III 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 184 

Designating the week of May 2, 2021, through May 8, 2021, as ‘‘Tardive 

Dyskinesia Awareness Week’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 28, 2021 

Mr. MURPHY (for himself and Mr. CASSIDY) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

JUNE 8, 2021 

Committee discharged; considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating the week of May 2, 2021, through May 8, 2021, 

as ‘‘Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week’’. 

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; 


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SRES 184 ATS 

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; 


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SRES 184 ATS 

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 


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SRES 184 ATS 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates the week of May 2, 2021, 

3 through May 8, 2021, as ‘‘Tardive Dyskinesia 

4 Awareness Week’’; and 

5 (2) encourages each individual in the United 

6 States to become better informed about and aware 

7 of Tardive Dyskinesia. 

Æ 


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