Creatine Hydrochloride
Also known as: creatine HCl, creatine hydrochloride, Con-Cret
A hydrochloride salt of creatine with much higher water solubility than the monohydrate, marketed on the premise that smaller doses can be used with less bloating. Independent reviews find no evidence that it raises muscle creatine more effectively than monohydrate at equal creatine doses, and the trial base is small. It is useful where solubility matters, such as clear liquids and compact capsule products, but costs more per gram of creatine.
Research summary
Delivers creatine to raise muscle phosphocreatine; the HCl salt improves solubility, not the underlying mechanism.
Dosage
Daily amounts, of compound.
| Lowest studied | Typical range | Highest studied | Upper limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | 1.5–3 g | — | — |
Products use 1.5–3 g/day; the claim that these doses match 5 g of monohydrate is not established in peer-reviewed research. Creatine HCl is about 78% creatine by mass, so 3 g supplies roughly 2.3 g creatine. Conservative formulators dose to match 3–5 g creatine equivalent.
Source material: synthetic
As supplied: Approximately 78% creatine by mass.
Forms of Creatine
| Form | Typical dose | Element % | Formats | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creatine Hydrochloride | 1.5–3 g | — | Powder, Capsule, Tablet, Liquid, Gummy | mid |
| Creatine Monohydrate | 3–5 g | — | Powder, Capsule, Tablet, Gummy | low |
Format suitability
- Capsule
- Powder
- Tablet
- Softgel
- Gummy
- Liquid
Highly soluble and acidic (sour); mixes clear in water and is more stable in solution than monohydrate, though shelf-stable liquid claims should still be validated.
Formulation notes
Same stacking partners as creatine monohydrate. Count creatine from all forms toward one creatine total.
Sources
Related ingredients
Creatine Monohydrate
Sports performanceThe most researched sports supplement in existence.
Typical: 3–5 g
Whey Protein Isolate
ProteinWhey filtered to 90% or more protein by weight, with most lactose and fat removed.
Typical: 20–30 g
Whey Protein Concentrate
ProteinWhey concentrated by ultrafiltration to 70–80% protein, retaining more lactose, fat, and native bioactive fractions than isolate.
Typical: 25–35 g
Beta-Alanine
Sports performanceA non-essential amino acid that combines with histidine to form carnosine, the main intramuscular buffer of hydrogen ions during intense exercise.
Typical: 3.2–6.4 g
L-Citrulline
Sports performanceA non-protein amino acid that the kidneys convert to arginine, raising plasma arginine more efficiently than oral arginine itself.
Typical: 6–8 g