Managing High Creatinine: 15 Options

Medically-verified ways to reduce high creatinine levels

Co-authored by Megaera Lorenz, PhD Medically reviewed by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS

Last Updated: August 5, 2024 Fact Checked

Creatinine is a waste product found in everyone's blood and urine. Normally, your kidneys filter excess creatinine out of your bloodstream. While having high creatinine levels probably isn’t harmful in itself, it can be a sign of a more serious problem, like kidney disease. If a blood or urine test shows that you have high creatinine levels, you’ll need to get a diagnosis from your doctor to figure out what’s causing it.^{[1]
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Research source} However, there are also some things you can do on your own or with your doctor’s help to improve your kidney health and lower your creatinine levels. We’ll walk you through some options in this article.

Ways to Lower Creatine Levels

Talk to your doctor if you take creatine supplements.
Monitor your protein intake.
Snack on more fruits and veggies.
Keep an eye on your fluid intake.
Figure out a safe exercise plan with your doctor.
Get plenty of rest.
Cut back on sodium.

1

Address and treat the underlying problem.

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High creatinine levels are usually caused by an underlying condition. To reduce your creatinine levels permanently and improve your overall health, work with your doctor to find the underlying problem and remedy that. Some common causes of high creatinine levels include:^{[2]
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Mayo Clinic
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- Kidney disease
- Damage to the kidneys due to diabetes or high blood pressure
- Certain medications that affect kidney function
- Dehydration
- Heart failure^{[3]
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- Gout^{[4]
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- Intense exercise over a long period of time^{[5]
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2

Watch your fluid intake.

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Ask your doctor how much water you should drink daily. Experts usually recommend drinking at least eight, 8 fluid ounces (240 mL) glasses of water each day to help keep your kidneys healthy and functioning properly. Your exact needs may vary depending on factors like your age, sex, overall health, and activity level.^{[6]
X
Research source} Dehydration can cause your creatinine levels to increase, so staying hydrated is important.
- If you’re on dialysis for severe kidney disease, talk to your doctor about how much water and other fluids you can safely drink. You may need to restrict your fluids and follow other special dietary requirements.

3

Get plenty of high-quality sleep.

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Getting too little sleep is bad for your kidneys. If your sleep is frequently interrupted, or if you get fewer than 6 hours of sleep per night, it may impact your kidney health and cause your creatinine levels to rise.^{[7]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health

Go to source} Boost your overall health by aiming to get about 7 to 9 hours of good-quality sleep every night.^{[8]
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services

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- If you have a hard time sleeping at night, talk to your doctor. They may be able to recommend changes to your bedtime routine or even prescribe a supplement or medication that can help.

4

Discuss herbal remedies with your doctor.

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Some herbs and supplements might support better kidney function. While there’s not a lot of evidence to support herbal remedies, it’s possible that some herbs can help lower creatinine levels and improve your kidney health. Always talk to your doctor before trying any kind of new supplement, especially if you have a history of kidney problems or other serious health issues. Some herbs that may help include:
- Green tea. While there isn’t a lot of data to support this yet, some studies suggest that green tea extract may improve kidney function and reduce creatinine levels.^{[9]
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  PubMed Central
  Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
  
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- Chamomile tea. While it’s unclear why chamomile reduces creatinine levels, some medical experts speculate that it may be due to chamomile’s antioxidant properties.^{[10]
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- Dandelion leaf extract. It’s possible that dandelion leaf can help improve kidney health and reduce creatinine levels.^{[11]
  X
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  PubMed Central
  Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
  
  Go to source} However, be careful using dandelion supplements if you have kidney disease, since they are high in potassium.^{[12]
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- Salvia supplements may improve kidney function and bring your creatinine levels down.^{[13]
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  PubMed Central
  Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
  
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- Some types of nettle supplements may help lower creatinine levels.^{[14]
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  Research source} However, if you have kidney disease, do not try nettle supplements without talking to your doctor first. These supplements are high in phosphorous and potassium, so they could do more harm than good.^{[15]
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5

Limit your sodium intake.

