Effective Remedies For Sleepwalking

Treat Any Underlying Condition

As highlighted earlier, sleepwalking can be caused by a variety of factors. Doctors and therapists will focus on identifying the cause before recommending any treatment option. In children, sleepwalking is often caused by a change in routine. Some of the underlying causes in children include not getting enough sleep, feeling overtired, living in a noisy environment, illness or fever, stress, going to sleep with a full bladder, and taking certain medications. Addressing these factors can help in dealing with sleepwalking in children.

The same factors often lead to sleepwalking in adults too. However, sleepwalking in adults can also be caused by other underlying factors such as migraines, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome, head injuries, hyperthyroidism, gastroesophageal reflux disease, travel, and stroke. Each of these has particular treatment methods, and prompt treatment of the underlying condition can greatly alleviate sleepwalking.

Adjust Medication As Appropriate

Certain medications are known to interfere with an individual's sleeping pattern, and in turn, this may lead to sleepwalking. Examples of such medicines include cold and flu medications, antidepressants, certain pain relievers, corticosteroids, diuretics, medications for hypertension, and thyroid hormone medications.

If individuals are already taking any of these medications and sleepwalking is becoming an issue, they may need to talk to their doctor to adjust the medication as appropriate. Besides medications, patients may also need to limit their intake of alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine, since they are known to mess with sleep. Excessive consumption of these substances may lead to sleep deprivation, which may later result in sleepwalking.