CBD reduced movement disorder side effects and blood sugar spikes from the antipsychotic risperidone in rats

In rats given high-dose risperidone, CBD significantly reduced drug-induced blood sugar elevation and movement abnormalities without impairing cognition or locomotion.

Kajero, Jaiyeola Abiola et al.·Scientific reports·2022·Moderate EvidenceAnimal StudyAnimal Study
RTHC-03943Animal StudyModerate Evidence2022RETHINKTHC RESEARCH DATABASErethinkthc.com/research

Quick Facts

Study Type
Animal Study
Evidence
Moderate Evidence
Sample
Not reported

What This Study 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.

Key Numbers

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 They Did This

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.

Why This Research 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 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.

What This Study Doesn't 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.

Questions This Raises

  • ?Would these protective effects hold at clinically relevant risperidone doses in humans?
  • ?Could CBD affect risperidone's therapeutic efficacy while reducing side effects?

Trust & Context

Key Stat:
CBD reduced blood sugar spikes and movement side effects from risperidone
Evidence Grade:
Animal study with multiple outcome measures and temporal administration patterns, but limited by high drug doses and uncertain human relevance.
Study Age:
Published in 2022.
Original Title:
Effects of cannabidiol on vacuous chewing movements, plasma glucose and oxidative stress indices in rats administered high dose risperidone.
Published In:
Scientific reports, 12(1), 19718 (2022)
Database ID:
RTHC-03943

Evidence Hierarchy

Meta-Analysis / Systematic Review
Randomized Controlled Trial
Cohort / Case-Control
Cross-Sectional / Observational
Case Report / Animal StudyOne case or non-human subjects
This study

Tests effects in animals (usually mice or rats), not humans.

What do these levels mean? →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can CBD reduce antipsychotic side effects?

In this rat study, CBD reduced risperidone-induced blood sugar elevation, involuntary movements, and muscle stiffness without causing cognitive or locomotor problems.

Is it safe to take CBD with antipsychotics?

In rats, combining CBD with risperidone did not produce adverse effects on cognition or movement. However, human studies are needed to confirm safety and rule out drug interactions.

Read More on RethinkTHC

Cite This Study

RTHC-03943·https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03943

APA

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

MLA

Kajero, Jaiyeola Abiola, et al. "Effects of cannabidiol on vacuous chewing movements, plasma glucose and oxidative stress indices in rats administered high dose risperidone.." Scientific reports, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-24235-0

RethinkTHC

RethinkTHC Research Database. "Effects of cannabidiol on vacuous chewing movements, plasma ..." RTHC-03943. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/kajero-2022-effects-of-cannabidiol-on

Access the Original Study

Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.