In rats given high-dose risperidone, CBD significantly reduced drug-induced blood sugar elevation and movement abnormalities without impairing cognition or locomotion.
Psychiatrists prescribing antipsychotics, patients experiencing medication side effects, and pharmacological researchers.
CBD reduced blood sugar spikes and movement side effects from risperidone
What the researchers found
CBD (5 mg/kg) significantly reduced risperidone-induced elevated fasting blood sugar when given after risperidone. CBD also reduced vacuous chewing movements (a model of tardive dyskinesia) when given before risperidone, and attenuated risperidone-induced increased muscle tone. Concomitant or sequential CBD and risperidone administration did not adversely affect cognition or locomotion.
Why it matters
Antipsychotic side effects (metabolic syndrome, movement disorders) are a major reason patients stop taking their medications. If CBD can mitigate these without adding cognitive problems, it could improve treatment adherence.
The numbers in context
Risperidone: 10 mg/kg for 28 days. CBD: 5 mg/kg. CBD reduced elevated fasting blood sugar. CBD reduced VCM when given before risperidone. Both CBD and risperidone increased antioxidant enzyme activity and decreased pro-oxidant enzymes.
How the study worked
Six experimental groups of rats received oral risperidone (10 mg/kg) for 28 days, oral CBD (5 mg/kg) in various temporal relationships to risperidone, or CBD alone for 21 days. Vacuous chewing movements, muscle tone, fasting blood sugar, oxidative stress markers, cognition, and locomotion were assessed.
What this study cannot tell us
Animal study with high risperidone doses. Rats metabolize drugs differently than humans. Short duration relative to chronic antipsychotic use in humans. Small sample sizes per group. Effect sizes not reported.
How to read the evidence
Animal study with multiple outcome measures and temporal administration patterns, but limited by high drug doses and uncertain human relevance.
When this study was published
Published in 2022.
The bigger picture
This adds to a growing body of evidence that CBD may complement psychiatric medications by reducing their side effects. If confirmed in humans, CBD could become an adjunct treatment for people on antipsychotics.
Questions still open
- Would these protective effects hold at clinically relevant risperidone doses in humans? Could CBD affect risperidone's therapeutic efficacy while reducing side effects?
Common questions
Can CBD reduce antipsychotic side effects?
Is it safe to take CBD with antipsychotics?
Read the original research
Effects of cannabidiol on vacuous chewing movements, plasma glucose and oxidative stress indices in rats administered high dose risperidone.
Scientific reports, 12(1), 19718
Citation
Kajero, Jaiyeola Abiola; Seedat, Soraya; Ohaeri, Jude; Akindele, Abidemi; Aina, Oluwagbemiga. (2022). Effects of cannabidiol on vacuous chewing movements, plasma glucose and oxidative stress indices in rats administered high dose risperidone.. Scientific reports, 12(1), 19718. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-24235-0
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