Title: A resolution designating the week of May 2, 2021, through May 8, 2021, as "Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week".
Policy area: Health

Summary:
This resolution designates May 2-May 8, 2021, as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week. Tardive Dyskinesia is a movement disorder characterized by involuntary and uncontrolled movements of muscles in the face, torso, and extremities. It is caused by prolonged use of certain medications, including ones used to treat schizophrenia.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 184 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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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

_______________________________________________________________________

                               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;
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.
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