diff --git a/keycloak/exceptions.py b/keycloak/exceptions.py
index 95be231..27d8b14 100644
--- a/keycloak/exceptions.py
+++ b/keycloak/exceptions.py
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 import requests
-from simplejson import JSONDecodeError
 
 
 class KeycloakError(Exception):
@@ -73,10 +72,9 @@ def raise_error_from_response(response, error, expected_code=200):
     if expected_code == response.status_code:
         if expected_code == requests.codes.no_content:
             return {}
-
         try:
             return response.json()
-        except JSONDecodeError as e:
+        except ValueError:
             return response.content
 
     try:
diff --git a/keycloak/keycloak_admin.py b/keycloak/keycloak_admin.py
index c24dbc3..6c9e32b 100644
--- a/keycloak/keycloak_admin.py
+++ b/keycloak/keycloak_admin.py
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ class KeycloakAdmin:
         data_raw = self.connection.raw_get(URL_ADMIN_USERS.format(**params_path), **query)
         return raise_error_from_response(data_raw, KeycloakGetError)
 
-    def create_user(self, username, email='', firstName='', lastName='', emailVerified=False, enabled=True):
+    def create_user(self, payload):
         """
         Create a new user Username must be unique
 
@@ -115,17 +115,11 @@ class KeycloakAdmin:
 
         :param payload: UserRepresentation
 
+        :return: UserRepresentation
         """
-        data={}
-        data["username"]=username
-        data["email"]=email
-        data["firstName"]=firstName
-        data["lastName"]=lastName
-        data["emailVerified"]=emailVerified
-        data["enabled"]=enabled
         params_path = {"realm-name": self.realm_name}
         data_raw = self.connection.raw_post(URL_ADMIN_USERS.format(**params_path),
-                                            data=json.dumps(data))
+                                            data=json.dumps(payload))
         return raise_error_from_response(data_raw, KeycloakGetError, expected_code=201)
 
     def users_count(self):
@@ -138,7 +132,6 @@ class KeycloakAdmin:
         data_raw = self.connection.raw_get(URL_ADMIN_USERS_COUNT.format(**params_path))
         return raise_error_from_response(data_raw, KeycloakGetError)
 
-
     def get_user_id(self, username):
         """
         Get internal keycloak user id from username
@@ -175,7 +168,7 @@ class KeycloakAdmin:
         data_raw = self.connection.raw_get(URL_ADMIN_USER.format(**params_path))
         return raise_error_from_response(data_raw, KeycloakGetError)
 
-    def update_user(self, user_id, username, email='', firstName='', lastName='', emailVerified=False, enabled=True):
+    def update_user(self, user_id, payload):
         """
         Update the user
 
@@ -184,17 +177,9 @@ class KeycloakAdmin:
 
         :return: Http response
         """
-        data={}
-        data["username"]=username
-        data["email"]=email
-        data["firstName"]=firstName
-        data["lastName"]=lastName
-        data["emailVerified"]=emailVerified
-        data["enabled"]=enabled
-        params_path = {"realm-name": self.realm_name}
         params_path = {"realm-name": self.realm_name, "id": user_id}
         data_raw = self.connection.raw_put(URL_ADMIN_USER.format(**params_path),
-                                           data=json.dumps(data))
+                                           data=json.dumps(payload))
         return raise_error_from_response(data_raw, KeycloakGetError, expected_code=204)
 
     def delete_user(self, user_id):
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index bc7067a..61caa61 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-requests==2.18.3
+requests==2.18.4
 httmock==1.2.5
 python-jose==1.3.2
-simplejson
\ No newline at end of file