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What is the most important information I should know about creatine?

Drink plenty of fluid while taking creatine. Although it has not been proven, dehydration, heat-related illnesses, muscle cramps, reduced blood volume, and electrolyte imbalances are expected to be more likely to occur while taking creatine.

Creatine has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of creatine may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. There have been instances where herbal/health supplements have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

Warning

Consultation with a licensed health care professional is advisable before using any herbal/health supplement. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained in the uses of herbal/health supplements may be beneficial and coordination of treatment among all health care providers involved may be advantageous. Remember, keep this and all other prescription drug products, over-the-counter drug products, and herbal/health supplements out of the reach of children.

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What is creatine?

The use of creatine in cultural and traditional settings may differ from concepts accepted by current Western medicine. When considering the use of herbal/health supplements, consultation with a primary health care professional is advisable. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained in the uses of herbal/health supplements may be beneficial, and coordination of treatment among all health care providers involved may be advantageous.

Creatine is produced naturally in the kidney, liver, and pancreas of humans. Creatine is also supplied in meat and fish. Most creatine in the body is stored in the muscles, in the form of phosphocreatine. Creatine is a quickly available source of energy for muscle contraction. Creatine is also involved in muscle growth.

Creatine has been used to enhance athletic performance.

Creatine has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of creatine may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. There have been instances where herbal/health supplements have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

Creatine may also have uses other than those listed in this medication guide.


Precautions

Before taking creatine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care professional if you have any other medical conditions, allergies, or if you take other medicines or other herbal/health supplements. Creatine may not be recommended in some situations.

Do not take creatine without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant.

Do not take creatine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

There is no information available regarding the use of creatine by children. Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without first talking to the child’s doctor.

There are no known restrictions on food, beverages, or activity while taking creatine, unless otherwise directed by your health care professional.

Drink plenty of fluid while taking creatine. Although it has not been proven, dehydration, heat-related illnesses, muscle cramps, reduced blood volume, and electrolyte imbalances are expected to be more likely to occur while taking creatine.

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Instructions

Seek emergency medical attention.

Symptoms of a creatine overdose are not known. It is cautioned that long-term use of creatine may cause kidney damage.

No information is available regarding a missed dose of creatine. Consult your doctor, pharmacist, or health care professional if you require further information.

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Side-effects

Although uncommon, serious side effects have been reported with the use of creatine. Stop taking creatine and seek emergency medical attention or notify your doctor immediately if you experience:

  • an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives); or
  • symptoms of kidney problems such as decreased or little urine.

Other less serious side effects of creatine have not been reported. Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care professional if you experience any side effects from creatine.

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Interactions

Interactions between creatine and other prescription or over-the-counter medicines or herbal/health supplements have not been reported. Theoretically, creatine and other medicines that affect the kidneys may interact. Before taking creatine, talk to your doctor if you are taking:

  • a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), diflunisal (Dolobid), etodolac (Lodine), fenoprofen (Nalfon), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin, others), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis KT, Orudis, Oruvail), ketorolac (Toradol), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprosyn, Naprelan, others), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), sulindac (Clinoril), tolmetin (Tolectin), and others;
  • trimethoprim (Bactrim, Sulfatrim, Trimpex, Proloprim);
  • probenecid (Benemid); or
  • cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB).

You may not be able to take creatine, or you may require special monitoring or dosage adjustments if you take creatine with any of the medicines listed above.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with creatine. Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care professional before taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines or herbal/health supplements.

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Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2004 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version 2.05. Revision date 8/23/04

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