Your Creatinine Is High — Now What?
Why creatinine rises, what a high reading can and cannot tell you, and the sensible next steps.
Last updated: 2026-09-24
Creatinine is a waste product your muscles make and your kidneys clear. When your kidneys slow down, creatinine builds up — so a high reading can be an early warning, but it can also rise for harmless reasons.
What can push it up
- Reduced kidney function
- Dehydration
- Heavy exercise just before the test
- A high-protein meal or creatine supplements
- Some medicines
What to do next
Don’t panic and don’t self-treat. Repeat the test, drink enough water, and let your doctor interpret the trend together with your eGFR and a urine protein check.
Products marketed as kidney detoxes have no evidence of benefit, and some can harm your kidneys. Talk to your doctor about anything you take.
Frequently asked questions
Is a high creatinine always kidney disease?
No. Dehydration, exercise and diet can raise it temporarily. Your doctor confirms with a repeat test and eGFR.
Can I lower it by changing my diet?
Diet changes should be guided by your stage and lab results, not self-directed.