Lets talk about creatine and unwanted sides

[littlemoney31]

OK. so I started taking what would be considered a clean creatine from a reputable top selling source aprox 2 weeks ago. 5gm post workout. Now am noticing increased daily headaches, muscle cramping when asleep, and increased nausea during workouts. I can deal with the nausea and had virtually chalked this up to hard training but after doing some net reading, I am now seeing many articles that are talking about these very sides that I am experiencing being related to creatine. At this point, I have chalked this up to a need to drink more water due to increased uptake of water into the muscle cells caused by creatine. Anyone have any feedback or past experiences to get through this or better pinpoint what other potential causes? I dont want to implicate creatine as the culprit and know that there will be many who say its your calcium or potassium level...but guys, I am thinking that creatine is the cause. I am most interested in continuing the creatine use and combatting the unwanted and quite frankly scarry sides that I have experienced. Will increased water do the trick (your opinions here). I am going to carry water with me everywhere I go for the next week and sip it along the way, continue creatine at 5gm post workout and see if I the headaches, cramping and nausea aleviate at all. In the mean time, your feedback would be most appreciated. I am 5'10" 220, good health, established in weight training, take no2 pre workout, a general supplement and stick to a high protein diet (200gm/day).

 

[Budz08]

As far as the upset stomach I know that when I started taking creatine people suggested taking it with apple juice and my stomach just couldn't handle it. I'm already not a big fan of apple juice and after adding creatine my stomach felt horrible. I just switched it up and put it in my protein shake or even in gatorade. I'm sure I tried other juices like cranberry but I can't remember how they affected me. As far as the headaches and cramps to me it sounds like your not getting enough water. Do you drink a lot of coffee and/or tea? Those may dehydrate you if your not drinking in enough water to compensate the difference.

 

[T_man]

headaches, muscle cramping when asleep, and increased nausea during workouts

These are basically signs of dehydration. It happens whether off or on creatine.

Up your water. To alot. I drink 2-3 litres when on creatine.

 

[FMJ]

I never heard of anyone having any side effects from creatine.

 

[Twist3dSteel]

ive never had any of these effects

 

[littlemoney31]

Thanks for the feedback thus far. As I am doing more reading on the net, it appears that my sides are not all that uncommon but have been difficult to substantiate in studies. To all you potential creatine users...water...water...water as apparently the creatine draws from the overall h2o pool to send to muscle tissue leaving a deficit elsewhere where a balance is typically maintained. At least for now thats all I can hope for. No headaches today. Kidneys are sore though. No nausea during workout time.

 

[Phineas]

Actually, I've experienced some side effects, too. I'm a little worried...my muscles have been growing and I'm lifting more at the gym. Should I see a doctor?

 

[FMJ]

Actually, I've experienced some side effects, too. I'm a little worried...my muscles have been growing and I'm lifting more at the gym. Should I see a doctor?

YES! Immediatly!

 

[T_man]

Actually, I've experienced some side effects, too. I'm a little worried...my muscles have been growing and I'm lifting more at the gym. Should I see a doctor?

Definately an unwanted side effect. I find alcohol combats this pretty well. Drink 2-3 units per hour for best results.

 

[pitman]

man up along with drink up alot more water....

 

[theCaptn']

ive never had any of these effects

When creatine is taken rectally, these symptoms may occur

 

[FMJ]

When creatine is taken rectally, these symptoms may occur

 

[Gazhole]

Most people are under-hydrated. Add working out to this, and then creatine, and hoorah symptoms. Its not the creatine doing this, it's the lack of water.

So basically - drink water. Everybody - creatine, training, or nothing - DRINK WATER.

 

[awhites1]

never had any bad side effects from taking creatine except when i took it in a pill form. but that was all mental as i just hate taking pills. try taking a diff brand or something. i take NO Shotgun prework out and it has 2 diff types of creatine in it and NO Synthesize post which samething minus caffeine