| Where does it come from? Creatine is a natural substance in your body used to help change ATP into ADP, in the process giving off energy.
Is it a drug? Well, you don't have to have a prescription to buy it, so I don't think so, I think it's a dietary supplement.
What does it do? Okay, here's the scientific part. Your body's cells take ATP, Anodine-TriPhosphate (check the spelling), and break the last bond of phosphates, emitting energy. Now the lone phosphate leaves the cell and has to be collected back into the cell to be connected with ADP to make ATP, and so the whole cycle starts over again. Creatine helps make the phosphate more readily available to be added with the ADP, so in a sense, it makes more energy available to be made.
What are the short term and long term effects? I have had small breakouts of acne on my upper back. I'm not sure if that's what it's from or not, but that's what started happening to me when I started taking it. Also, if you don't drink enough water when you take it, your organs can become dehydrated, thus making you extremely tired. Also, misuse can lead to serious kidney problems.
Are there any medicinal uses for it? As far as has been tested, the only use for creatine is as a dietary supplement.
How dangerous, or addictive is it? First of all, I think it's only dangerous if you don't take it right. I don't think it is addictive at all. Also, NEVER try chewing on the powder form of it if you don't happen to have water handy to take it with, it's not a pleasant experience.
Any precautions one should take?
1. Don't take more than told on the container.
2. Drink lots of water.
3. Drink lots of water.
Any nicknames associated with it? Well, there are different names for it used in the names of supplements, such as ATP Fuel, creatine monohydrate, creatine pyruvate, creatine plus, creatine plus transport, etc....
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