How to Bring Down High Creatinine Levels

Creatinine is a waste product found in everyone's blood and urine. Creatinine and creatinine clearance
tests tell how well your kidneys are working. Under normal circumstances, your kidneys should be able
to filter and pass this substance out of your body. Certain health problems can hinder this function,
however, allowing harmful amounts of creatinine to build up. There are several ways that you can reduce
your creatinine levels, including changing your diet, making some lifestyle modifications, taking
medications, and participating in medical therapy.
Method 1
Understanding Creatinine

1
Know what creatinine is. Creatinine is a waste product produced by the body when creatine, a metabolism
substance that helps convert food into energy, breaks down.[1]
Usually, your kidneys help filter creatinine out of the blood. The waste product is then passed out of the
body via urine.
High creatinine levels can indicate a problem with your kidneys.
High creatinine levels can be the result of regularly consuming a high amount of protein or partaking in
strenuous exercise.
Creatine supplements may also increase levels of creatinine in blood and urine.

2
Understand how the test works. A creatinine test measures how much creatinine is in your blood.
Your doctor may also perform a creatinine clearance test, which measures the amount of creatinine in
your urine. The amount in your blood should be low, and the amount in your urine should be high.
These tests only provide a "snapshot" of your kidney health. They only measure the amount of creatinine
in your blood and urine from one-time samples taken within the past 24 hours.

3
Interpret your results. The normal range for creatinine levels will vary based on whether you are an adult
male, adult female, teenager, or child. The value you should be at may vary further based on your age
and body size, but there are general ranges you should shoot for.
Normal blood creatinine levels are:[2]
Men: 0.6 to 1.2 mg/dL; 53 to 106 mcmol/L
Women: 0.5 to 1.1 mg/dL; 44 to 97 mcmol/L
Teenagers: 0.5 to 1.0 mg/dL
Children: 0.3 to 0.7 mg/dL
Normal urine creatinine levels are:
Men: 107 to 139 mL/min; 1.8 to 2.3 mL/sec
Women: 87 to 107 mL/min; 1.5 to 1.8 mL/sec
Anyone above the age of 40: levels should drop by 6.5 mL/min for every additional 10 years of age

4
Understand why increased creatinine levels occur. There are several different reasons why you might
have increased creatinine levels; some of these conditions are more severe than others, but all mean that
you need to take steps to get your creatinine levels back to normal.
Renal failure or impairment: If your kidneys are damaged, they cannot filter creatinine out of your body
through glomerular filtration as they are supposed to. Glomerular filtration is the outflow of filtered fluid
passing through your kidney.
Muscle destruction: If you have a condition that causes the breakdown of your muscles, the broken down
muscle tissue can get into your bloodstream and impair your kidneys.
High intake of meat: Eating a diet rich in cooked meat can increase the amount of creatinine in your body.
Hypothyroidism: Having a dysfunction in your thyroid gland can have an influence on your kidney
function. Hypothyroidism can decrease your kidneys’ ability to properly filter waste out of your body.
Method 2
Using Unverified Herbal Remedies

