Creatine monohydrate is a widely available dietary supplement that is popular among body builders, athletes and many average gym-goers. Creatine is popular due to claims that it increases lean muscle mass and enhance a person's athletic performance, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Once reserved for the shelves of stores selling only vitamins and dietary supplements, creatine products can be purchased at many grocery stores and most drugstores. Despite the immense popularity of the supplement, there is only limited systematic studies of the safety of creatine, according to MayoClinic.com. As with any new supplement, consult your doctor before using creatine monohydrate.
Dehydration
One possible side effect of supplementing with creatine monohydrate is dehydration. Creatine does not directly cause dehydration, but rather increases the amount of water your body needs. According to MedlinePlus, a service of the National Institutes of Health, creatine functions by having your muscles pull water from other areas of your body. In order to prevent dehydration, you will need to drink more water. According to the University of Illinois, although creatine can increase the amount of water your muscles will retain, you can still experience muscle cramping from dehydration.
Kidney Problems
Creatine monohydrate can potentially cause kidney problems. Creatine supplementation could cause kidney stress or acute kidney failure if you have a history of kidney problems, warns UMMC. Kidney stress is the result of taking creatine at large doses for extended periods of time. UMMC, however, notes that usually no significant side effects occur when used as directed for six months.
Possible Drug Interactions
Creatine monohydrate can possibly produce adverse or unwanted side effects if you are taking other medications. If you are taking creatine monohydrate, you should avoid taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen, notes UMMC, as the combination of NSAIDs and creatine could be harmful to your body. UMMC states that you should avoid taking diuretics with creatine due to the potential harmful effects on your kidneys. Caffeine should also be avoided because it affects your body's ability to use creatine and may increase the risk of dehydration. UMMC also discourages the use of cimetidine and probenicid. Talk to your physician if you have been using any of these medications before using creatine monohydrate.
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