry. When you mentioned weight loss showing up only in the last two weeks, did that line up with the bump to 10 mg? Also, did you feel any energy changes during that month?

Community discussion - research and educational context only. Not medical advice.