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Creatine monohydrate
Creatine monohydrate increases phosphocreatine stores in muscle and brain cells, enhancing ATP regeneration and energy availability during high-intensity activity.
Creatine monohydrate increases phosphocreatine stores in muscle and brain cells, enhancing ATP regeneration and energy availability during high-intensity activity. Used for Enhancement of muscle strength and power in high-intensity exercise, Potential adjunctive therapy in neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Parkinson's disease, ALS), Muscle wasting and weakness in various conditions.
At a glance
| Generic name | Creatine monohydrate |
|---|---|
| Also known as | creatine, crea-pure, creapure, Creapure, HD-02, Creapure, AlzChem AG, Trostberg, Germany |
| Sponsor | Massachusetts General Hospital |
| Drug class | Nutritional supplement / Ergogenic aid |
| Target | Creatine kinase system; phosphocreatine shuttle |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Sports performance, Neurology, Muscle disorders |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Creatine is converted to phosphocreatine in cells, where it serves as a rapid ATP buffer system. During intense muscle contraction or neural activity, phosphocreatine donates its phosphate group to ADP, regenerating ATP and sustaining energy production. This mechanism improves performance in short, high-intensity efforts and may support cognitive function and cellular energy metabolism.
Approved indications
- Enhancement of muscle strength and power in high-intensity exercise
- Potential adjunctive therapy in neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Parkinson's disease, ALS)
- Muscle wasting and weakness in various conditions
Common side effects
- Weight gain (due to water retention)
- Gastrointestinal distress
- Muscle cramping
- Elevated serum creatinine
Key clinical trials
- Intranasal Administration of Dodecyl Creatine Ester (CBT101) in Healthy Male Subjects (PHASE1)
- Study of Bcl-2 Inhibitor Sonrotoclax (BGB-11417) in Participants With Mature B-Cell Malignancies (PHASE1)
- Camel Milk Impact on Aerobic Exercise Recovery, Induced Inflammation, and Physical Performance (NA)
- Effect of Creatine Supplementation on Physical Performance in Vegan Subjects (NA)
- Increased Dietary Protein Intake During GLP-1 Medication Use (in Middle-aged Women With Overweight/Obesity) (NA)
- Effects of Short-term Acute Creatine Supplementation on Power, Speed and Muscular Strengths in Young Football Players (NA)
- Effects of Creatine Supplementation on Cognitive Measures and Markers of Acute Kidney Injury After Exercise in the Heat (NA)
- Creatine Supplementation and Resistance Training to Improve Sarcopenia Parameters in Patients With Prostate Cancer After Androgen Deprivation Therapy (NA)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Creatine monohydrate CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Creatine monohydrate updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Massachusetts General Hospital portfolio CI