When you are required to take a urine drug test you often hear the terms creatine or creatinine used to describe one of the elements that they test for in your urine.  What are they and what is the difference between the two?

Creatine is a compound that is produced in your liver and then it is delivered to your muscles where it is used as energy for your muscular activity.  Creatine is formed when your body converts food into energy. Once the creatine is delivered to the muscles some of it automatically is converted to creatinine.

Creatinine is the waste product produced when your muscles break down the creatine. Muscle mass determines the amounts of creatine and creatinine found in the body so men usually have more than women.  When you submit your urine sample for a drug test one of the parameters is the level of creatinine in your sample.  Creatinine is mostly excreted by your kidneys so this is a good measurement of how well your kidneys are functioning.  Creatinine levels will be slightly higher in men than in women due to the difference in muscle mass.

Using blood and urine sample your creatinine levels can be assessed to formulate a creatinine clearance.  This is a measurement of how effective your kidneys are in filtering small particles like creatinine out of your blood.   Your physician may order tests to assess your creatinine levels when symptoms of kidney dysfunction are detected.  Some symptoms are fatigue, poor appetite and a decrease in the amount of urine that is being produced.  Puffiness or swelling around the eyes, wrists, stomach, thighs or ankles are also tell-tale signs of kidney problems.  If you have problems urinating or feel a burning sensation or if your urine is foamy, darker or bloody or you urinate more frequently than you usually do then these can be signs also.  High blood pressure may be a result of kidney problems also.