Sleepwalking (cont.)
What is the treatment for sleepwalking?
Self-Care at Home
A person who has a sleepwalking disorder can take the following measures:
- get adequate sleep;
- meditate or do relaxation exercises;
- avoid any kind of stimuli (auditory or visual) prior to bedtime;
- keep a safe sleeping environment, free of harmful or sharp objects;
- sleep in a bedroom on the ground floor if possible to prevent falls and
avoid bunk beds;
- lock the doors and windows;
- remove obstacles in the room, tripping over toys or objects is a
potential hazard;
- cover glass windows with heavy drapes; and
- place an alarm or bell on the bedroom door and if necessary on any windows.
Medical treatments
If sleepwalking is caused by underlying medical conditions, for example,
gastroesophageal reflux, obstructive sleep apnea, periodic leg movements
(restless leg syndrome), or seizures; the underlying medical condition should be
treated.
Medications for the treatment of sleepwalking disorder may be necessary in
the following situations:
- when the possibility of injury is real;
- when continued behaviors are causing significant family disruption or
excessive daytime sleepiness; and
- when other measures have proven to be inadequate.
Medications
Benzodiazepines, such as estazolam (ProSom), or tricyclic antidepressants,
such as trazodone (Desyrel), have been shown to be useful. Clonazepam (Klonopin)
in low doses before bedtime and continued for three to six weeks is usually effective.
Medication can often be discontinued after three to five weeks without recurrence of
symptoms. Occasionally, the frequency of episodes increases briefly after
discontinuing the medication.
Other remedies
Relaxation techniques, mental imagery, and anticipatory awakenings are
preferred for long-term treatment of persons with sleepwalking disorder.
- Relaxation and mental imagery should be undertaken only with the help of an
experienced behavioral therapist or hypnotist.
- Anticipatory awakenings consist of waking the child or person approximately
15-20 minutes before the usual time of an event, and then keeping him or her awake
through the time during which the episodes usually occur.
Next: What is the prognosis of sleepwalking? »
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