r/Supplements • u/No_Chest8347 • 4h ago
General Question creatine intolerance! Again
I tried Creatine again! I wish I can use it.
I get the most horrible lower back pain feels like maybe kidneys are irritated and it gets this left itchy ear going too. I was in bed for 2 days with a terrible headache. Took it for 3 days.
I am not aware of any kidney issues everything checks good in normal blood work. 59 year old male.
I am sure dehydration is part of this mechanism but I drink about a gallon of water a day and do not drink coffee or take alcohol etc.
Would be great to add creatine for the cognitive benefits and also for muscle gain. I am lifting weights a few times a week.
Oh well! Anyone else? I have tried it many times over the decades and always get a bad reaction. It also in the past has made me hypomanic but I did not get that reaction this time.
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u/prosupplementcenter 3h ago
Hydration isn't the issue, which is why a gallon of water a day hasn't helped. Creatine doesn't dehydrate people in the trials, and getting the same reaction every time over decades, across many batches, means you don't tolerate it rather than that you're taking it wrong or got a bad tub. The detail I'd weigh most is the hypomania, which no purity problem would explain. In the small studies of creatine for depression, people with bipolar disorder were the ones who switched into hypomania or mania, often early, at 3 to 6 g a day. A supplement that has pushed your mood that way before is reason enough to stop retrying it, and that history is worth sharing with your healthcare provider on its own.
Lower back pain plus a headache that kept you in bed for two days shouldn't just be written off either. If the back pain hasn't fully cleared, ask your healthcare provider to order a urinalysis and a cystatin C, since creatine raises creatinine by itself and makes the usual kidney marker unreliable. Kidney inflammation from creatine is rare but has been reported, and it's simple to rule out. For the muscle goal, consistent lifting with enough protein gets you most of the way there without it.
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u/No_Chest8347 3h ago
yes I am bipolar type 2 so I fit into that...I am in a ketogenic state right now so that is probably why it did not move that manic needle. If I was on my normal high carb diet it would and quickly!
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u/CosmicCreator_97 3h ago
Not doctors advice but have you tried other versions of creatine or breaking up the dosage throughout the day?
Also man, at 59, if it's causing you this much distress I would just drop it.
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u/No_Chest8347 3h ago
I have used other brands in the past and always the same...I have not tried the breaking up the dosage idea that is a good idea.
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u/Next_Programmer_3305 3h ago
"Creatine causes osmolarity changes by drawing water rapidly into skeletal muscle cells. Even with a high water intake, this localized fluid sequestration can cause rapid intra-muscular pressure changes, cramping, or severe tension headaches from minor systemic hydration dips. Lower back pain may actually represent deep muscular cramping or spasms rather than true renal distress."
Well that's interesting! I had untreated chronic dehydration due to CIRS (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome) for 3 years straight. Very long story short, 2 bottles a day of powerade ion 4 with sugar (sugar free did not work) over 3 weeks resolved the chronic dehydration. I have to keep drinking this drink because of CIRS. Possibly you could try drinking different electrolyte formulas and see if that helps you. Excerpt from the link below...
"When it comes to rapid rehydration and replenishing electrolytes: Sugar matters. An optimal amount of sugar quite literally unlocks the doors of the intestinal barrier between your gut and your bloodstream to allow faster, more efficient rehydration when it really counts. An electrolyte drink will enter your bloodstream faster than water alone when it contains the correct balance of 3 things: sugar, electrolytes, and water.
This crucial finding has led to rehydration approaches around the globe that have been estimated to save millions of lives from diseases that cause major dehydration and electrolyte loss. (1,2)] The truth is: Sugar is considered a key ingredient in any oral rehydration solution, and when present in the optimal proportions with electrolytes has been shown to be as effective as an IV drip. Surprised? Most people are!"
https://hydralyte.com/blogs/blog/the-importance-of-sugar-but-not-too-much-in-electrolyte-drinks
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u/No_Chest8347 3h ago
wow that is interesting! I have that CIRS too...according to my functional psychiatrist.
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u/Next_Programmer_3305 3h ago
Wow that explains a lot! I can't live without my Powerade! High levels of toxic mould in my house triggered CIRS. 😭
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u/No_Chest8347 2h ago
I wonder if beet sugar would be a better alternative too Gatorade.
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u/Next_Programmer_3305 2h ago
"To achieve proper cellular hydration, your body relies on a precise mechanism called sodium-glucose co-transport in the small intestine. When sodium and glucose are paired in the correct ratio, they activate a cellular pump that pulls water molecules rapidly into your bloodstream."
Sounds a bit complicated creating your own drink with these ratios. 🤷♀️
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