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Creatine, libido, and kidneys

J-Test

New member
I suspect Creatine is f*cking with my libido. I wasn't having as many erections in the last couple months. When I wasn't using any Apex stuff, Creatine was the only supp I was taking aside from Zinc, Boron... I stopped taking Creatine for a little bit unintentionally and my libido and erections came back. I started taking Creatine recently again 10g post workout and I seriously think it's fucking with my libido. Methinks I'll lay off for a bit to see what happens again.

Also - I had TRT run bloodwork and they said my kidneys are working hard. I'm just over the level of high reference range. I'm eating a lot of protein/using protein shakes and in my google searching saw that creatine can also place a strain on the kidneys.

Truth be told, I only started using Creatine in the last year. I've been bigger before muscle-wise and it was all food and free-weights.

In case my hypothesis is true and I am one of those that shouldn't use creatine - what else can deliver Creatine-esque effects?

Disclosing my ignorance here - I really don't know what Creatine does exactly other than it makes me bigger and seems to help with workouts.

J-test
 
10 grams creatine is most likely too hefty a dose for you…

When was your last training session in relation to blood test? Most docs have very little idea how hard and heavy training affects kidney, liver etc blood work.
Learned this the hard way myself recently.
Had to take close to a week off training before re-testing bloodwork and having a normal kidney reading. …Mine too was off the chart.
 
Protein and creatine generally don’t have any real affect on healthy kidneys. When you have impaired kidney function, doctors will have you cut down on protein because that can cause issues. Some people extrapolate that to mean that protein is hard on your kidneys, but realistically, healthy kidneys won’t be bothered. As mentioned, it’s more likely a workout showing raised levels of kidney markers than creatine or protein. But still, 10 grams is high, maybe try 3 daily and see how you do.
 
In my entire life I've never heard of 1 single person claim creatine killed libido, also, you need to learn what libido means because libido does NOT mean erections. If your libido is low That means you don't want to have sex but it also means that you can get an erection unless you also have erectile dysfunction.

If you can't get a erection that is erectile dysfunction. Libido and ED are not the same.

Anywhere, 99.99999% chance it has nothing to do with creatine, if anything creatine will help erections
 
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Creatine=more atp, is responsible for almost every essential process and function in your body. More atp=better in most situations, it also draws water and nutrients into the muscles allowing for more strength and muscle growth, creatine also raises dht in a small amount, dht has positive effects on libido and erections
 
Also if I'm not mistaken, didn't you just start trt this year? That could be the cause of libido and erection quality going up and down if your not dialed in or adjusted fully yet, which can take 6 months to a year.

Also, if your in your 40's or older and have had low testosterone leading up to this point that's also a factor.

While I can't soy 100% creatine is not the cause, I'd bet one of my kids it's not the cause, someone please prove me wrong and take this little basted off my hands lol
 
Sorry for the rapid-fire posts. I just woke up and was responding to my second msg before I was even really aware if what's going on, I'm going back to bed lol
 
I’d also look at Zinc and Boron as the potential cause before Creatine. This is assuming you’ve continued use of those while taking creatine. Plenty of mixed feedback with both depending on dosage and length of use. Personally speaking, extended use of higher dosed zinc can mess with my libido a bit. This is after plenty of trials and I generally keep my supplementation to a minimum these days.
 
They can't assess kidney function using only creatinine levels. All people who weight train have higher levels than the general population. Creatine makes the levels a little higher.
 
Yep creatinine is normally in the high normal to elevated range for people who lift and have more muscle than the average Joe from what my doctor and nephrologist both say. Just part of the deal. Also agree 10g is more than needed a day.
 
I usually just use a pre with 2 grams of creatine in it. The old loading thing is kinda silly. The lifts go up because of the leverage caused by water retention and that's what gives you the weight also. A little in your pre-workout does help with pumps and lifts tho.
 
SBH said:
I usually just use a pre with 2 grams of creatine in it. The old loading thing is kinda silly. The lifts go up because of the leverage caused by water retention and that's what gives you the weight also. A little in your pre-workout does help with pumps and lifts tho.
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The increased reps are also in part to greatly improved ATP availability, and the increase in IGF-1 within the muscles helps a bit with anabolism too, but it isn't any sort of magic bullet. Definitely an effective and worthy staple for sure.
 