1
Drink herbal tea or Green tea. Certain types of herbal tea are believed to help lower the amount of
creatinine in your blood. Studies supporting this benefit are limited, but the theory has not been
disproved, either.
Drink around two 8-oz (250-ml) glasses of herbal tea each day.
Herbal teas worth checking out include chamomile, nettle leaf, dandelion root.
The idea is that these teas stimulate the kidneys and cause an increase in the production of urine. As such,
more creatinine can be passed out of the body.
2
Consider taking nettle leaf supplements. Nettle leaf may help to increase your renal excretion, with will
help to eliminate excess amounts of creatinine.[3] Nettles contain histamines and flavonoids, which can
help to increase the blood flow to your kidneys, thus increasing urine filtration.
Nettle leaves can be taken in the form of supplements or can be made into tea.
3
Talk to your doctor about salvia. Salvia is an herb that may increase your glomerular filtration rate, which
helps to facilitate the elimination of creatinine. [4] Salvia contains lithospermate B, which helps to promote
renal function.[5]
Set up a meeting with your doctor to discuss the possible use of salvia. Do not take salvia without
consulting your doctor.
Method 3
Making Lifestyle Changes
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Watch your fluid intake. As a general rule, you should drink six to eight 8-oz (250-ml) glasses of water
each day. Dehydration can actually cause your creatinine levels to increase, so staying hydrated is
important.
When you do not have enough fluid in your body, you produce less urine. Creatinine is washed out of
your system through urine, so producing less urine will make it more difficult to flush out this toxin.
On the other hand, consuming too much fluid could also have a negative effect on your kidney functions.
Too much fluid could cause an increase in blood pressure, and high blood pressure can put stress on your
kidneys.
Unless otherwise instructed by a doctor, it is best to keep yourself hydrated but to avoid abnormal
amounts of fluid intake.
2
Restrict your activity level. The body converts food into energy faster when it undergoes vigorous
exercise. As a result, more creatinine is formed, causing the amount of creatinine build-up in your blood
to increase.
Exercise can still offer important health benefits overall, so you may not want to exclude it from your
routine completely. You should swap out high intensity exercises for low intensity ones, however. Instead
of running, weight lifting, or playing basketball, try walking or practicing yoga.
3
Sleep well. When you sleep, most of your bodily functions decrease. This includes the body's metabolism.
As a result, the conversion of creatine to creatinine goes at a slower rate, allowing more of the creatinine
already in your blood to filter out before additional toxins can build up.
Aim for six to nine hours of sleep per night, with seven or eight being an ideal amount.
Additionally, sleep deprivation can put physical stress on your entire body and force all of its parts to work
harder to perform normal tasks. As a result, your kidneys can become stressed, which will decrease their
ability to filter out creatinine.
Method 4
Taking Medications
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Ask your doctor about stopping certain medications. There are some medications that have been
associated with high creatinine levels. Medications that can damage the kidneys pose a possible threat,
but some medications used to treat kidney disease can also cause a problem.
If you already have kidney problems, be cautious about medications, like ibuprofen, that can cause
further kidney damage when used regularly.
ACE inhibitors and cyclosporine are both used to treat kidney disease but may cause creatinine levels to
rise.[6]
Some nutritional supplements, like vanadium, can also cause an increase in creatinine levels and should
be avoided.
Always talk to your doctor before stopping any medication. While some of these medications may cause
creatinine to rise, the good could still outweigh the bad depending on why those medications were
prescribed to begin with.
2
Check into medications and supplements that may help. Depending on the underlying cause of your
elevated creatinine levels and on your overall health, your doctor may advise you to include certain
medications or supplements to bring those levels down.
Most medications that treat creatinine levels also treat an underlying problem causing an increase in
those levels, so your doctor will have to diagnose the underlying condition before you can determine
which medication is right for you.
3
Take diabetes medications to control your blood sugar. One common cause of kidney damage, and thus
elevated creatinine levels, is diabetes. If you have diabetes, it is very important to keep your insulin levels
normal to prevent further kidney damage. There are certain medications that you can take to do this.
Repaglinide is a commonly prescribed for diabetes. The starting dose is normally 0.5 milligrams,
administered before each meal. The maximum dose is 4 milligrams, also administered before a meal.
Even if you happen to skip a meal, it is important to administer the drugs. [7]
4
Lower your blood pressure with medication. Aside from diabetes, hypertension is another factor that can
contribute to kidney damage. Keeping your blood pressure under control will also help to prevent further
damage to your kidneys, thus helping to lower your creatinine levels.
Your doctor may prescribe benazepril and hydrochlorothiazide. Normal benazepril dosages are generally
between 10 and 80 milligrams a day[8]. The usual dosage of hydrochlorothiazide is between 12.5 and 50
milligrams a day.[9]
5
Some antibiotics can be dangerous if taken incorrectly. People with kidney disease need to take smaller
amounts of antibiotics than people with healthy kidneys.
6
