Medical Creatine Formulations
Prescription or clinical-grade creatine protocols tailored for creatine transporter (SLC6A8), AGAT, or GAMT deficiencies, often combined with arginine, glycine, or sodium benzoate.
Patients with inborn errors of creatine metabolism require specialized dosing, often via pharmaceutical-grade creatine monohydrate, guanidinoacetate restriction, or experimental derivatives.
Quick facts
- Setting
- Clinical only
- Goal
- Restore brain creatine levels
- Adjuncts
- Arginine, glycine, ornithine, or sodium benzoate
Who it helps most
- Patients diagnosed with creatine deficiency syndromes under metabolic specialist care
Limitations & cautions
- Not general-use supplements
- Require genetic testing and lab monitoring
- Insurance or compassionate-use programs may govern access
Research highlights
Therapeutic responses vary by deficiency type
Nature Genetics reviews and GeneReviews note that AGAT and GAMT deficiencies respond well to high-dose creatine, whereas transporter deficiencies need experimental delivery strategies.
Sources: Nature – Laboratory diagnosis of creatine deficiency syndromes, GeneReviews – Creatine Deficiency Disorders, PubMed – Response to therapy of creatine transporter deficiency
How treatment differs from sports use
Doses may reach 0.3–0.8 g/kg/day initially, far exceeding sports protocols, and are often combined with low-protein or low-guanidinoacetate diets. Medical supervision is mandatory.
Emerging therapeutics
Researchers are experimenting with lipophilic creatine analogues, intranasal delivery, and transporter bypass strategies to improve brain uptake for SLC6A8 deficiency.
Why athletes should take note
These formulations illustrate the direction of future creatine innovation but are not substitutes for consumer supplements due to dosing, purity, and prescription requirements.
Practical dosing
Individualized; often 400–800 mg/kg/day split into 4–6 doses in AGAT/GAMT deficiency, per metabolic specialist orders.
Sourcing checklist
Hospital pharmacies or compounding pharmacies following pharmacopeia standards.
Related creatine types
Compare with other creatine formats to find the best fit for your needs.
View all creatine types →Sources
Nature – Laboratory diagnosis of creatine deficiency syndromes
Explains diagnostic pathways and treatments.
Visit sourcePubMed – Response to therapy of creatine transporter deficiency
Reports on therapeutic trials and outcomes.
Visit sourceGeneReviews – Creatine Deficiency Disorders
Comprehensive clinical guidance.
Visit source