Sleepwalking (Treatments)

Usually no specific treatment for sleepwalking is needed.

Safety measures may be necessary to prevent injury. This may include modifying the environment by moving objects such as electrical cords or furniture to reduce tripping and falling.

In some cases, short-acting tranquilizers have been helpful in reducing the incidence of sleepwalking.

Sleepwalking may or may not become less frequent with age. It usually does not indicate a serious disorder, although it can be a symptom of other disorders. Improving sleep cycle may help decrease occurrence of sleepwalking.

Prevention

Avoid the use of alcohol or central nervous system depressants if prone to sleepwalking.

Avoid fatigue or insomnia, because this can instigate an episode of sleepwalking.

Avoid or minimize stress, anxiety, and conflict, which can worsen the condition.

Tips for a Good Night's Sleep

Set a schedule:

• Set a schedule 
  • Go to bed at a set time each night and get up at the same time each morning.Disrupting this schedule may lead to insomnia. 
  • "Sleeping in" on weekends also makes it harder to wake up early on Monday morning because it re-sets your sleep cycles for a later awakening
• Exercise
  • Try to exercise 20 to 30 minutes a day. Daily exercise often helps people sleep. However, a workout before bedtime may interfere with sleep. For maximum benefit, try to get your exercise about 5 to 6 hours before going to bed.
• Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol
  • Caffeine acts as a stimulant and keeps people awake. Sources of caffeine include coffee, chocolate, soft drinks, non-herbal teas, diet drugs, and some pain relievers. Smokers tend to sleep very lightly and often wake up in the early morning due to nicotine withdrawal. Alcohol robs people of deep sleep and REM sleep and keeps them in the lighter stages of sleep.
• Relax before bed
  • A warm bath, reading, or another relaxing routine can make it easier to fall sleep. You can train yourself to associate certain restful activities with sleep and make them part of your bedtime ritual.
• Sleep until sunlight
  • If possible, wake up with the sun, or use very bright lights in the morning. Sunlight helps the body's internal clock reset itself each day. Sleep experts recommend exposure to an hour of morning sunlight for people having problems falling asleep.
• Don't lie in bed awake
  • If you can't get to sleep, don't just lie in bed. Do something else, like reading, watching television, or listening to music, until you feel tired. The anxiety of being unable to fall asleep can actually contribute to insomnia.
• Control your room temperature
  • Maintain a comfortable temperature in the bedroom. Extreme temperatures may disrupt sleep or prevent you from falling asleep.
• See a doctor if your sleeping problem continues
  • If you have trouble falling asleep night after night, or if you always feel tired the next day, then you may have a sleep disorder and should see a physician. Your primary care physician may be able to help you. You can also find a sleep specialist at a major hospital near you. Most sleep disorders can be treated effectively.