Creatine - Reactions with Other Drugs or Substances

Reactions with Other Drugs or Substances

Creatine and caffeine do not mix well. Both tend to dehydrate the body. Taken together, they can lead to heat stroke. Few studies have been done about the body's reaction to creatine supplements when taken with prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, or even other dietary supplements. Some fitness magazines warn against mixing creatine powder with drinks that are high in sugar or glucose content. Sweetened beverages carry their own dangers, including encouraging diabetesA serious disorder that causes problems with the normal breakdown of sugars in the body. and weight gain.

Although the purchase of creatine is legal, the substance has not been proven safe, even for adults. Before taking creatine supplements, adults should first consult a licensed doctor and carefully review any other medications that they are using daily. People with kidney problems should never take creatine supplements. Doctors will take periodic blood tests to make sure that creatine use is not damaging internal organs such as the liver and kidneys. Coaches, personal trainers, and sports nutritionists are not qualified to recommend creatine supplementation. They do not have the extensive medical education and training that licensed medical doctors have.

Creatine Chronology

1832     French chemist Michel-Eugène Chevreul isolates creatine within muscle cells and names it after the Greek word for "flesh."

1926     An article in a British medical journal links creatine consumption in meats to weight gain as muscle mass.

1954     Pfanstiehl Laboratories Inc. of Illinois produces synthetic creatine in bulk and markets it to catalog resellers.

1992     British sprinters Linford Christie and Sally Gunnel win Olympic gold medals after having trained using creatine supplements.

1998     Mark McGwire, working toward breaking the single-season home run record for Major League Baseball, is photographed with a bottle of creatine supplements in his stadium locker.

2005     Mark McGwire testifies before Congress about steroid use in Major League Baseball. He dodges questions about whether he used performance-enhancing products.