Creatine supplements can cause side effects such as weight gain, muscle cramps, dehydration, and gastrointestinal issues. Creatine’s tendency to attract water can also lead to muscle injuries and kidney damage when taken in high doses. It can also cross-react with certain medications and substances.
People who take creatine supplements for bodybuilding or medical reasons could experience a number of side effects from creatine monohydrate. Creatine’s effect on water in the body is responsible for most side effects, including weight gain, increased muscle bulk, and dehydration. Other commonly reported side effects include muscle cramps, strains, and pulling; flatulence; nausea cramps; and diarrhea. Prolonged high doses of creatine can also have a serious effect on the liver and kidneys.
One of the properties of creatine is its tendency to attract water, and in the body, water will accumulate in areas where creatine accumulates, such as in the muscles. This osmotic extraction of water explains many of the side effects of creatine monohydrate. Excess water stored in the muscles increases body weight and inflates muscle mass. Dehydration is also a concern, and people taking creatine supplements will need to consume extra fluids to counteract this effect.
Gastrointestinal complaints are also common side effects of creatine monohydrate. Creatine’s effect on water is responsible for some side effects, including nausea and diarrhea. Creatine can also affect the body’s ability to digest some sugars and carbohydrates normally, causing excessive flatulence and cramping. Fructose is especially vulnerable to this effect, which means taking a creatine supplement with fruit juice is probably a bad idea.
Muscle injuries are commonly reported as creatine monohydrate side effects, but many of these reports are anecdotal, and the link to creatine is assumed rather than proven. Muscle tears, pulls, and strains have also been observed in scientific studies, but only rarely. The effect of creatine on muscle injury is a matter of debate. Conflicting evidence has led some to suggest that creatine might have a positive effect.
When taking creatine monohydrate in high doses, the risk of more serious side effects must be considered. People typically start taking supplements with a process called loading, in which heavier doses are taken more frequently to increase creatine levels in the body. Loading should not continue for more than a week, due to the risks of prolonged high doses. Kidney failure and kidney dysfunction can be the result of heavy use of creatine supplements.
In addition to these side effects, creatine supplements are known to cross-react with various substances. Creatine’s effect on water makes dehydration a real concern when taking diuretics. Medications such as ibuprofen, cimetidine, and probenicide can increase the risk of kidney damage. Caffeine can also contribute to dehydration and may increase the risk of stroke when taken with creatine.
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