For Me, The Side Effects Of Creatine Are Bloating And Depression.

Nutritional Supplement Reviews by Real People Like You		Supplement Reviews Weight Training Equipment Reviews
		Home \| Submit a Review \| About Us

Site Search

Creatine

Share This Page

Consumer Review: For Me, The Side Effects Of Creatine Are Bloating And Depression.

I have been taking creatine now off and on since 1995. The first time I tried a loading phase, the two most notable effects I noticed was bloating and depression. I found that by the fifth day of the loading phase I felt miserable. I felt that life was worthless and pointless. It was only when I finished the loading phase and I reduced the creatine to maintenance levels that this state of hopelessness decreased and my mental well being returned to a some what normal level.

The first question I have to ask is: are there any studies showing the effects of creatine on the brain, and if so, what are these effects and are they positive or negative? Also, has any studies been done on creatine relating to people's behavior due to its influences on the brain? The second question I have pertains to bloating of the stomach, or in my case, the increase of size of my stomach due to creatine. I have always been slim and hadn't had too much trouble with my belly until I began taking creatine. I then began to notice along with my brother and friends that not only were my shoulders, back, chest and arms getting bigger, but so was my stomach. Since then it has been some what of a problem over the years. I notice that if I take creatine after I work out or before I go out any where, that I have to struggle to hold in my stomach so it doesn't hang over my pants. It's not so bad on the days when I don't take creatine. I also notice lately that if I eat anything or even drink a coke my stomach gets so bloated that sometimes it's painful (depends how much I eat) and that it sticks out.

I've been working out now for about 18 years and consider myself in pretty good shape except for my belly. I know that my diet in the past has not always been perfect, I sometimes indulge in fatty foods or smorgs, but I have an identical twin brother who also works out and he has no problem with his belly. It takes great effort to hold my stomach in just to make it look as slim as his does which is his normal position. My question is, is there any! thing that can be done to allow me to continue taking creatine without the increase in size of my belly without having to quit taking it? Has creatine been known to increase the size or to stretch the stomach out to leave it permanently larger than before creatine use?

Response#1

First, thank you for telling us this. I hate it when you go to a web site and they say NO SIDE EFFECTS. First of all, it hasn't even been out long enough to determine long term side effects. I never heard about the depression, but the bloating MAY be caused by not taking enough water. There aren't any short-term side affects of creatine that link to the brain, but like I said, it hasn't even been out long enough to determine long term side effects. Hope I helped.

--David

Response#2

I have the same problem with creatine! I have stopped taking it because it has increased the size of my belly, but everything else has great muscle fatigue. I'm really getting depressed to. I can't think about anything really because I had an eight pack before I started taking creatine. Now, my belly doesn't show but 4 of my stomach muscles! I would really like to know how to get my belly back and know if it is just water from the creatine retaining in my stomach? I need to find something to help slim me back down. I need some answers! Soon please. Not to be rude. I'm kind of overreacting, but I want to have good abs! So I guess I just really need to know what I can take to help me pee out all the water! I know it's not fat. I have only 5% body fat!

Sincerely,
Scott Q.

Response#3

Hey guys, I have never heard of depression being caused by Creatine. I have heard about bloating. Challenge now makes a product in the form of drops that you can put under your tongue for instant effects in working out. It does not cause water retention, so there is no bloating. However, the muscles don't retain as much water so they are not as full. As for draining out water in your stomach...for about a week or so, don't take creatine, but drink lots of caffeine.

Share this page:

Submit a Review or Question

Join the conversation by e-mailing your supplement review or question to submit@nutritionalsupplements.org. To maintain quality, we review each submission before posting.