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Consumer Review: This May Seem Ironic, But I Actually Work At GNC And There Is A Very High Possibility That Creatine Monohydrate/Citrate Does Have Potential Side Effects.


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Response #61

I have been talking to my physician about Creatine. He has contacted several people whom of which he believes have good knowledge on the subject. And they all pretty much said the same thing.

1) Creatine carries water into the cells thus increasing mass.

2) Because of this the consumer must drink 1/2 - 1 gallon of water every day.

3) Kidney damage may occur if and only if the consumer takes an excessive dosage for a minimum of 7 months(may vary greatly on just how much you are taking above suggested).

4) Creatine Serum is a better product because it is more efficient and one only has to take the formula 15 minutes prior to exercising. The Serum also eliminates the "loading period." For instance, if you exercise 3 times a week then you would only take the Serum 3 times a week, as opposed to Creatine Powder which one must take at least 7 times a week. By using Serum you take some stress of those valuable kidneys of yours.

5) Creatine also delays the chemical "lactic acid." This chemical is what makes muscles burn and causes muscle "failure." This term simply means the muscle is tired and cannot lift anymore wieght(or sometimes lift itself).

6) Creatine does not make one grow muscle, you can't take creatine and sit on your butt all day and expect to get stronger. Creatine is a supplement that helps you work harder, longer, faster. So if your taking creatine get in that weight room and get to work.

7) If you are skeptical about taking creatine or think that you may be suffering from its side affects. Then consider taking a high protein diet. Your body takes the protein and turns it into muscle. Protein is in almost everything you eat so therefore it isn't dangerous to take it in excessive amounts. (NOTE: I have not researched protein diets, do not hold me to that statement).

Oh and this is a consumer review. If you have not taken Creatine Powder or Serum. Then do not add your knowledge to this forum. I have met to many people who think they know what they are talking about because they listen to all the propaganda. I was in a GNC the other day and the saleswomen refused to sell me Creatine Serum because she did not think I was old enough(she was asking for 21 years). I asked her if she had taken the supplement and of course she replied "No." So I took the Serum off the shelf, handed her $50 (it was $32 but I wanted it so I got it) and left shaking my head.


Response #62

OK, first of all, there is no way to determine the exact long term effects besides just waiting. only time will tell. As for the short term effects though, as long as you follow directions there should be no negative side effects on the average person. Different people react differently to different substances though. Creatine may be working fine for 999 out of 1000 people, but there is always a rare case where somebody's body reacts to it in a totally different manner than everybody else's body does. So if you want to take creatine, go ahead, just beware that you could be that rare case. As far as studies and information on creatine are concerned, although there is still a lot to learn about the product, if you really want to know about it then read the book by Richard Kreider on it. It is over 200 pages long and discusses every aspect there is today about creatine and its side effects.


Response #63

I used to use Creatine and yes, the stuff works! But I don't anymore because there are so many things the companies who make the stuff do not want YOU to know. So all I have to say is the stuff worked for me. But if you think about it, why use something that stirs up such controversy? And as for people saying, "ask your doctor," what does he know? My old doctor still smokes!

Pete


Response #64

I am a 17 year old male, I have just started taking Creatine Monohydrate, I don't know what the hell is gonna happen, my bottle says I should take it for 2 months, I doubt I'll do that, all of these bad things that are being said has changed my mind. I'm 17 I can wait a couple years until the FDA or the AMA can assess the effects of Creatine.

CASEY



Response #65

I first used creatine 3 years ago, I am now 18. I used to train for football, now I am lifting to meet personal goals. I want to say I have taken it by many different methods and I think I teaspoon a day in juice is the best. No loading phase. I have never noticed any unwanted side effects and I am positive it has helped me with weight training. I think mainly it allows me to do more reps than I normally would with less fatigue. This in turn has allowed me to become stronger. I think that everything should be used in moderation and their is no "safe and easy" way to training. It worked for me, but it wasn't solely responsible for my gains.