Take medications targeted high creatinine levels. Ketosteril is often prescribed to reduce levels of
creatinine found in the bloodstream. Talk to your doctor about this medication and if it may be right for
you. The regular dose is generally 4 to 8 tablets taken three time a day, at each meal.[10] Other creatinine
lowering drugs include:
Alpha lipoic acid (antioxidants) supplements can be used to help energize the kidneys and neutralize
toxins, including creatinine. You can usually take around 300 mg each day.[11]
Chitosan is a weight management supplement that can also reduce the amount of creatinine in the blood.
Benefits are usually reached when you take between 1000 and 4000 mg per day.
Method 5
Considering Medical Therapies
1
Address and treat the underlying problem. High creatinine levels are rarely an independent problem.
More often than not, this issue is a symptom of something more serious. To drop the levels permanently
and improve your overall health, work with your doctor to find the underlying problem and remedy that.
Kidney damage and chronic kidney disease are the most common causes. This damage can be caused by
illness, potentially fatal infections, shock, cancer, or low blood flow.
Type 2 diabetes is also linked to high creatinine levels.
Other possible causes include heart failure, dehydration, excessive blood loss leading to shock, gout,
physically strenuous exercise, muscle injuries, muscle disorders, and burns.
2
Research cold laser therapy. 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.[12]
When used on the adrenal glands above the kidneys, cold lasers can also help reduce stress and improve
sleep.
When used on the Vagus nerve in your neck, cold lasers may help improve the circulation of blood to
various organs, including the kidneys.
3
Use massage therapy. Massage therapy also will help blood circulation and reduce stress levels, which
leads to pleasant sleep and relaxation.
4
Learn about blood purification therapy. While somewhat uncommon, someone who has severe kidney
damage and consistently high creatinine levels may wish to consider blood purification therapy, a.k.a.
hemodialysis or dialysis. The therapy is a bit extreme, but it can be very effective.
During the treatment, your blood will be extracted and filtered through a machine. This machine removes
creatinine and other toxins in the blood. Once cleaned, the blood is circulated back into the body.[13]
5
Consider alternative medicine. In particular, learn about Micro-Chinese Medicine Osmotherapy. This
therapy is based on traditional Chinese medicine and may help reverse minor kidney damage. Medicated
baths may also help and are also rooted in traditional Chinese medicine.
With Micro-Chinese Medicine Osmotherapy, traditional Chinese medicines are prescribed based on an
individual patient's condition. Some of these medications are applied externally, while others are applied
internally via an osmoscope.[14]
Medicated baths can improve blood circulation. This causes the body to warm up and produce sweat.
Creatinine and other toxins can then be removed from the body via the sweat.
6
Consider dialysis as a final option. If diet changes and medication do not lower your creatinine levels, talk
to your doctor about dialysis. There are two types of dialysis, but the one used to lower creatinine levels
is called hemodialysis.[15]
Hemodialysis involves using a machine to filter out waste, fluid, and salt from your blood so that your
damaged kidneys do not have to.
Method 6
Making Diet Changes
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Limit your sodium intake. Excessive sodium can cause an unhealthy amount of fluid retention and may
result in high blood pressure. Both of these issues could result in high creatinine levels.
Maintain a low-sodium diet. Stay away from salty foods and drinks, and opt for low-sodium versions of
common food products (canned soup, bottled sauces, etc.) when available.
Your daily average range of sodium intake should be between 2 to 3 grams per day, if not lower. [16]
2
Keep an eye on your protein intake.[17] Avoid foods that are rich in protein as much as possible. Red meat
and dairy products can be especially bad for you.
Dietary sources of creatine are most commonly obtained through animal products. While these amounts
are not usually harmful, they can pose a problem for someone already dealing with abnormally high
creatinine.
Note that you do need protein in your diet to maintain adequate amounts of energy and keep your bodily
functions running smoothly, so you should not cut it out completely.
When you do consume protein, try to obtain it from plant-based sources, like nuts and other legumes.
3
Increase your consumption of plant-based foods. Vegetarian diets are often recommended to bring down
high levels of creatinine and reduce the risk of kidney disease due to high blood pressure or diabetes. Eat
foods rich in vitamin C such as berries, lemon juice, parsley and cauliflower.
4
Avoid phosphorus-rich foods. Your kidneys may have a hard time processing phosphorus-rich foods,
particularly if you have high creatinine levels.[18] Because of this, you should try to avoid foods like:
Pumpkin and squash, cheese, fish, shellfish, nuts, pork, low fat dairy products, and soybeans.
5
Limit the amount of potassium you consume. When dealing with kidney issues, try to avoid eating foods
with a high amount of potassium because that potassium can accumulate in the body if your kidneys
cannot process it correctly.[19] Foods that are rich in potassium include:
Dried fruits, bananas, spinach, potatoes, beans, and peas.
6
Stay away from creatine supplements. Since creatinine is a waste product of creatine, taking creatine
supplements will result in a greater build-up of creatinine in your blood.
For the average person, this is not much of an issue. If you are an athlete or bodybuilder taking nutritional
supplements to improve your performance, though, creatine might be included in these supplements and
should be cut out.