Creatine and Kidney Disease Medications: How to Monitor Renal Function Accurately

By Harriet Calvington
14 Comments

Kidney Function Calculator for Creatine Users

How Creatine Affects Your Kidney Tests

When you take creatine, your body converts it to creatinine. This is normal and harmless. But labs use creatinine levels to estimate kidney function (eGFR). If your creatinine is higher because of creatine, your eGFR may be lower than it should be, making your kidneys appear less healthy than they actually are.

This calculator shows you how creatine affects your kidney test results. It compares:

Standard creatinine-based eGFR (which can be affected by creatine)
Cystatin C-based eGFR (which is not affected by creatine)

Enter your details below to see the difference.

Input Your Details

Your current creatinine level (before starting creatine) Normal range is typically 0.6-1.2 mg/dL for adult men, 0.5-1.1 mg/dL for adult women

Creatine dose per day

Age

Gender

What This Means For You

How creatine affects kidney tests: Creatine increases your creatinine level by 10-30% depending on your dose. This makes your kidney function appear worse than it actually is when using standard creatinine-based tests.

What to ask for: If you're taking creatine and need a kidney function test, ask for a cystatin C test instead. Cystatin C is not affected by creatine and gives a more accurate picture of your kidney health.

Pro tip: Get a baseline creatinine and cystatin C test before starting creatine. This will give you a reference point to compare against later.

Important: This calculator provides an estimate of your kidney function based on standard medical equations. It is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult with your doctor about your kidney health.

When you take creatine, your body turns some of it into creatinine. That’s normal. But here’s the problem: doctors use creatinine levels to check how well your kidneys are working. If your creatinine goes up because of creatine, your kidney function might look worse than it really is. You could get a false diagnosis of chronic kidney disease - even if your kidneys are perfectly healthy.

Why Creatine Messes With Kidney Tests

Creatine monohydrate is the most common form of this supplement. Athletes, bodybuilders, and even older adults use it to build strength and recover faster. About 90% of what you take gets processed by your kidneys and turned into creatinine. That’s not a problem for your kidneys - it’s just how your body works. But here’s the catch: labs don’t know you’re taking creatine. They just see your creatinine level and plug it into an equation to calculate your eGFR - your estimated glomerular filtration rate. That number tells doctors how well your kidneys filter waste.

If you’re taking 3 to 5 grams of creatine daily, your creatinine can jump by 10% to 30%. That might push your eGFR from 90 down to 75. Suddenly, you’re labeled with stage 2 chronic kidney disease. But your kidneys? They’re fine. This isn’t rare. In fact, it’s common enough that doctors in New Zealand, the U.S., and Chile are starting to see the same pattern over and over.

What Happens When You’re on Kidney Medications

If you already have kidney disease and are on meds like ACE inhibitors, ARBs, or NSAIDs, things get trickier. These drugs help protect your kidneys. But they also affect how creatinine is cleared. Creatine doesn’t damage kidneys - but if your kidneys are already struggling, adding extra work isn’t smart. The National Kidney Foundation says clearly: don’t take creatine if you have chronic kidney disease. That’s not because creatine harms you. It’s because your kidneys can’t handle the extra load, and the test results will be impossible to read.

You might be thinking: “I’m on blood pressure meds and I take creatine. Am I in danger?” The answer is: probably not - if your kidneys are still working well. But you need to be monitored differently. Regular creatinine tests won’t cut it anymore.

The Real Signs of Kidney Trouble - Not Just Creatinine

True kidney damage doesn’t show up as just a high creatinine. It shows up as:

High blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
Protein in your urine (proteinuria)
Low sodium or high potassium
Swelling in your legs or face
Decreased urine output

A 2024 study using genetic data found no link between creatine and kidney damage. People with genes that naturally make more creatine didn’t have worse kidney function. That’s strong proof that creatine itself isn’t the problem. But if you have protein in your urine and high creatinine? That’s real trouble. Creatine won’t cause that.

A doctor and patient comparing misleading creatinine and accurate cystatin C test results in a whimsical office setting.

What to Do Instead: Better Ways to Check Kidney Health

If you’re taking creatine and want to know your real kidney function, you need better tools. Here’s what works:

Use cystatin C instead of creatinine. Cystatin C is a protein your body makes at a steady rate. It’s filtered by the kidneys, but it’s not affected by creatine. The CKD-EPI CysC equation gives you a much more accurate eGFR. Studies show it’s 95% accurate in creatine users.
Ask for a 24-hour urine creatinine clearance test. This measures how much creatinine your body actually excretes in a full day. If your kidneys are healthy, your creatinine output stays normal - even if your blood creatinine is high.
Get a baseline test before starting. Take a creatinine and cystatin C test before you begin creatine. That way, you have a reference point. If your creatinine rises later, you’ll know why.

Most labs don’t automatically run cystatin C. You have to ask. If your doctor says, “We don’t test for that,” ask why. You’re not being difficult - you’re preventing a misdiagnosis.