Response #66

I started using creatine at 50 years old while bodybuilding. I had great results but noticed that once while I was traveling and had forgotten my creatine I started getting the most violent muscle cramps I had ever had. I weaned myself off the substance and still experience some gout like symptoms. My two cents is that it is probably safe if you are in good to great shape already and you follow the recommended dose. It is probably not for older men unless they have fully functional kidneys and livers and have been working out faithfully for the majority of their lives.


Response #67

I have been lifting for a little over a year now. I considered taking creatine (found out all that I could from people) and decided against it. I agree with the paramedic, that there is not enough conclusive evidence to judge creatine IN ANY WAY. Maybe in a couple years, when the FDA has something important to say, THEN I'll reconsider. Until then, I'm sticking to PROTEIN. No one has EVER had any problems with protein. I advise anyone who is thinking about taking creatine to do what I am: WAIT and just use what we have now. Like someone here said 'If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.' Thank you for your time.


Corto


Response #68

I have taken Creatine on and off for the last 2 years and had great success with it. The stuff does work and I probably will keep using it until studies bring some conclusive evidence that it has potential for serious side effects. After reading all the responses, you all must remember that everyone's body will have a different physiological response to different substances, that includes bad ones. So, for the time being, I will keep using the the stuff because it works for ME. As for all the people downplaying creatine, unless you are a doctor currently doing a study on the stuff, your conclusions are not worth the wasted space on this page.


Response #69

I am a teen that has been seriously training with free weights for about 5 years. I recently have started on creatine and have done some looking around for more information on it. In the time that I have been on creatine, I have noticed an increase in the weight that I am able to lift as well as a significant increase in my vertical jump. I have noticed no negative side effects. I have gained a couple pounds but in such a short amount of time that I believe it might be slight water retention. I am not here to say that creatine causes a huge benefit in training, but from my own experience, I cannot tell that it is causing anything harmful.


Response #70

I'm really glad I ran across this page. I'm 20 and I was about to start using creatine. After reading all of these posts, I am concluding that there CAN be side effects for SOME people using creatine, contrary to what the guy at the health food store told me as he sold me the stuff. If I was still 17-18 years old, I would not use creatine, and would simply wait until more research becomes available because you don't really have to be huge at that age. But I'm 20 now, and I can't afford to wait several more years. On the other hand, I'm still too young to not worry about my future health.

What really surprises me are the people who admit that they have noticed side effects and STILL continue to use creatine! If you're having liver pains and you know its from creatine, you have to be crazy to keep using it! So here's what I've decided to do. I am going to start using creatine. I'm going to follow the instructions exactly, drink lots of water, and most importantly, if I see any signs of side effects I will STOP USING IT!!!! Obviously there are people for whom it works fine, without any problems, and I hope that I'm one of them. Oh, and one more thing: I was told that as a safety measure I should take creatine for 1-2 months and then take a full month off to give your body a break. I don't think anyone has mentioned that on this page.


Response #71

Now DIS guy is smart...Creatine will not work for everyone...some people's bodies just can't take the increased intake.

I would say its a pretty safe supplement (it is also a drug), so if you're interested, giving it a try wouldn't be all that bad.

But, like all drugs, there ARE side effects. Since Creatine usage is relatively new, its not fully researched, and side effects...especially long term ones...have not been found. Some known side effects, like kidney and liver damage are actually pretty common, considering they can occur with normal vitamin supplements like Centrum or something, because the body can't take the large quantities of the substances.

Your body is constantly filtering out what is unneeded, and in excess (through kidneys and liver). Flooding your system with creatine will add to your storage, but will also increase the workload on your organs. Your body may be able to handle it...your body may not.

Take the Creatine at your own risk...I'm saying its RELATIVELY safe, not harmless...if you do notice something wrong, then stop using it and see a physician...and if you want to be extra careful see a professional (sports medicine) before using it (maybe run tests to see if your body and organs are in peak condition).


Response #72

To a certain extent, I think all you guys have valid cases. But nevertheless, I think the bottom line is creatine is the greatest breakthrough in legal muscle mass enhancement. It's going to take more than a handful of skeptics to pull a product like this off the market. Maybe those of you whose kidneys and liver can't handle the stuff should find a new hobby more tuned to your own imperfect genetics.


