Creatine Makes Me Feel Dizzy: Why & How To Fix

With creatine widely used within the fitness community, much of what we hear is around its benefits, but that doesn’t mean it is free from making you feel a little off. Of note, users have reported dizziness, but with limited information available to understand why and how to manage it. 

Key Takeaways

🌀 A Rare but Possible Experience: While not common, some individuals report feeling dizzy when using creatine, though it’s crucial to note that dizziness during high-intensity workouts might be related to other factors like exertion or hydration, not necessarily creatine use.

💦 Hydration and Creatine: Creatine tends to retain water in muscles, while caffeine, often used in pre-workout supplements, expels water, potentially leading to dehydration, a known cause of dizziness. Ensuring adequate hydration, especially when using both supplements, is vital.

📏 Dosage and Quality: Adhering to recommended dosages (3-5g per day) and ensuring the quality of the creatine supplement (opting for high-quality, no-additive options like creatine monohydrate) can mitigate potential negative effects and enhance workout performance.

5 Reasons Why You Feel Dizzy After Taking Creatine

The 5 reasons why creatine can make you feel dizzy are: 

1. Over Exerting Yourself

Using creatine creates a surplus of energy stores in our muscles. This allows us to lift more and work harder and longer than we would if we weren’t using it. 

So if we are pushing ourselves in workouts or straining our muscles harder in the gym our blood pressure changes as our activity or movement intensity changes, leaving us feeling dizzy or light headed. 

These changes are occurring because when we are straining or working hard we are limiting our oxygen intake causing our heart to beat faster and influence changes in our blood pressure.

If you’re feeling this, sit down, keeping your head above your heart, and this will lower your heart beat, allowing the heart to pump oxygen through the body and restore blood pressure to its normal level.

After a few seconds, or slightly more, the dizziness feeling should subside. 

Of course, it goes without saying that chronic or repeated feelings of dizziness or lightheadedness when working out, should be discussed with your doctor to ensure there are no underlying medical conditions at play.

• Learn more about creatine in the article Best Type of Creatine.

2. Dehydration

Our body temperature rises through exercise; we will sweat to moderate this rise and cool down our bodies.

If we exercise at high intensities, we can expect to lose a lot of water and quickly dehydrate because we are losing more water than we are taking in. 

When we are dehydrated, our body’s fluid levels have dropped below what is needed for normal body function and can slow us down and impact our performance. 

Signs of dehydration when exercising are dizziness or lightheadedness, with the best course of action to rehydrate when those symptoms are experienced slowly.  

When supplementing with creatine, our muscles will draw in more water and retain more fluid than they would when not using creatine. This process has led to a misconception that using creatine causes dehydration and by association, dizziness. 

There has been some discussion that because our muscles are absorbing more water through creatine use, this process takes water away from the body’s other systems that require water to function, like regulating body temperature through sweat – consequently making dehydration more likely. 

However, the research on this indicates otherwise. In fact, the available research supports creatine use could help combat dehydration. 

In the case of dehydration and associated dizziness, while it may be experienced by a user of creatine there doesn’t seem to be a solid causal link because of creatine use. 

Regardless of whether dehydration is connected to creatine supplementation or not, it is common to experience this when exercising so it is essential to ensure you are well hydrated when working out. 

• Related Article: Should Beginners Take Creatine?

3. Caffeine 

Caffeine as a pre-workout stimulant is arguably just as popular a supplement as creatine is in the fitness industry, and you may be wondering why it is a relevant consideration here? 

Give me a moment to explain… 

Caffeine is a diuretic, meaning it aids the body in getting rid of excess water, which, when coupled with high-intensity exercise, will make your body dehydrated very quickly if the water or fluid it is losing is not being replenished. 

Creatine and caffeine affect water in the body in different ways. 

Creatine wants to retain water in the muscles, and caffeine wants to expel water from the body.

Of note, each supplement has been proven to benefit athletic performance and no studies have indicated they counteract one another. 

The purpose of mentioning caffeine as a possible consideration for experiencing dizziness is that it can intensify dehydration. 

So review your entire supplementation, hydration, and exercise routine if you have felt dizzy when working out (and don’t be so quick to believe everything you read on Reddit). 

4. Dosage

Creatine is best consumed within the recommended dosage range of 3-5g per day. 

While use outside of these ranges hasn’t proven to have adverse effects in studies conducted, everyone is different, and perhaps how you’re dosing your creatine isn’t giving you the best result. 

Questions around this should be directed to your doctor or registered dietician. 

5. Supplement Safety

Not all creatine is created equal. 

Double-check the quality of your creatine to ensure it is high in quality and not full of nasty additives that could impact your health and how you feel in and out of the gym.  

Creatine monohydrate is one of the most well-researched supplements on the market, with studies concluding it is safe and effective. So, when supplementing with creatine, do your checks and balances. 

Want to know all the known side effects of creatine? Check out our guide on Are There Risks of Taking Creatine?

What Should You Do If You Feel Dizzy When Taking Creatine?

Stop, take a moment, and assess what you need – water, food, assistance, rest. 

This is particularly important if you are working out and start feeling dizzy because you don’t want to expose yourself to harm. 

Practical tips to consider if you find yourself feeling dizzy after taking creatine:

It is essential to listen to your body, so if you are supplementing with creatine and feeling dizzy, try this:

• Stop what you’re doing and sit down;

• Hydrate by sipping on some water and;

• If you are feeling well enough to eat try consuming a small amount of food

If you’re noticing that dizziness while supplementing with creatine is becoming a more familiar feeling:

• Increase your daily water intake to account for potential increased dehydration

• Speak to your doctor to assess whether creatine is impacting your health

• Discuss creatine usage with a Registered Dietician who may be able to assist with dosage adjustments

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Water Should I Drink With Creatine?

Some studies suggest drinking 200-250 ml of water per 2.5 g of creatine. However, this is how much you should drink when taking the supplement.

Most active adults who supplement with creatine should aim for 3-5 liters of water per day.

Can Creatine Cause Headaches?

No research suggests that headaches are a direct side effect of creatine. However, creatine can help you work out harder and for longer.

Long or intense workouts can cause headaches from increased tension, overexertion, or dehydration. These are the more likely causes of headaches when taking creatine.

Should I Stop Taking Creatine If I Consistently Feel Dizzy After Consumption?

Yes, if you consistently experience dizziness after taking creatine, it’s prudent to stop usage and consult a healthcare professional to explore potential causes and alternative supplementation options.

Creatine Resources

• Creatine Makes Me Feel Sick
• Creatine Makes Me Tired

Final Thoughts 

The weight of research undertaken on creatine indicates it is a safe supplement. Nevertheless, side effects like dizziness caused by creatine have still been reported anecdotally among some users. 

These reported side effects seem rare and haven’t been observed in the controlled studies that tested the possible adverse effects of using creatine. 

Is dizziness due to creatine usage possible? Yes, but the research suggests it isn’t probable. Stay hydrated, listen to your body, and consult a professional if something feels unusual.

References

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