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Too much salt in your diet can raise your creatinine levels. Excess sodium is tough on your kidneys. It can also contribute to other issues, like high blood pressure and fluid retention.^{[16]
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Research source} If your creatinine levels are too high, cutting back on salt may help.^{[17]
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Journals of the American Heart Association
Open Access, peer-reviewed journals focusing on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, as well as related scientific research.

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- Talk to your doctor about starting a low-sodium diet. Unless they recommend otherwise, stay away from salty foods and drinks, and opt for low-sodium versions of common food products (canned soup, bottled sauces, etc.) when you can.
- When you’re cooking, replace salt with other flavorful seasonings, such as garlic, paprika, or lemon zest.
- The FDA recommends eating no more than 2,300 mg of salt per day.^{[18]
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  US Food and Drug Administration
  U.S. government agency responsible for promoting public health
  
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6

Keep an eye on your protein intake.

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A high-protein diet can raise your creatinine levels. Eating lots of cooked meats or other high-protein foods can cause creatinine to build up in your body.^{[19]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health

Go to source} If you’re concerned about the amount of protein you’re eating, talk to your doctor. They may recommend switching to a low-protein diet if you have kidney disease.^{[20]
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- Don’t make any drastic changes to your protein intake without getting advice from your doctor. Protein is important for keeping up your energy levels and maintaining healthy muscles.

7

Eat more plant-based foods.

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A diet rich in fruits and vegetables may boost your kidney health. Some experts recommend vegetarian diets to bring down high levels of creatinine and reduce the risk of kidney disease.^{[21]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health

Go to source} However, talk to your doctor about the possible risks and benefits before going vegetarian. Increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables without completely cutting meat out of your diet may be enough to improve your kidney health.
- If you do switch to a vegetarian diet, you may need to take supplements, such as vitamin B 12, to make sure you’re still getting all the vitamins and minerals you need.
- Your doctor can also help you choose healthy, plant-based sources of protein.

8

Avoid phosphorus-rich foods.

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Your kidneys may have a hard time processing phosphorus. If your high creatinine levels are caused by kidney disease, cutting back on phosphorous may help.^{[22]
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Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source} Ask your doctor if a low-phosphorous diet is a good idea for you. Foods high in phosphorous include:
- Highly processed foods, such as fast food or pre-packaged convenience foods
- Some types of cheese, including canned or jarred cheese spreads, American cheese, and blocks of processed deli cheese
- Meats with added fluids or flavoring (e.g., pre-brined or marinated meats and processed deli meats)
- Many sodas, sports drinks, energy drinks, and other pre-packaged beverages
- Dairy products
- Chocolate and caramel
- Quick breads and similar baked goods, such as biscuits, muffins, and cornbread

9

Talk to your doctor about your potassium levels.

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Kidney disease can lead to a potassium imbalance. Kidney problems may change the way your body processes potassium. If your creatinine levels are too high, there’s a good chance your potassium levels may be too high as well.^{[23]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health

Go to source} While changing the amount of potassium in your diet won’t have a direct impact on your creatinine levels, your doctor may still recommend either increasing or decreasing potassium in your diet to help improve your kidney health.^{[24]
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- If your doctor recommends a low-potassium diet, stay away from foods such as dried fruits, bananas, melons, legumes (peas and beans), bran products, and many types of greens. Some kinds of meats, such as beef, chicken, and salmon, are also high in potassium.
- Low-potassium foods include fruits such as apples, berries, grapes, pears, and pineapples, as well as vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, raw broccoli, asparagus, cucumber, and kale. Pasta, rice, and white bread are also low in potassium.
- Don’t change your potassium intake without consulting your doctor! Getting either too much or too little potassium can be dangerous if you have kidney problems, so don’t try to guess your dietary needs.

10

Be careful when using creatine supplements.

