creatine is one of about thirty supplements i'm taking. honestly, creatine is one i iften skip because the supply i have is a powder (messy, especially with crippled hands) and it does not dissolve well in water.
a couple of notes:
on blood tests, they report levels of "creatine kinase" (CK) which is NOT creatine. CK is an enzyme used in processing creatine.
Normal blood levels of CK are about 25-200 U/L. Higher levels indicate muscle damage--when muscles. While the 200 is the upper end of normal serum CK, 500 is only considered "slightly elevated". I think high levels are up in the tens of thousands.
I think i've seen recommendations that creatine should be taken with a high glycemic index carb (bread, bananna, etc...) and some protein. Some studies indicate that very large doses of caffeine negate the benefit of creatine.
Do not overdo creatine. Consuming excessive amounts are said to cause muscle cramping.