{"id":636535,"date":"2026-06-02T09:30:16","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T13:30:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=636535"},"modified":"2026-05-20T16:12:44","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T20:12:44","slug":"creatine-interactions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/creatine-interactions\/","title":{"rendered":"What to avoid when taking creatine"},"content":{"rendered":"

As one of the most-studied supplements on the market, creatine is highly effective at improving muscle strength and athletic performance. Taking creatine has been shown to increase high-intensity exercise capacity by 10% to 20%. Other possible benefits of creatine may include improving brain function and potentially improving certain nervous system conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Creatine<\/span><\/a> is generally considered safe for most people to take. However, that doesn’t mean you should consume it blindly. If you want to get the most out of it for both performance enhancement and safety, make sure you talk to your provider about the supplements or medications to avoid and what to use with caution.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Can you mix creatine with your current meds?<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you’re wondering whether you can mix creatine supplements with the medications you currently take, the answer is: “It depends.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“For most healthy adults, creatine is one of the safest and most researched supplements you can take,” says registered dietitian <\/span>Ashley Kitchens, RDN<\/span><\/a>, owner of Plant Centered Nutrition in Durham, North Carolina. “As a CrossFit athlete, I’ve taken creatine for years, and I can attest to the research and personal experience.”<\/span><\/p>\n

If you’re taking <\/span>diuretics<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>NSAIDs<\/span><\/a>, or medications that could affect your kidney function, talk with your healthcare provider before starting creatine. It may be safe to take alongside careful monitoring, or your provider may recommend avoiding the supplement.<\/span><\/p>\n

How creatine interacts with your body<\/span><\/h2>\n

Your liver, pancreas, and kidneys produce creatine every day. You can also get it from supplements, seafood, and red meat. It’s a compound made from amino acids that’s transported to tissues in your body that need a lot of energy, like your skeletal muscles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Most of the creatine in your body is stored in muscle cells. When creatine enters those cells, it draws in water via osmosis. This is why some people experience a slight weight gain; it’s due to intracellular water retention, which isn’t the same as bloating or swelling.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“Creatine can give the illusion of water retention, but the retention actually occurs inside the cell, not outside the cell,” explains <\/span>Erika Gray, Pharm.D<\/span><\/a>., founder and chief medical officer at ToolBox Genomics.com. “From this increased intracellular hydration, muscles look larger, have increased muscle fiber volume, and often increase the amount of weight they lift.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Inside your muscle cells, creatine exists in two forms: creatine and phosphocreatine. Phosphocreatine (also known as creatine phosphate) helps generate ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is your body’s primary source of energy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Your body breaks down about 1% to 2% of its creatine every day. Your body converts creatine into creatinine and excretes it through urine. To simply <\/span>maintain creatine stores<\/span><\/a>, research suggests most people may need to take about 2 to 3 grams of creatine daily, though this can vary based on body size and muscle mass.<\/span><\/p>\n

Medications to avoid with creatine<\/span><\/h2>\n

Certain groups of people should speak to a provider before starting creatine, according to <\/span>Mark Kovacs<\/span><\/a>, Ph.D., a performance physiologist at the Kovacs Institute in Atlanta, Georgia. That includes pregnant and breastfeeding people, older adults, those with kidney issues, and people with certain metabolic conditions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While there aren’t any clear drug interactions with creatine, there are some medications that could lead to adverse effects. Therefore, exercise caution and get medical advice from your healthcare provider if you’re on any of the following medications:<\/span><\/p>\n

1. NSAIDs<\/span><\/h3>\n

\u201cIf you’re taking NSAIDs like ibuprofen regularly and alongside consistent creatine use, this could increase stress on your kidneys,” explains Kitchens.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

NSAIDs, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, have been linked to an <\/span>increased risk<\/span><\/a> of acute kidney injury. While occasional use is considered safe, regular or high-dose use of NSAIDs could put strain on your kidneys. If you layer creatine on top of that, you could create additional unnecessary stress, especially if you aren’t well-hydrated.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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2. Medications that affect kidney function<\/span><\/h3>\n

Your kidneys are responsible for clearing creatinine from the body. If you have impaired kidney function or you’re taking medication that affects how your kidneys work, you should consult with a healthcare provider before taking creatine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Some medications, like <\/span>lisinopril<\/span><\/a> or <\/span>losartan<\/span><\/a>, are commonly used to protect kidney function. In healthy individuals, these drugs are generally considered safe to use alongside creatine with monitoring from a healthcare professional.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, if you have chronic kidney disease (CKD) or take a medicine that significantly impacts your kidneys’ workload, like <\/span>furosemide<\/span><\/a> or <\/span>cyclosporine<\/span><\/a>, taking creatine could potentially add strain to your kidneys.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Diuretics<\/span><\/h3>\n

A diuretic’s job is to help your kidneys remove excess fluid. If you’re taking a diuretic like <\/span>hydrochlorothiazide<\/span><\/a>, your urine output increases, which can lower the total amount of water in your body.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Creatine pulls water into your muscle cells to support energy production while you exercise. While creatine doesn’t compete with a diuretic for water, using both at the same time could increase your risk of dehydration if you aren’t consuming enough fluids.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Other medications that affect kidney health\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Some medications can affect kidney function, particularly when taken at high doses or for long periods. Combining these with creatine could lead to unnecessary and potentially harmful effects, and even kidney damage. These include:<\/span><\/p>\n