SSJ4GOD said:
Never heard of creatine causing this. What else are you taking?
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At this time, I started taking Bulbine, Tong Kat, Fadogia, and Black Maca here and there. Ashwaghanda sometimes before bed along with AET-50. Before my labs came back doc said he was keeping me at 140MG Test for 3 months and I wanted my boners back more consistently, so I started taking my old stuff again. On TRT. Hyperion and Arimahex as well.
I’m not taking Vitamin D and maybe need to.
 
No one understands neurology here.

It's because Creatine messes with the 5-HT1A receptor....


Evidence for the involvement of 5-HT1A receptor in the acute antidepressant-like effect of creatine in mice

This receptor, Because of these downstream implications of desensitization of the 5-HT1A Autoreceptor, it is very common to see sexual dysfunction in SSRI patients. However, this dysfunction is relieved in nearly all cases after the cessation of medication. Why then, do we see thousands of antidotal reports of sexual dysfunction after treatment has ceased? Even in the absence of residual mental illness? Male mice who had mothers on SSRIs showed a permanent decrease in sexual drive (Gouvêa et al., 2008) Recently there have been new studies that are reiterating what people suffering from PSSD already know (Sheetrit et al., 2015) (Farnsworth et al., 2009) (Stinson, 2009) (Waldinger et al., 2015) (Leiblum et al., 2008) (Bolton et al., 2006) (Csoka et al., 2006), sexual side effects can remain after treatment.
 
KingErgogenic said:
No one understands neurology here.

It's because Creatine messes with the 5-HT1A receptor....


Evidence for the involvement of 5-HT1A receptor in the acute antidepressant-like effect of creatine in mice

This receptor, Because of these downstream implications of desensitization of the 5-HT1A Autoreceptor, it is very common to see sexual dysfunction in SSRI patients. However, this dysfunction is relieved in nearly all cases after the cessation of medication. Why then, do we see thousands of antidotal reports of sexual dysfunction after treatment has ceased? Even in the absence of residual mental illness? Male mice who had mothers on SSRIs showed a permanent decrease in sexual drive (Gouvêa et al., 2008) Recently there have been new studies that are reiterating what people suffering from PSSD already know (Sheetrit et al., 2015) (Farnsworth et al., 2009) (Stinson, 2009) (Waldinger et al., 2015) (Leiblum et al., 2008) (Bolton et al., 2006) (Csoka et al., 2006), sexual side effects can remain after treatment.
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As someone with relatively severe mental health issues, creatine is not even close to a pharmaceutical ssri lol. It’s not going to cause these issues
 
dont go over 5G and can take kidney support supplements as precautious.

as for libido, it should return .. i dont believe creatine can cause that but everyone is different .. sometimes a bad diet will cause it more then supplements ( not saying thats the cause but can effect it )
 
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SSJ4GOD said:
I took 20grams of creatine for 8 or 10 weeks before with zero issues except some bloating.
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I always use around 8-10 and as much as 20 at times. Creatine has lots of benefits outside of muscle building and I want as much atp as I can get out of it.

IL normally do 8-10 intra workout with fast carbs and eaas and I do notice a difference between 3-5 vs 8-10
 
KingErgogenic said:
No one understands neurology here.

It's because Creatine messes with the 5-HT1A receptor....


Evidence for the involvement of 5-HT1A receptor in the acute antidepressant-like effect of creatine in mice

This receptor, Because of these downstream implications of desensitization of the 5-HT1A Autoreceptor, it is very common to see sexual dysfunction in SSRI patients. However, this dysfunction is relieved in nearly all cases after the cessation of medication. Why then, do we see thousands of antidotal reports of sexual dysfunction after treatment has ceased? Even in the absence of residual mental illness? Male mice who had mothers on SSRIs showed a permanent decrease in sexual drive (Gouvêa et al., 2008) Recently there have been new studies that are reiterating what people suffering from PSSD already know (Sheetrit et al., 2015) (Farnsworth et al., 2009) (Stinson, 2009) (Waldinger et al., 2015) (Leiblum et al., 2008) (Bolton et al., 2006) (Csoka et al., 2006), sexual side effects can remain after treatment.
Click to expand...
🤦‍♂️
 
KingErgogenic said:
No one understands neurology here.

It's because Creatine messes with the 5-HT1A receptor....


