Creatine is a supplement that many athletes use to build and repair muscle tissue. While creatine certainly has some benefits, such as significantly boosting muscle mass in some athletes who focus on short-term, high intensity exercise, you should use it with caution, since it also has some disadvantages and side effects.
Inconvenience
The Wellness Guide to Dietary Supplements notes that most creatine regimens are not convenient, since you need to take the doses multiple times a day. In addition, it is expensive and bad-tasting, although this is also true of most protein supplements.
Weight Gain
Current research conducted by the USDA indicates that the most common side effect of creatine is slight weight gain. This can be from your body retaining water in reaction to the creatine, or it can be caused by your increasing muscle mass, which weighs more than fat.
Stomach Effects
Creatine can cause stomach and intestinal side effects in certain people. These problems can include loss of appetite, nausea, stomach pain or discomfort, and nausea.
Drug Interactions
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, creatine supplements can interact with some common drugs or substances. These include non-steroidal anti-inflamatory drugs, such as over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen. Other drugs and substances that can interact with creatine include caffeine, diuretics, and the prescription medicines cimetidine and probenicid. If you are on medication, you should check with your doctor about potential interaction with creatine supplements.
Insulin Interactions
The Mayo Clinic reports that creatine may change the interactions of insulin, so individuals with diabetes or hypoglycemia should be cautious when taking creatine supplements. You and your doctor may want to discuss other options.
Other Side Effects
Creatine has the potential to cause other side effects. Creatine can cause asthmatic symptoms like shortness of breath in individuals with a creatine allergy. It can also cause muscle cramps, electrolyte imbalances, dehydration, and high blood pressure.
Oversight
Finally, there is little scientific data regarding the long-term usage of creatine supplements, and the quality of creatine supplements is not ensured by the FDA, which does not monitor creatine manufacturers. In the past, some companies have sold contaminated creatine. The FDA recommends consulting with a physician before beginning a creatine regimen.
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