Is Creatine Monohydrate Harmful?

I am currently going to take this Whey Protein blend which has some Creatine Monohydrate in it. I have heard the negative things about creatine so I wanted to research online. I find conflicting arguments from both sides and cant get a clear cut answer. What do u guys know or think?

I don't think it's harmful. From what I remember from Biology class, creatine helps you short term, but if you stop using it you get weaker than you were before. I remember a couple of guys in our class were taking it; they didn't have any problem with it, but when they found out it was banned in college football or something, they were worried they would have to stop, and they would get weaker.

I'm assuming, we are talking about he same thing right? Because I think there is also some form of it to help patients with some muscular issues.

I get other opinions first obviously. I have no experience with it and I'm not a doctor or anything. I would talk with someone who actually really knows what they are talking about. (doctors, athletic trainer, etc)

All I read is that creatine causes muscle volumizing which is an increase of water in the muscle tissue, as opposed to dry tissue, the protein. Also, that the body sometimes has trouble getting creatine out of it's system.

i've used plain creatine monohydrate and it helps you during your workout and you retain a bit more water like pdub says but it goes away after your workout. iirc your body "produces creatine naturally"

you guys make it sound like it's like taking steroids or something.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creatine_supplements

learn to love the wiki.

It's obviously harmful.

Monohydrate? That sounds like some kind of chemical or something. And all chemicals are always bad in any form and any amount. From that link EYTHL? HYDROCHLORIDE?

Now I'm just a simple country hyperchicken but chlorine is in the same area of the periodic table as carbon, lead, arsenic and radon. All things that will kill you instantly within a number of years.

And it's literally LITERALLY one box away from phosphorus. And phosphorus related bombing has killed millions in the last century.

I say stay away. Dr. McCarthy is doing some further tests in the lab as we speak to confirm my findings.