Information on How to Stop People From Sleep Walking

While most sleepwalkers outgrow the problem as they become teenagers, some people continue to experience episodes throughout their adult lives. Often, sleepwalkers will not require treatment. Help the sleepwalker go back to bed and ensure that objects he might trip over are out of his path. If you notice a person sleepwalking frequently or if she does not outgrow it, a doctor can recommend a treatment plan. This may include medications, lifestyle changes or treatment to address underlying medical conditions.

Things You'll Need

• Medications
• CPAP

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Instructions

• 1

  Record when the sleepwalking occurs. If you notice a pattern, wake the person up about 15 minutes before he will typically sleepwalk.

• 2

  Bring the sleepwalker to a doctor so that she can discuss using drugs on a short-term basis to stop sleepwalking. This may be an option if the sleepwalker suffers from daytime sleepiness. Medications that may stop sleepwalking include some antidepressants and benzodiazepines.

• 3

  Bring the sleepwalker to a hypnotist, which may help reduce sleepwalking. The patient can use drugs only on a short-term basis, but hypnotism may help on a long-term basis.

• 4

  Ask the patient's doctor to evaluate his current medications. Some drugs can contribute to sleepwalking. These include stimulants, antihistamines, neuroleptics, sedatives and other sleep aids. The patient should avoid discontinuing a medication unless her doctor recommends it.

• 5

  Ask the doctor to check for underlying medical conditions. Other conditions that can cause sleepwalking include nighttime asthma or seizures, obstructive sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux. Treating these conditions may resolve sleepwalking. Patients with sleep apnea can use a CPAP machine to facilitate normal breathing.

• 6

  Encourage the sleepwalker to seek psychiatric help if that is the underlying cause. Panic attacks and post-traumatic stress disorder can both cause sleepwalking.

• 7

  Encourage the sleepwalker to get enough sleep and to adhere to a regular sleep schedule. Irregular sleep schedules and sleep deprivation can both contribute to sleepwalking.