Use Creatine?

I am wondering if I should start using creatine in the fall, when I will have another couple months under my belt.  Ive been lifting since February, using optimum nutrition 100% whey.  Got good results so far, but stagnating recently.  Furthermore, are all creatine products the same (the monohydrate)?  Any brands I should look for?  I am looking for a basic, cheap, safe creatine product, not a gimmick, so any comments would be appreciated.
 
I am wondering if I am wasting time by holding off using it, or if its not a good product.  Do gains typically stay with you after use, or is it all water?  Is the only benefitting aspect the fact that it gives you more atp, hence more energy for intense workouts, and therefore more gains?

If you  already hit a  plateau then go ahead and take it. I started taking it when I was 15 and for a year and a half I cycled on for 2 months and off for 1 month. I felt way more explosive with each cycle and I loved it. As far as losing all of the effects- this is how it went for me... With each cycle I gained 15-20 lbs and as soon as I cycled off I would lose about 10-12lbs. so it was like a 2 steps up, 1 step back program. And yes, it is mostly water weight but if you are lifting right and still growing like I was, then you will see nothing but benefits.  I also took glutamine and protein when supplementing with creatine so it wasn't the only factor in my gains. 
 So if you want pure power and explosiveness gains, I'd say take it. Let me put it to you this way... I'm 21 now, and I'm more muscular and more defined then I was when on my last cycle I took when I was 17. I'm definetely stronger  now but for some reason not on bench press or squats (Total power lifts!). When I was 17 I was benchin'  2 reps at 335lbs. and squattin' 3 reps at 485lbs..  Now at 21 I'm lucky if Im putting up 305 3 times and 405 3 times.

Alright.  Is it true that after a while a body has difficulty naturally producing creatine if you use the supplement too much?  Is the key distinguishing factor in supps. like cellmass and x-plode the element of stimulants like taurine, or is there a benefit beyond that?  Whats the cheapest, but also known and respected brand?
 
 
edit: why did you stop taking it?

Anyone try PrimaForce Creaform?  I saw on a different forum that it was recommended as being affordable.  I have seen it at 1 Kg/$19.99...
 
Im tempted to order it in addition to more whey.  Running low, gonna buy a 10 lb bag.

I've always known that to be true but I'm not sure if it's proven... But thats why I cycled it.. So that wouldn't happen. Plus when I started taking it, it was like 6 years or so ago and there wasnt as much info about it.   The distinguishing factor between creatine and No-Xplode is definetely the energy and focus that I get when taking both. I'm just finishing up an 8 week cycle this week and I gotta praise NO-Xplode!! The stuff is great. WHen I use to just take creatine I'd be really explosive  but get tired quickly,  now I'm cycling NoXplode and I can last twice as long and still wanna keep going. But I stack My NOXplode with extra NO2 that I have and that seems to be a great combo! Some may say that that is too much nitric oxide but It works for me. My body can handle it, just like ephedra- I would normally take double the servings it said to take and I was fine with that. And I'm starting that cycle This wed. Cause I'm just about finished with the Nitric oxide cycle.
  I stopped taking creatine because I wasn't playing football after the beginning of my senior year of high school and I didnt need that type of body anymore. I had to start cutting again for wrestling and in wrestling you dont want a lot of extra water weight.

I used creatine for a little while.  I guess I could never get enough water while I was on it because I would wake up each morning with a very dry mouth and cracked lips.  Didn't seem to matter how much water I would drink.

I just learnt that you gotta drink more water not because of any other reason but because too much creatine will eventually lead to the forming of kidney minerals. By drinking more water, you will help yourself reduce the chances of getting kidney stones...

http://www.supplements101.com/store/Creatine_Xtreme_4lbs_p/chacreatinextreme4.htm
 
This stuff is so incredibly inexpensive.  Is it good?

I used this off and on for about 6 months.
I havn't taken any for about 3 months and I havn't notice any difference.

For me, the stuff doesn't see to do anything. I probably won't ever buy it again.

Simple monohydrate ones are still the best...
My two cents...
I take GNCs Creatine Monohydrate. Not too bad.

I ordered EAS phosphagen.  Its supposed to be a good, plain one.  I am probably not going to bother loading, I don't want to deal with the annoyance of drinking a lot more extra water.  Ill probably just do 5gm a day.  When is the best time to consume; before workout or after? On non workout days should I consume creatine?

Take it post workout. Doing it at 5g a day would do just fine. Consume creatine for 2 months, then take a month off. You should also take it on your non-workout days. Just to keep your muscles saturated with creatine. You should always drink lotsa water... trust me bro...

I do drink lots of water.  With my current job, (lifeguard at a lake), I get dehydrated quite often, even when I'm always constantly drinking.  I have a large tank thing I carry with me.  It would be difficult to drink much more water because I am on the stand for 7 hours, with only 1 or 2 breaks.
 
The kind of water I am talking about is more along the lines of the type needed for recommended loading dosage.  I am not gonna load for that reason, I know that at present I cannot take in that much water.
 
Thanks.
 
So post workout is best?  I am curious why that is the case.  Also on days when I am not lifting, does it matter when I have it (like with meals,etc)?

Drink water to keep from dehydrating...
Why post workout? I am not too sure about this as I was also told about this by a fellow DB member. I am guessing that it has got to do with the dehydration. When we workout, we use up water from our body and we'll get dehydrated more easily and yada yada yada...
lol...
 

honestly i've tried powder, pills, and liquid creatine.  None made me any stronger or look any better.  Spend your money else where in my opinion.