Evidence for the involvement of 5-HT1A receptor in the acute antidepressant-like effect of creatine in mice

This receptor, Because of these downstream implications of desensitization of the 5-HT1A Autoreceptor, it is very common to see sexual dysfunction in SSRI patients. However, this dysfunction is relieved in nearly all cases after the cessation of medication. Why then, do we see thousands of antidotal reports of sexual dysfunction after treatment has ceased? Even in the absence of residual mental illness? Male mice who had mothers on SSRIs showed a permanent decrease in sexual drive (Gouvêa et al., 2008) Recently there have been new studies that are reiterating what people suffering from PSSD already know (Sheetrit et al., 2015) (Farnsworth et al., 2009) (Stinson, 2009) (Waldinger et al., 2015) (Leiblum et al., 2008) (Bolton et al., 2006) (Csoka et al., 2006), sexual side effects can remain after treatment.
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Do you not find it weird that you focused on the effects of antidepressants and not that creatine does the thing you’re trying to say it does? Most people have heard of the libido issues from SSRIs. Then you come along and lump creatine in with that with not a single piece of evidence? Am I just supposed to trust you?
 
Smont said:
🤦‍♂️
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Jeremyk1 said:
Do you not find it weird that you focused on the effects of antidepressants and not that creatine does the thing you’re trying to say it does? Most people have heard of the libido issues from SSRIs. Then you come along and lump creatine in with that with not a single piece of evidence? Am I just supposed to trust you?
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Man, you guys are a tough crowd. He had me with the font size and bolding.
 
Rad83 said:
10 grams creatine is most likely too hefty a dose for you…

When was your last training session in relation to blood test? Most docs have very little idea how hard and heavy training affects kidney, liver etc blood work.
Learned this the hard way myself recently.
Had to take close to a week off training before re-testing bloodwork and having a normal kidney reading. …Mine too was off the chart.
Click to expand...

Combine this we many people getting labs done in the AM "fasted" which means for many dehydrated and you have "abnormal" kidney numbers popping up for many.

Take a week off, wake up early and drink plenty of water, 32oz + IMO, and get retested.
 
KvanH said:
Man, you guys are a tough crowd. He had me with the font size and bolding.
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Soon as someone I don't recognize posts in large bold print acting like they found the holy grail I usually block the person so I won't have to be annoyed in the future lol. IL take a few minutes to dig into there other posts and if I see a trend IL hit the button. Dosnt particularly mean they did something wrong, I just know what irritates me and I try to avoid it lol
 
Libido wise I thought of it - I'm taking 1 - 1.5 mg of Anastrazole and also throwing td 6-oxo on top of it. Maybe estrogen is too low. Doc also mentioned to me to just take 1mg of Anastrazole 2x/week if I feel the need and not to mess with doing halfs. Don't want my estrogen completely low as I understand that estrogen affects libido.

Will keep experimenting and researching. Any insights welcome. Helpful to me and to any other anabolic newbies looking for guidance.
 
J-Test said:
Libido wise I thought of it - I'm taking 1 - 1.5 mg of Anastrazole and also throwing td 6-oxo on top of it. Maybe estrogen is too low. Doc also mentioned to me to just take 1mg of Anastrazole 2x/week if I feel the need and not to mess with doing halfs. Don't want my estrogen completely low as I understand that estrogen affects libido.

Will keep experimenting and researching. Any insights welcome. Helpful to me and to any other anabolic newbies looking for guidance.
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You may have just found your answer. Low estrogen can definitely lower libido.
 
J-Test said:
Libido wise I thought of it - I'm taking 1 - 1.5 mg of Anastrazole and also throwing td 6-oxo on top of it. Maybe estrogen is too low. Doc also mentioned to me to just take 1mg of Anastrazole 2x/week if I feel the need and not to mess with doing halfs. Don't want my estrogen completely low as I understand that estrogen affects libido.

Will keep experimenting and researching. Any insights welcome. Helpful to me and to any other anabolic newbies looking for guidance.
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On trt only, that would crash my estrogen down pretty low
 
Rad83 said:
10 grams creatine is most likely too hefty a dose for you…

When was your last training session in relation to blood test? Most docs have very little idea how hard and heavy training affects kidney, liver etc blood work.
Learned this the hard way myself recently.
Had to take close to a week off training before re-testing bloodwork and having a normal kidney reading. …Mine too was off the chart.
Click to expand...

