Cycling off Creatine

[J-Madd]

I've heard various contrary claims regarding how often and how long someone should periodically cycle off creatine. I'd like to hear any opinions you all have on this issue!

[Barkadion]

I don't think it matters.

That's a good summary:



And examie.com does it all for us..

https://examine.com/supplements/creatine/

[J-Madd]

I don't think it matters.

That's a good summary:



And examie.com does it all for us..

https://examine.com/supplements/creatine/

That link is great Bark! Thanks!

[TangoZero]

I'm pretty much in line with the 3 months on 1 off schedule, although I've gone 6 months on more than one occasion with no negative effects.

[Barkadion]

Another good point..

Oral creatine monohydrate supplementation improves brain performance:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl ... 561278.pdf

[Barkadion]

I am finishing my week off. Nothing has changed in my diet except stopping taking creatine for the week.

Guess what?

I have lost 4lb so far due to water shifts. It is kinda ironic in a sense that we are into holiday season and I am eating treats on the regular basis. I am having piece of chocolate cake as I am typing it.

We are water after all...

[Barkadion]

Another thing is NEAT. Your body needs a water to run its chemistry. And it holds on to much less waster when there is less protein synthesis. Add to it glycogen and then some.
Water dump due the weeks off is normal..

[Tyr0331]

I am finishing my week off. Nothing has changed in my diet except stopping taking creatine for the week.

Guess what?

I have lost 4lb so far due to water shifts. It is kinda ironic in a sense that we are into holiday season and I am eating treats on the regular basis. I am having piece of chocolate cake as I am typing it.

We are water after all...

I used to be a fan of creatine. But in the last few years I've noticed my blood pressure is elevated when I'm on it. So I stopped taking it. I did notice recovery time was a lot quicker when on it

[Barkadion]

I am finishing my week off. Nothing has changed in my diet except stopping taking creatine for the week.

Guess what?

I have lost 4lb so far due to water shifts. It is kinda ironic in a sense that we are into holiday season and I am eating treats on the regular basis. I am having piece of chocolate cake as I am typing it.

We are water after all...

I used to be a fan of creatine. But in the last few years I've noticed my blood pressure is elevated when I'm on it. So I stopped taking it. I did notice recovery time was a lot quicker when on it

This is interesting. May I ask what was your BP increase on creatine? That's might be your personal adverse reaction to the supp. It is harmless for majority of the people.

[Tyr0331]

The systolic was jumping up to 140-150 as opposed to high 120s/low 130s. Not sure if it was the main contributor but as soon as I got off it it dropped 10 points instantly. I figured it could have been from extra water retention. Blood pressure has been a mystery to me. Seems like who and how they take it makes a huge difference in how it reads