Response #73

Who knows? I've been lifting off and on since 1989 and never have I seen results that I have with creatine, and that's not in my mind, that's pure gain. Is it safe? Can't tell you that, only I've had no side effects. I don't even drink that much water. In the last 5 months, I've switched to the serum. No zits, cramps, liver nor kidney problems. I'm not telling anyone to take it, only my results by taking it.


Response #74

I have been taking creatine for the past year or so and it DOES work. But, after reading all of the other responses, I am starting to sense that there is something wrong with creatine. I believe it could be a dangerous drug and that one should check out their kidneys every once in a while to make sure. This drug has NOT had enough testing done on it by trustworthy doctors (not doctors that work for the companies who could be jeopardized by a decrease in creatine sales). I believe it is too good to be true. I would suggest getting off creatine as this is what I am going to do, and just supplement with stuff like proteins or something. I am not a doctor and probably have no say in this at all, but from what I have recently been hearing about this stuff, I am getting off.


Response #75

Has anyone questioned the quality of the product itself? What brand was being used when these people had problems? What was the concentration of the product vs. the dose?

I have used Creatine for a year. I used it per directions and had no side effects. The gain I was looking for was achieved quickly (the stuff is amazing). Due to a shoulder injury from sports, I stopped training (and the Creatine) for about three months. Now training again I decided to go to the Creatine since it seemed to be a good product, but I changed brand. This time, there is definitely something wrong. A huge difference. As I type this, my head is spinning, I'm dizzy, I feel sick to my stomach. Heavy chest. Does any of this sound familiar to anyone? I just had my "drink" about an hour ago and this came on about ten minutes later. I had noticed this during my workouts this week and it is now obvious.

This particular bottle of Creatine is no good. Now you tell me. What is up with that? These companies are playing with people's lives. Just this is enough to make you want to stay away from it. I believe there is a positive, safe use for this stuff, but I don't think it is in the right hands. The hands of cash minded companies and sales people. I think I will return to Creatine, but not until I do a lot of research and testing of my own personal physiology and how "I" will react to the stuff. For now, this particular bottle is going down the drain. Wait...here come the cramps. And I drank three litres of water so far today. I think it's time to see my doctor!


Response #76

Everyone needs to calm down and think rationally about this. The recommended dose of creatine is 5 grams per day. That is not much different than eating large amounts of red meat. As far as the problems some of you have had with your kidneys, I'm sorry you are suffering, but it's your own fault. Instead of talking to your doctor and seeing if your system can handle creatine, you probably just hauled off and started taking large amounts of the stuff. I've been taking Creatine for a year and have finally started putting on muscle mass for the first time since I started lifting 3 years ago. I've also been drink over a gallon of water every day just to make sure my system is completely flushed out everyday. Really it's simple, just use your head and don't run off and believe every little thing you hear about creatine until there is some kind of proof.


Response #77

Most of you know nothing. I have been taking creatine for 6 month and then off for 2 months. I have had no side effects except some stabbing pains in my chest, but I drink about 9 ounces of water an hour now. I have had great gains. Now I'm able to add 5 pounds to my usual reps every other day. So it works, but take it at your own risk.


Response #78

No effects except some stabbing pains in my chest" HELLO!!! I am questioning whether my son is taking this stuff. Out of nowhere, very high blood pressure. No changes except I know his coach promotes it. Anyone out there have comments on high blood pressure and creatine? Particularly medical people!


Response #79

Listen guys, don't worry about all this crap. This stuff affects people in all different ways. So, I recommend that you just do what I do: Do it natural. Eat fish, eggs, chicken, etc. and drink milk. Because it will be a long time before something good comes out that will be perfect. I am very strong, big, fast and never took that stuff in my life. I am 16, 156 pounds. I wrestle, play football, run track and I'm an all state athlete. I bench 280 pounds and squat 425 in the 10th grade. It's all hard work. Don't try to go around the work because these products may work now, but the real effects will effect you when you're old and you're not even going to notice that it was something you took early in life that is causing a painful retirement.