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These supplements help build muscle by raising creatinine levels. If you follow the recommended dose of these supplements, it’s unlikely that they’ll cause any problems. However, going over the recommended dose can cause elevated creatinine levels.^{[25]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health

Go to source} Ask your doctor if you should cut back on creatinine supplements or stop taking them.
- Since high creatinine levels aren’t harmful on their own, this may not be a serious issue for you. However, if you’re already concerned about your kidney health, it may be better to avoid these supplements so they don’t affect the results of any prescribed creatinine tests.
- If you have kidney disease, it’s possible that creatinine supplements could make your kidney function issues worse. However, they’re generally considered safe for people with healthy kidneys.^{[26]
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  Mayo Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  
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11

Tell your doctor if you’re taking certain medications.

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Some medications can elevate your creatinine levels. High creatinine levels aren’t always a sign of kidney damage. Some drugs can also raise the amount of creatinine in your blood. While this side effect isn’t harmful, it can be a problem if you’re trying to get an accurate evaluation of your kidney function. Let your doctor know if you’re taking:^{[27]
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- Cimetidine, a drug used to treat ulcers and heartburn
- Trimethoprim, a type of antibiotic
- Pyrimethamine, an antiparasitic drug
- Salicylates, such as aspirin, Tylenol (acetaminophen), or ibuprofen
- Corticosteroids
- Some types of vitamin D supplements
- Phenacemide, a type of anticonvulsant medication
- Keep in mind that some medications (such as certain antibiotics and painkillers) can also be harmful to your kidneys, so talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking any medication if you have high creatinine due to kidney disease.^{[28]
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12

Check into medications that may help.

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Some medications may help lower your creatinine levels. Most of these medications treat the underlying cause of your high creatinine levels rather than directly reducing creatinine in your body. Your doctor will need to find out why your creatinine is elevated before they can prescribe anything. For example:
- Medications that control your blood sugar, such as repaglinide, may help improve your kidney function if your high creatinine levels are caused by diabetes.^{[29]
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- High blood pressure can damage your kidneys, causing your creatinine levels to rise.^{[30]
  X
  Research source} If high blood pressure is the culprit, your doctor may prescribe a medication such as benazepril to reduce blood pressure and protect your kidneys.^{[31]
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  New England Journal of Medicine
  World's Leading Medical Journal
  
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13

Talk to your doctor about safe exercise levels.

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Strenuous exercise can increase creatinine levels. During an intense workout, your muscles break down a little bit, releasing creatinine into the bloodstream. While that’s not necessarily a problem, it can make your creatinine levels look a little higher than normal on a creatinine test.^{[32]
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Trustworthy Source

PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health

Go to source} Talk to your doctor about what level of exercise is safe for you.
- Don’t avoid exercise altogether just because you’re worried about your creatinine levels! Instead, have a conversation with your doctor about your concerns. Some studies suggest that getting plenty of exercise is good for your kidneys and can reduce your creatinine levels in the long run.^{[33]
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14

Research cold laser therapy to treat kidney disease.

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Some evidence suggests that cold laser or low-level laser therapy can revitalize the kidneys and improve their overall functioning abilities. As a result, your kidneys become more capable of filtering out creatinine naturally.^{[34]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health

Go to source}Ask your doctor if this is a good option for you.

15

Discuss dialysis for severe kidney disease.

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This may be a good option for high creatinine due to kidney disease. If you have severe kidney disease or kidney failure, your doctor may recommend dialysis. This treatment helps filter your blood and remove toxins when your kidneys are too badly damaged to do it on their own.^{[35]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

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- Your doctor will monitor your creatinine levels to determine whether you’re a good candidate for dialysis or if less aggressive treatments are sufficient.^{[36]
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  Mayo Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  
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Expert Q&A

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Question

How can I adjust dietary intake to best decrease levels of creatinine?

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS

Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

Expert Answer

A vegetarian, low-glycemic index diet is the best diet to lower your creatinine levels.

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Question

How can I tell if my creatinine levels are normal?

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS

Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

Expert Answer

Talk to your doctor about taking a creatinine blood test. Normal levels of creatinine in the blood are about 0.6 to 1.2 mg per dL in adult males and 0.5 to 1.1 mg per dL in adult females.

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Always consult a doctor before deciding on a course of treatment. Every individual has different health needs, so these guidelines may not work for everyone. Some could even cause a decline in overall health depending on your own specific circumstances.

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