2023 Senate Resolution 43

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 (DRBAs), including antipsychotics; and

Whereas, Individuals who have gastrointestinal disorders, including gastroparesis, nausea, and vomiting also require treatment with DRBAs. The treatment of gastrointestinal disorders with DRBAs can be very helpful, but for many patients can also lead to tardive dyskinesia (TD); and

Whereas, While ongoing treatment with these medications can be very helpful, and even lifesaving, for many people it can also lead to TD; and

Whereas, TD is a movement disorder that is characterized by random, involuntary, and uncontrolled movements of different muscles in the face, trunk, and extremities. In some cases, people may experience movement of the arms, legs, fingers, and toes. In some cases, it may also affect the tongue, lips, and jaw. In other cases, symptoms may include swaying movements of the trunk or hips, and it may also impact the muscles associated with walking, speech, eating, and breathing; and

Whereas, Tardive dyskinesia can develop months, years, or decades after a person starts taking DRBAs and even after they have discontinued the use of those medications. Not everyone who takes a DRBA develops TD, but if developed, it is often permanent; and

Whereas, Common risk factors for TD include advanced age and alcoholism or other substance abuse disorders. Postmenopausal women and people with a mood disorder are also at higher risk of developing TD; and

Whereas, A person is at higher risk for TD after taking DRBAs for three months or longer, but the longer the person is on these medications, the higher the risk of developing tardive dyskinesia; and

Whereas, Studies suggest that the overall risk of developing tardive dyskinesia is between 10 and 30 percent; and

Whereas, It is estimated that over 600,000 Americans suffer from tardive dyskinesia. According to the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI), one in four patients receiving long-term treatment with an antipsychotic medication will experience tardive dyskinesia; and

Whereas, Years of both difficult and challenging research have resulted in recent scientific breakthroughs, with two new treatments for tardive dyskinesia approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA); and

Whereas, Tardive dyskinesia is often unrecognized and patients suffering from the illness are commonly misdiagnosed. Regular screening for TD in patients taking DRBA medications is recommended by the American Psychiatric Association (APA); and

Whereas, Patients suffering from tardive dyskinesia often suffer embarrassment due to abnormal and involuntary movements, which leads them to withdraw from society as well as an increase in self-isolation as the disease progresses; and

Whereas, Caregivers of patients with tardive dyskinesia also face many challenges and are often responsible for the overall care of the TD patient; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate, That the members of this legislative body designate May 1-6, 2023, as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week; and be it further

Resolved, That we raise awareness of tardive dyskinesia in the public and medical community and encourage individuals in the United States to become better informed about tardive dyskinesia.