Didn't realize I hadn't answered your question. I worked out all M T W, blood test was on a Thursday afternoon. At the time I was doing 4-6 heavy reps, sets of 4s.
 
This thread got thinking about doing the creatine at 5 grams ed again. I'm trying to get the bench back to where was(I was all over the raw old man national record).
I tore my pec awhile back and I'm working on getting some fibers back where the tear was.
 
SBH said:
This thread got thinking about doing the creatine at 5 grams ed again. I'm trying to get the bench back to where was(I was all over the raw old man national record).
I tore my pec awhile back and I'm working on getting some fibers back where the tear was.
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I've been viewing the thread but not posting in it because the topic is all over the place, but if you don't want to have to do 5 grams of creatine daily, a lot of people love our Creatine HCI Powder - lower dosing, no need to load, and no bloating or fluid retention or stomach issues with it.

Here is a link to a feedback thread someone posted on it:

Invalid Link Removed
 
I can also attest to the massive tent pitching aspects of orchic extract lol

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but I've never heard of any side effects from creatine other than the occasional stomach issues or bloat. but even that seems sorta rare in my experience.
 
sns8778 said:
I've been viewing the thread but not posting in it because the topic is all over the place, but if you don't want to have to do 5 grams of creatine daily, a lot of people love our Creatine HCI Powder - lower dosing, no need to load, and no bloating or fluid retention or stomach issues with it.

Here is a link to a feedback thread someone posted on it:

Invalid Link Removed
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Yeah, I already know about and love creatine hcl in my pre-workout. I'm thinking about using the water retention from the monohydrate on purpose tho.

When I first tore my pec there was a literal hole in the ride side of my chest. There were some fibers left tho. I trained with no plates then 10s and kept going up. That was on the cybex plate loaded bench. I can get three plates now.
The long term goal is three plates on the free weight flat eventually. This would def be a record for a 65 yr old 181 lb guy.
The hole is mostly gone now(still mutated a bit).

This brother at my gym taught me this cool elbow tucked, light weight machine incline movement that helped a lot.
 
SBH said:
Yeah, I already know about and love creatine hcl in my pre-workout. I'm thinking about using the water retention from the monohydrate on purpose tho.

When I first tore my pec there was a literal hole in the ride side of my chest. There were some fibers left tho. I trained with no plates then 10s and kept going up. That was on the cybex plate loaded bench. I can get three plates now.
The long term goal is three plates on the free weight flat eventually. This would def be a record for a 65 yr old 181 lb guy.
The hole is mostly gone now(still mutated a bit).

This brother at my gym taught me this cool elbow tucked, light weight machine incline movement that helped a lot.
Click to expand...

I'm glad to hear that your injury recovery is progressing well.

I can't do monohydrate at all myself - it makes me absolutely miserable, I feel and look like I swallowed a Volkswagen bug or something it makes me so bloated haha.
 
I argued the topic about mono over any other version for years because I believed any other version was all hype and marketing until I tried HCL. It's everything I loved about mono without any sides.
 
sns8778 said:
I'm glad to hear that your injury recovery is progressing well.

I can't do monohydrate at all myself - it makes me absolutely miserable, I feel and look like I swallowed a Volkswagen bug or something it makes me so bloated haha.
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I've got some small love handles so I guess they'll be bigger :p Even that helps with leverage to help get the lifts back tho. I will definitely go back to HCL later. The mono would screw with making weight class also.
 
sns8778 said:
I can't do monohydrate at all myself - it makes me absolutely miserable, I feel and look like I swallowed a Volkswagen bug or something it makes me so bloated haha.
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I have heard a lot of people say that about creatine in general and I used to come off it a few weeks prior to say a beach vacation to not 'hold water' but the past couple years I'm not sure I've noticed any negative bloating or water retention anymore.
 
Dustin07 said:
I have heard a lot of people say that about creatine in general and I used to come off it a few weeks prior to say a beach vacation to not 'hold water' but the past couple years I'm not sure I've noticed any negative bloating or water retention anymore.
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It's worse for some people that others - its very pronounced with me, both visually and it makes me feel terrible bc of the fluid.
 
I've read that creatine doesn't really change testosterone or libido, so any swing in sex drive is probably unrelated. In healthy folks it doesn't hurt the kidneys, though you should keep hydrated and check with a doc if you have any kidney concerns. When I was looking for a boost I also tried cobra tabletten kaufen, which helped my performance without any kidney issues.
 
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