# Harmful Effects of Creatine?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harmful-effects-of-creatine/275487>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 18, 2004, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harmful-effects-of-creatine/275487 "2004-11-18T16:58:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![twelvericepaddies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@twelvericepaddies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twelvericepaddies)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harmful-effects-of-creatine/275487/21 "2004-11-19T22:03:08Z")

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Good heavens - so many frightening answers! They forgot to mention you could be hit by a bus or struck by lightening too. I have occasionally used it for a couple of years and the only side effect is improved memory. I use it occasionally to get going in a slump in long bike rides or weight-lifting. I read about 6 months ago that it seemed that the boost it gives the muscles also boosts the brain in the same way. I believe this is correct. Just use it moderately and forget about all the scarey stuff.

> [@Bill H.](#):
>
> **Jackknifed Juggernaut** wrote
> 
> May I suggest you stay away from the GNC protein powder. It’s horrible tasting crap that won’t disolve in water. I prefer “Optimum 100% Whey”. It has a higher percentage of protein as well, and is cheaper online (well, everything’s cheaper online, I guess). I buy it at [www.global-nutrition-inc.com](http://www.global-nutrition-inc.com), but I’m sure it’s available many other places.
> 
> I have nothing scientific to add to your OP, but when I was really surprised to hear concern about harmful side-effects to creatine. I’ve read a bunch of stuff about it here and there, and have never heard of problems before. I’m a tiny sample-size of one, but I take the stuff, seem to lift more, and don’t seem to have any bad effects from it.

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**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2004, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harmful-effects-of-creatine/275487/22 "2004-11-20T01:02:05Z")

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The best protein powder on the market (As well as the cheapest!) is from AllTheWhey at [www.allthewhey.com](http://www.allthewhey.com).

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**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2004, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harmful-effects-of-creatine/275487/23 "2004-11-20T04:17:21Z")

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> [@Ilsa\_Lund](#):
>
> The best protein powder on the market (As well as the cheapest!) is from AllTheWhey at [www.allthewhey.com](http://www.allthewhey.com).

God, yes. The vanilla isolate rules. Cheap as hell, too.

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