What Doctors Miss - And Why

A 2021 study in American Family Physician found that 67% of primary care doctors don’t know creatine affects creatinine. They see a high number, assume kidney disease, and refer you to a specialist. You end up with extra blood tests, anxiety, and maybe even a biopsy - all because no one asked if you were taking a supplement.

On Reddit, people share stories like this: “I was told I had stage 2 CKD. I stopped creatine for two weeks. My eGFR went from 78 to 95. My doctor didn’t even ask if I took supplements.”

It’s not just patients. Even nephrologists - kidney specialists - don’t always have protocols for this. A 2023 survey showed only 38% of them have a clear plan for monitoring creatine users. That’s a gap. And it’s dangerous.

What About “Kidney-Safe” Creatine?

You’ll see ads for “creatine for kidneys” or “renal-friendly creatine.” These products claim to be safer. But here’s the truth: there’s no such thing. Creatine is creatine. Whether it’s powder, capsules, or liquid, it turns into creatinine the same way. ConsumerLab.com tested these “special” brands in 2024. None were different. They all contained standard creatine monohydrate. You’re paying more for the same thing.

Split scene: one person avoiding creatine due to kidney disease, another safely using it with cystatin C monitoring.

Who Should Avoid Creatine Altogether?

Creatine is safe for healthy people. But if you have:

Chronic kidney disease (eGFR under 60)
Diabetes with kidney damage
High blood pressure and are on multiple kidney-affecting drugs
Already have protein in your urine

…then don’t take it. Not because it’s toxic. But because you can’t trust the tests anymore. And if your kidneys are already compromised, adding any extra stress isn’t worth the risk.

What to Tell Your Doctor

Before you start creatine - or if you’re already taking it - say this:

“I’m taking creatine monohydrate, 3 to 5 grams a day.”
“I know it raises creatinine levels. Can we use cystatin C instead to check my kidney function?”
“Can we get a baseline test before I start?”

Most doctors will agree. If they push back, ask for a referral to a nephrologist who understands supplements. It’s your health. You have the right to accurate information.

The Bottom Line

Creatine doesn’t hurt your kidneys. But it makes the tests look like it does. That’s the real danger - not the supplement, but the misunderstanding.

If you’re healthy and take creatine, you’re fine. Just make sure your doctor knows. Get a cystatin C test. Keep your baseline. Don’t let a lab number scare you into thinking you’re sick when you’re not.

If you have kidney disease or are on kidney meds? Skip it. There’s no benefit worth the risk of confusion.

This isn’t about fear. It’s about clarity. Your kidneys are working hard. Don’t let a supplement make them look like they’re failing.

Does creatine damage your kidneys?

No, creatine does not damage kidneys in healthy people. Multiple studies, including a 2024 Mendelian randomization study, show no causal link between creatine supplementation and kidney injury. The rise in creatinine levels is a metabolic side effect, not a sign of damage.

Can I take creatine if I have chronic kidney disease?

No. If you have chronic kidney disease (eGFR below 60), you should avoid creatine. Even though creatine doesn’t cause harm, your kidneys are already struggling to filter waste. Adding creatine increases creatinine, which makes monitoring your condition harder and can lead to unnecessary treatments or misjudgments about your health.

Why does my creatinine go up when I take creatine?

Creatine naturally breaks down into creatinine at a rate of about 1.7% per day. When you take extra creatine, your body produces more creatinine. Since labs measure creatinine to estimate kidney function, higher levels make your kidneys look less efficient - even if they’re working perfectly.

What test should I ask for instead of creatinine?

Ask for a cystatin C test. Cystatin C is a protein that reflects kidney function without being affected by creatine. The CKD-EPI CysC equation gives a much more accurate eGFR for creatine users. If cystatin C isn’t available, a 24-hour urine creatinine clearance test is the next best option.

Do I need to stop creatine before a kidney test?

If you’re being tested for kidney disease and your doctor doesn’t know you take creatine, stopping for 2-4 weeks can help get a clean reading. But if your doctor is aware, you don’t need to stop. Instead, ask for cystatin C or a 24-hour urine test. That way, you can keep taking creatine safely without misleading results.

Are there any supplements that won’t affect creatinine?

Yes - but only if they don’t contain creatine. There’s no such thing as a “kidney-safe creatine.” All creatine monohydrate, whether branded or generic, breaks down into creatinine the same way. If you need a performance supplement and have kidney concerns, look at beta-alanine or HMB - they don’t affect creatinine levels.

Can creatine interact with my kidney medications?

Creatine doesn’t directly interact with ACE inhibitors, ARBs, or diuretics. But if you have kidney disease and are on these meds, creatine can make your test results confusing. That’s why it’s not recommended - not because of a drug interaction, but because it clouds the picture your doctor needs to see.

How long does it take for creatinine to return to normal after stopping creatine?

It usually takes 2 to 4 weeks for serum creatinine to drop back to baseline after stopping creatine. The exact time depends on your muscle mass, how long you’ve been taking it, and your kidney function. Some people see a drop in 10 days; others take a month. Don’t rush a follow-up test - wait at least 14 days.