LRB-2569/1
TJD:skw
2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE
April 8, 2021 - Introduced by Senators Testin, Ballweg, L. Taylor and Wimberger.
Referred to Committee on Senate Organization.
SR5,1,2 1Relating to: designating the week of May 2, 2021, as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness
2Week.
SR5,1,63 Whereas, many people with serious, chronic mental illness, such as
4schizophrenia and other schizoaffective disorders, bipolar disorder, or severe
5depression, require treatment with medications that work as dopamine receptor
6blocking agents (DRBAs), including antipsychotics; and
SR5,1,97 Whereas, while ongoing treatment with these DRBA medications can be very
8helpful, and even lifesaving, for many people it can also lead to tardive dyskinesia;
9and
SR5,1,1110 Whereas, many people who have gastrointestinal disorders, including
11gastroparesis, nausea, and vomiting, also require treatment with DRBAs; and
SR5,1,1312 Whereas, treatment of gastrointestinal disorders with DRBAs can be very
13helpful, but for many patients the treatment can lead to tardive dyskinesia; and
SR5,2,514 Whereas, tardive dyskinesia is a movement disorder that is characterized by
15random, involuntary, and uncontrolled movements of different muscles in the face,

1trunk, and extremities. In some cases, people may experience movement of the arms,
2legs, fingers, and toes. In some cases, the disorder may affect the tongue, lips, and
3jaw. In other cases, symptoms may include swaying movements of the trunk or hips
4and may impact the muscles associated with walking, speech, eating, and breathing;
5and
SR5,2,96 Whereas, tardive dyskinesia can develop in the months, years, or decades after
7a person starts taking DRBAs and even after they have discontinued use of those
8medications. Not everyone who takes a DRBA develops tardive dyskinesia, but if it
9develops it is often permanent; and
SR5,2,1210 Whereas, common risk factors for tardive dyskinesia include advanced age and
11alcoholism or other substance abuse disorders. Postmenopausal women and people
12with a mood disorder are also at higher risk of developing tardive dyskinesia; and
SR5,2,1513 Whereas, a person is at higher risk for tardive dyskinesia after taking DRBAs
14for three months or longer, but the longer the person is on those medications, the
15higher the risk of developing tardive dyskinesia; and
SR5,2,1716 Whereas, studies suggest that the overall risk of developing tardive dyskinesia
17is between 10 and 30 percent; and
SR5,2,2118 Whereas, it is estimated that over 500,000 Americans suffer from tardive
19dyskinesia. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in four
20patients receiving long-term treatment with an antipsychotic medication will
21experience tardive dyskinesia; and
SR5,2,2422 Whereas, years of difficult and challenging research have resulted in recent
23scientific breakthroughs, with two new treatments for tardive dyskinesia approved
24by the United States Food and Drug Administration; and
SR5,3,4
1Whereas, tardive dyskinesia is often unrecognized and patients suffering from
2the illness are commonly misdiagnosed. Regular screening for tardive dyskinesia in
3patients taking DRBA medications is recommended by the American Psychiatric
4Association; and
SR5,3,85 Whereas, patients suffering from tardive dyskinesia often suffer
6embarrassment due to abnormal and involuntary movements, which leads them to
7withdraw from society and increasingly isolate themselves as the disease progresses;
8and
SR5,3,109 Whereas, caregivers of patients with tardive dyskinesia face many challenges
10and are often responsible for the overall care of the tardive dyskinesia patient; and
SR5,3,1211 Whereas, the senate can raise awareness of tardive dyskinesia in the public and
12in the medical community; now, therefore, be it
SR5,3,14 13Resolved by the senate, That the members of the Wisconsin Senate designate
14the week of May 2, 2021, as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week; and, be it further
SR5,3,17 15Resolved, That the members of the Wisconsin Senate encourage each
16individual in the United States to become better informed about and aware of tardive
17dyskinesia.
SR5,3,1818 (End)
Loading...
Loading...