[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 73 (Wednesday, April 28, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2297-S2298]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 184--DESIGNATING THE WEEK OF MAY 2, 2021 THROUGH MAY 
           8, 2021, AS ``TARDIVE DYSKINESIA AWARENESS WEEK''

  Mr. MURPHY (for himself and Mr. Cassidy) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 184

       Whereas many people with serious, chronic mental illness, 
     such as schizophrenia and other schizoaffective disorders, 
     bipolar disorder, or severe depression, require treatment 
     with medications that work as dopamine receptor blocking 
     agents (referred to in this preamble as ``DRBAs''), including 
     antipsychotics;
       Whereas many people who have gastrointestinal disorders, 
     including gastroparesis, nausea, and vomiting also require 
     treatment with DRBAs;

[[Page S2298]]

       Whereas, while ongoing treatment with DRBAs can be 
     lifesaving, for some people it can also lead to Tardive 
     Dyskinesia;
       Whereas Tardive Dyskinesia is a movement disorder that is 
     characterized by random, involuntary, and uncontrolled 
     movements of different muscles in the face, trunk, and 
     extremities;
       Whereas, in some cases, Tardive Dyskinesia may--
       (1) cause people to experience movement of the arms, legs, 
     fingers, and toes;
       (2) affect the tongue, lips, and jaw; and
       (3) cause swaying movements of the trunk or hips and may 
     impact the muscles associated with walking, speech, eating, 
     and breathing;
       Whereas Tardive Dyskinesia can develop months, years, or 
     decades after a person starts taking DRBAs and even after 
     they have discontinued use of those medications;
       Whereas not everyone who takes a DRBA develops Tardive 
     Dyskinesia, but if Tardive Dyskinesia develops it is often 
     persistent;
        Whereas common risk factors for Tardive Dyskinesia include 
     advanced age and alcoholism or other substance use disorders;
       Whereas postmenopausal women and people with a mood 
     disorder are also at higher risk of developing Tardive 
     Dyskinesia;
       Whereas a person is at higher risk for Tardive Dyskinesia 
     after taking DRBAs for 3 months, but the longer the person is 
     on these medications, the higher the risk of developing 
     Tardive Dyskinesia;
       Whereas studies suggest that the overall risk of developing 
     Tardive Dyskinesia after taking DRBAs is between 10 and 30 
     percent;
       Whereas it is estimated that over 500,000 people in the 
     United States suffer from Tardive Dyskinesia;
       Whereas, according to the National Alliance for Mental 
     Illness, 1 in every 4 patients receiving long-term treatment 
     with an antipsychotic medication will experience Tardive 
     Dyskinesia;
        Whereas years of difficult and challenging research have 
     resulted in recent scientific breakthroughs, with 2 new 
     treatments for Tardive Dyskinesia approved by the Food and 
     Drug Administration of the Department of Health and Human 
     Services;
       Whereas Tardive Dyskinesia is often unrecognized and 
     patients suffering from the illness are commonly 
     misdiagnosed;
       Whereas regular screening for Tardive Dyskinesia in 
     patients taking DRBA medications is recommended by the 
     American Psychiatric Association;
       Whereas patients suffering from Tardive Dyskinesia often 
     suffer embarrassment due to abnormal and involuntary 
     movements, which leads them to withdraw from society and 
     increasingly isolate themselves as the disease progresses;
       Whereas caregivers of patients with Tardive Dyskinesia face 
     many challenges and are often responsible for the overall 
     care of the Tardive Dyskinesia patient;
       Whereas the Senate can raise awareness of Tardive 
     Dyskinesia in the public and medical community: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the week of May 2, 2021 through May 8, 2021, 
     as ``Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week''; and
       (2) encourages each individual in the United States to 
     become better informed about and aware of Tardive Dyskinesia.

                          ____________________