Can You Take Caffeine and Creatine HCl Together?

Dose or timing may matter

The short answer

Caffeine may partially counteract creatine HCl's ergogenic effects by opposing muscle relaxation time and intracellular water retention, similar to the caffeine-creatine interaction.

How to arrange timing

Consider taking creatine HCl at a different time from caffeine. The interaction is modest but may reduce creatine's peak benefit.

Reference

Reference noted for this combination: Vandenberghe K et al. Caffeine counteracts the ergogenic action of muscle creatine loading. J Appl Physiol. 1996;80(2):452-457

Important context

Whether supplements suit you together also depends on dose, product formulation, health conditions, and medication use. Ask a doctor or pharmacist first if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a chronic condition.