Response #80

OK, everybody has different opinions about the effects of creatine on the body, but flat out, almost everything is in your head. I have been taking Creatine since I entered college as part of the athletic department, as a javelin thrower. I have seen all these reports and even had fellow throwers complain of severe pain caused from Creatine usage. However, I have never experienced any pain, unless I did something stupid like not drink enough liquid or go out drinking. As long as you pay attention to how much you take and the length of your cycles, you should be fine, as long as your body accepts the Creatine. Since I started using Creatine 4 years ago, I gained approximately 35 pounds...mostly muscle. I don't know whether it was the Creatine, but I am willing to bet it had something to do with it.


Response #81

Listen up all you "scientists" who think you know everything about substances you never took. Here are the facts. Yes, creatine does work. The gains experienced by various athletes are tremendous. What you have to understand is everybody reacts differently to different substances. Some people try to take too much creatine at a time, and then they don't hydrate themselves properly--the result being cramps in their sides. You have to take it properly.

I have been taking creatine for two years, and I have had considerable gains and no side effects; although, I only take creatine on the days when I lift, which is three times a week. All that crap about how you should take the powder every day is bullcrap. Creatine stays in your body for long periods of time after you consume it, so don't feel you have to take it every day.

There are always gonna rumors about how creatine breaks down your liver and kidneys and other more ridiculous conjectures, but until there is FDA proof of side effects, my advice would be, if you don't experience any pain or other side effects, go ahead and take it. But remember, always drink plenty of water. And you can even take it my way--just on the days you work out. If there is any truth to the kidney scares, then taking it my way well be easier on your kidneys because there aren't excess amounts being dumped in your body every day. Also, keep up with the research on creatine problems just in case.

POPS


Response #82

I am amazed at how ignorant people can be. People will try ANYTHING in an attempt to change the way they look, and/or the way their bodies perform. Every time some new MIRACLE product hits the market, people never fail in making the makers of these products VERY VERY RICH. Do you think that these companies give a rat's ass about you? They are in it for one reason and one reason only, "BANK."

If this so called miracle product turns out, after time, to be safe, then that would be awesome, but the track records for these "MIRACLES" indicates that Creatine will turn out to be just another dangerous drug. To all the people out there who say that if the body already produces it or it is in the foods that we eat, then it is safe to consume extremely high doses of it: WRONG. Our bodies need a variety of vitamins and minerals in order to be healthy, however, if you take extremely high doses of certain vitamins or minerals, the effects can cause severe damage to your body and can even cause death. That is a fact.

All the people who will undoubtedly call me names and say that I don't know what I am talking about are the same people who will end up hiring a lawyer and suing the company who supplied them with the product. I hope that all you people will lose your cases because I cannot have sympathy for people who take the risk to begin with. It is your own fault. I am certain that the people who use Creatine will NOT take my advice, and that is perfectly fine. Just remember that there are NO MIRACLE products out there.


Response #83

Just my two cents: I just recently finished a course on Accutane (a VERY, VERY potent acne drug that does wicked things to your liver and kidneys while you are on it). During any course of Accutane you MUST get monthly liver and kidney function test to assure doctors that you aren't doing long-term, severe damage to these organs. If your blood lipid/toxin levels get high - you MUST stop Accutane. MY POINT IS...I repeated the LOADING phase (high dose) of Creatine THREE times while on Accutane. At NO TIME did my liver and kidney function tests return results that exhibited high amounts of blood lipids or toxins.

Don't you think that if there was a problem with high levels of Creatine in my system, they would exaggerate the results of my tests? You bet they would. Mine turned out FINE. No measurable difference. EVERYONE IS GETTING EXCITED ABOUT THIS STUFF...RELAX. Any Creatine that is not absorbed into muscle IS secreted through the kidney and urine, BUT most people eat chemicals that are MUCH WORSE and wreak FAR GREATER HAVOC on the kidneys than creatine. How about all the ALCOHOL that this society uses? What about HIGH FAT and high cholesterol diets? These are far greater problems for the body than Creatine.

Thanks


Response #84

I have been using Creatine for more than a year. I have found nothing wrong with my ability to urine or anything. If you take the right dose and follow the directions on the bottle, you will see positive results and be just fine. My bench has increased about 80 pounds and I look and feel great. I used to be fat and out of shape, but when I started taking Creatine I lost fat and gained muscle and now I am in great shape.


