Sleepwalking

Treatments forÃƒâ€šÃ‚Â sleepwalking

There's no specific treatment for sleepwalking, but it generally helps to tryto get enough sleep andhave a regular and relaxing routine before bedtime.

You may find the following advice helpful:

try to go to bed at a similar time each night
make sure your bedroom is dark and quiet when you go to sleep
limit drinks before bedtime, particularly those containingcaffeine,and go to the toilet before going to sleep
find ways to relax before going to bed, such as having a warm bath, reading or deep breathing
if your child sleepwalks at the same time most nights, try gently waking them for a short time 15-30 minutes before they would normally sleepwalk thismaystop themsleepwalking byaltering their normal sleep cycle

Read about how to establish a regular bedtime routine and healthy sleep tips for children .

Medication isn't usually used to treat sleepwalking. However, medicines such as benzodiazepines or Antidepressants are sometimes usedif you sleepwalk often or there's a risk you could seriously injure yourself or others. These medicationscan help you sleep and may reduce the frequency of sleepwalking episodes.

Therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or hypnotherapy may sometimes be helpful.

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 23 Oct 2017

Articles for sleepwalking

Introduction

Sleepwalking is when someone walks or carries out complex activities while not fully awake. It usually occurs during a period of deep sleep. This is at its height during the early part of the night, so it tends to occur in the first few hours after falling asleep.