Creatine - how to use it properly?

🇬🇧 English speaking Forum
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I made an appointment with my doctor for a general check-up. He was away for two weeks, and a woman filled in for him. The results of the check-up revealed I had creatine in my blood. I was taking a small amount every morning. She added that my kidneys were therefore having problems, but that she wasn’t very familiar with the product. She consulted an expert who told her I had to stop immediately, that it was dangerous, and so on.
Later, I had to go back for another test to check my kidneys. They were fine.

However, I read online that it was all a myth, that there was no danger if taken for a short period. My GP came back in the meantime. I resumed taking a smaller amount of creatine. I thought that perhaps I had taken too much the first few times, and that I would only take it before my workouts. During a follow-up check-up, he told me my kidneys were dehydrated again, but that I shouldn’t worry.
Who should I believe, and how should I use this information, especially since I’ve resumed a more intense training program? Your experiences and advice are welcome. Thank you in advance.

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Taking creatine at the recommended dose of 3-5g may cause an increase in blood creatinine, but this is completely physiological and does not mean kidney damage. If you stop taking it, your creatinine should return to baseline levels within about four weeks.

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The answer above is correct.

Just to add: creatine draws water into your muscles, so it’s important to stay well hydrated - always take it with a full glass of water.

Timing doesn’t matter much; taking it only before workouts doesn’t change blood levels or effectiveness. What matters is daily consistency (around 3–5 g per day).

Training intensity also doesn’t affect how you should take creatine - just keep your hydration and dosage steady.

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