This allows for greater leverage and requires the muscle to move less and lift more weight. While this may seem kind of trivial, some researchers today think that one of the stimulating factors of steroid use is water retention. Anabolic steroids may actually work in part because of cellular fluid retention in the muscles. The swelling action and the related stretching of the cells may in and of itself cause a reaction which stimulates the muscle cells to grow. So in some respects creatine might be as good as steroids.
CM is nontoxic, even in large amounts.
Creatines effects on blood pressure are an open question. Since it has the effect of fluid retention in muscle, it might increase blood pressure in the same way high sodium levels do, but this has not been established or refuted. In addition to this, one other symptom reported is stomach cramps. Reducing the intake of creatine can lead to a reduction in severity of the cramps. Creatine seems to be well studied in scientific research.