Response #85

I think that people need to realize that you don't get something for nothing these days without some sort of side effects. For the time being, your gains may be great but are you certain that you want to possibly invest your life into a product that is not FDA approved? And how many people does it take ending up in the emergency room to change your views on the product?


Response #86

Reading all this about Creatine is interesting to me for this reason. Yes, I take it in the amounts specified on the jar. I have been for about six months now. I really like the gains in my workouts. Now, here is my dilemma. I am a diabetic. Have been for about ten years now. I went in for some blood and urine work and my creatinine level was almost triple what it had been. I'm not taking any more until I get more info on just what is going on with my body. I don't especially want kidney failure and whatever creatine is supposed to do. But, if the doctor says everything is OK and that creatine is fine to take, then by all means, I will be taking it again. I guess that everyone needs to do what they think is right for themselves until legitimate studies prove whatever they come up with.

D.O.


Response #87

After reading some of the reviews both pro and con on this site, I am still confused as to whether or not creatine is a safe supplement. I was all set to start taking it until I read the responses on this page. As a result, I'm not going to try it until more research is done as to the long term effects of the product. Instead, I will just continue to bomb my body with heavy weight training.


Response #88

So confusing. To me, the most important question is whether or not creatine really works. There are times when you are going to make faster or slower gains naturally. Since people are often taking and doing many things at the same time when on a diet/exercise program, Creatine may not be essentially responsible. People are going to make gains naturally. People will make more gains when they believe that they will make more gains.

If someone were to study me without creatine, some days I would still lift more or feel better than on other days. I know two persons that swear by Creatine, yet right now neither one of them use it. Why? Cost? Uncertainty? There seems to be a lot of contradiction in the studies. Some say the improvement for highly trained athletes was negligible, or that the increase hydration/water retention is the same that would be expected from either water tension or elevated muscle growth. Well, that's not exactly "conclusive." If a supplement company was selling hydration, they could point to the same study and say ,"look what this will do for your all important hydration."

Well, there's very little except anecdotal evidence to support creatine. But anecdotal may also very well be true. Have you heard Arnold say that, although science indicates that spot reduction of fat is not possible, doing an intensive ab regimen produces a result that is enough like spot reduction in the mid-section that spot reduction might as well be true. So the only real answer, that has so far eluded me, is if the thoughtful and experienced people who use creatine can honestly say that it is the thing that makes the difference and that it's worth the $30 bucks a month you're going to pay instead of buying that motorcycle you wanted.

Same with ZMA and Hydroxycut--supposed great results, science doesn't always bear that out, and safety is being debated. There's studies now that suggest Chromium Picolinate was all hype, that egg protein isn't really where it's at, that some stars of the past fads never really demonstrated what was expected. So, if something really does come along, how's anyone going to believe it?


Response #89

I have no doubt that Creatine not only causes outstanding muscle gains, but that it also causes drastic side effects. The problem is that everyone's body and body chemistry is slightly different. We owe this, obviously, to our specific genetic makeup. While Creatine might cause huge weight gains for one person, producing no side effects; it will cause extreme side effects in others. There is definitely enough evidence to warrant legitimate, independent research. A manufacturer's research is too obviously skewed for it not to be seriously questioned.


Response #90

I am currently researching the pros and cons of Creatine. My Gym teacher has become concerned with me and a few friends taking creatine. One of his friends and a fellow teacher of mine was taking creatine plus and developed gout in his foot. I hear about people having kidney/liver damage all of the time. I have been taking creatine on and off for about a year. I really wasn't that dedicated to the powder and, therefore, stopped. Once I heard about the serum, I went and bought two bottles. The serum claims that it doesn't have the side-effects of the powder. Is that true? From all of my research, I conclude that everybody's body is different and if you already have kidney or liver problems, then don't even get involved. But, if you do take it, I recommend drinking a lot of water just to be sure to flush your system properly.

I like that comment about long term effects. How long does it take to come up with long term effects? I mean c'mon, people have been using creatine since the late sixties and early seventies, that's 30 years! I think that most of the side-effects come from improper use including dosage, not eating right, drinking enough water, and the thought of taking creatine and laying around hoping to get big and strong.


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