KREE-uh-teen

Therapeutic Classification:

Complementary/Alternative Medicine: This monograph describes a natural or herbal product that is not subject to FDA guidelines for medicines. Patients and clinicians are advised to read package labels carefully to ensure safe and efficacious use.

• Enhancement of exercise performance
• Increasing muscle mass
• HF
• Parkinson's disease
• Muscular dystrophy

• Creatine increases muscle cell water retention causing muscle enlargement. Creatine increases ATP levels leading to increased energy bursts and improved recovery from intense exercise.

• Enhanced exercise performance.

Absorption: Unknown.

Distribution: Unknown.

Metabolism/Excretion: Metabolized to creatinine and excreted renally.

Half-life: Unknown.

Contraindicated in:

• Allergy to creatine
• OB: Pregnancy and lactation.

Use Cautiously in:

• Renal dysfunction
• Liver disease
• Diabetes.

CV: arrhythmia, lower extremity deep vein thrombosis.

Derm: rash.

F and E: dehydration.

GI: abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea.

GU: Increased serum creatinine , nephrotoxicity, altered liver function.

MS: muscle cramps.

Resp: shortness of breath.

Misc: weight gain, compartment syndrome.

Natural-Drug Products:

• May ↑ risk of nephrotoxicity with nephrotoxic drugs including aminoglycosides NSAIDs and cyclosporine.
• ↑risk of dehydration when used with diuretics.
• May interfere with effects of antidiabetic agents.

Natural-Natural Products:

• May ↑ risk of ischemic stroke when taken with caffeine and ephedra.

• PO (Adults): Physical performance — Loading dose: 20 grams per day (or 0.3 grams/kg) x 5 days followed by a maintenance dose of 2 grams (or 0.03 grams/kg) daily; HF — 20 grams/day x 5–10 days; Parkinson's disease — 10 grams/day; Muscular dystrophy in children — 5 grams/day.

• Powder: ^OTC;
• Capsules: ^OTC;
• Liquid: ^OTC;

• Monitor exercise performance prior to and periodically during therapy.

• Monitor serum albumin, ammonia, AST, cortisol, creatine kinase, creatinine, electrolytes, glucagon, glycogen, guanidine compounds, homocysteine, hypoxanthine, insulin, LDH, lipid panel, liver function tests, renal function tests, CBC and urinary creatine periodically during therapy.

• PO: Administer as directed.

• Advise patient to maintain good hydration (at least 64 ounces of water/day) during creatine use.

• Improved exercise performance.

phosphocreatine, tricreatine HCA, creatine phosphate

• Deficient knowledge, Relate med (Patient/Family Teaching).