Creatine is a naturally occurring chemical mostly found in the body's muscles. Creatine supplements are most often used to boost muscle mass and improve athletic performance, though they are also used to treat conditions such as heart failure and depression. There is too little solid scientific evidence to know whether creatine works at all. Creatine supplements do cause side effects and may cause serious risks at high doses. Talk to your doctor before taking creatine.
Side Effects
At recommended doses, creatine can cause stomach pain, nausea, thirst, headache, anxiety, fatigue, dizziness, personality changes, seizure, swollen limbs, fever, diarrhea and appetite loss. Creatine may cause an allergic reaction that may cause a rash, itching, shortness of breath or asthmatic symptoms. At high doses, creatine might cause kidney, liver and heart problems, though these risks are not proven, according to MedlinePlus. Avoid exercising in the heat if you are taking creatine because you may be at increased risk of heat exhaustion and may become dehydrated.
Muscle Problems
Creatine may cause muscle cramps or even the breakdown of muscle, according to MayoClinic.com. This may increase your risk of injury from muscle tears, strains and sprains. Creatine can cause weight gain because it causes the muscles to hold water but this is not an indication that it is building actual muscle mass. Because of this tendency for muscles to soak up more water, you will need to drink extra fluid to compensate. Creatine may increase the risk of compartment syndrome, a painful condition in which swelling in the muscles diminishes blood flow to the lower leg. This can require emergency surgery.
Kidney Problems
Creatine may harm the kidneys, particularly if you already have kidney disease. Creatine has been linked to some cases of interstitial nephritis, an inflammatory condition that impairs kidney function. Talk to your doctor before taking creatine if you have kidney disease or a disease such as diabetes that increases your risk of kidney disease, notes MayoClinic.com. There may also be a risk of liver problems, so if you have liver disease, consult your doctor before taking creatine.
Interactions
If you are taking any drugs that may harm the kidneys, taking creatine may increase your risk of kidney damage. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking creatine if you are on prescription medication. Some of the more common drugs in this category include cyclosporine; antibiotics like gentamicin; nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDS, such as ibuprofen and naproxen; cimetidine; diuretics, or water pills; probenecid; indomethacin and piroxicam. There is also some concern that taking creatine with caffeine and the herbal supplement ephedra could cause stroke, according to MedlinePlus. Creatine may affect insulin levels, so if you are taking diabetes medications or other medications that affect blood sugar, be sure to monitor your blood sugar levels and consult with your doctor if you are taking creatine.
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