David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
Sleepwalking
By Mayo Clinic staff
Aug. 15, 2009
Sleepwalking ? also known as somnambulism ? usually involves getting up and walking around while asleep. Most common in children between the ages of 8 and 12, sleepwalking often is a random event that doesn't signal any serious problems or require treatment.
However, sleepwalking can occur at any age and may involve unusual, even dangerous behaviors, such as climbing out a window or urinating in closets or trash cans.
If anyone in your household sleepwalks, it's important to protect him or her from sleepwalking injuries.
Symptoms
Sleepwalking is classified as a parasomnia ? an undesirable behavior or experience during sleep. Someone who is sleepwalking may:
Sleepwalking episodes can occur rarely or often, including multiple times a night for a few consecutive nights.
Sleepwalking is common in children, who typically outgrow the behavior by their teens, as the amount of deep sleep they get decreases.
When to see a doctor
Occasional episodes of sleepwalking aren't usually a cause for concern. You can simply mention the sleepwalking at a routine physical or well-child exam. However, consult your doctor if the sleepwalking episodes:
Many factors can contribute to sleepwalking, including:
Risk factors
Sleepwalking appears to run in families. It's more common if you have one parent who has a history of sleepwalking, and much more common if both parents have a history of the disorder.
Complications
Sleepwalking itself isn't necessarily a concern, but sleepwalkers can easily hurt themselves ? especially if they wander outdoors or drive a car during a sleepwalking episode. Prolonged sleep disruption can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness and possible school or behavior issues. Also, sleepwalkers usually disturb others' sleep.
Treatments and drugs
Treatment for sleepwalking isn't usually necessary. If you notice your child or anyone else in your household sleepwalking, gently lead him or her back to bed. It's not dangerous to the sleepwalker to wake him or her, but it can be disruptive. The person may be confused and disoriented if awakened. Men, in particular, might attack the awakener.
Treatment for adults who sleepwalk may include hypnosis. Rarely, sleepwalking may result from a drug, so a change of medication may be required.
If the sleepwalking leads to excessive daytime sleepiness or poses a risk of serious injury, your doctor may recommend medication. Sometimes short-term use of benzodiazepines or certain antidepressants can stop sleepwalking episodes.
If the sleepwalking is associated with an underlying medical or mental health condition, treatment is aimed at the underlying problem. For example, if the sleepwalking is due to another sleep disorder, such as obstructive sleep apnea, using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), a machine that delivers air pressure through a mask placed over your nose while you sleep, keeps your upper airway passages open.
Lifestyle and home remedies
If sleepwalking is a problem for you or your child, here are some things to try:
Symptoms References
By Mayo Clinic staff
Aug. 15, 2009
Sleepwalking ? also known as somnambulism ? usually involves getting up and walking around while asleep. Most common in children between the ages of 8 and 12, sleepwalking often is a random event that doesn't signal any serious problems or require treatment.
However, sleepwalking can occur at any age and may involve unusual, even dangerous behaviors, such as climbing out a window or urinating in closets or trash cans.
If anyone in your household sleepwalks, it's important to protect him or her from sleepwalking injuries.
Symptoms
Sleepwalking is classified as a parasomnia ? an undesirable behavior or experience during sleep. Someone who is sleepwalking may:
- Sit up in bed and open his or her eyes
- Have a glazed, glassy-eyed expression
- Roam around the house, perhaps opening and closing doors or turning lights on and off
- Do routine activities, such as getting dressed or making a snack ? even driving a car
- Speak or move in a clumsy manner
- Scream, especially if also experiencing night terrors
- Be difficult to arouse during an episode
Sleepwalking episodes can occur rarely or often, including multiple times a night for a few consecutive nights.
Sleepwalking is common in children, who typically outgrow the behavior by their teens, as the amount of deep sleep they get decreases.
When to see a doctor
Occasional episodes of sleepwalking aren't usually a cause for concern. You can simply mention the sleepwalking at a routine physical or well-child exam. However, consult your doctor if the sleepwalking episodes:
- Become more frequent
- Lead to dangerous behavior or injury
- Are accompanied by other signs or symptoms
- Continue into your child's teens
Many factors can contribute to sleepwalking, including:
- Sleep deprivation
- Fatigue
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Fever
- Sleeping in unfamiliar surroundings
- Some medications, such as zolpidem (Ambien)
- Seizure disorders
- Sleep-disordered breathing ? a group of disorders characterized by abnormal breathing patterns during sleep, the most common of which is obstructive sleep apnea
- Restless leg syndrome (RLS)
- Migraine headaches
- Stroke
- Head injuries or brain swelling
- Premenstrual period
Risk factors
Sleepwalking appears to run in families. It's more common if you have one parent who has a history of sleepwalking, and much more common if both parents have a history of the disorder.
Complications
Sleepwalking itself isn't necessarily a concern, but sleepwalkers can easily hurt themselves ? especially if they wander outdoors or drive a car during a sleepwalking episode. Prolonged sleep disruption can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness and possible school or behavior issues. Also, sleepwalkers usually disturb others' sleep.
Treatments and drugs
Treatment for sleepwalking isn't usually necessary. If you notice your child or anyone else in your household sleepwalking, gently lead him or her back to bed. It's not dangerous to the sleepwalker to wake him or her, but it can be disruptive. The person may be confused and disoriented if awakened. Men, in particular, might attack the awakener.
Treatment for adults who sleepwalk may include hypnosis. Rarely, sleepwalking may result from a drug, so a change of medication may be required.
If the sleepwalking leads to excessive daytime sleepiness or poses a risk of serious injury, your doctor may recommend medication. Sometimes short-term use of benzodiazepines or certain antidepressants can stop sleepwalking episodes.
If the sleepwalking is associated with an underlying medical or mental health condition, treatment is aimed at the underlying problem. For example, if the sleepwalking is due to another sleep disorder, such as obstructive sleep apnea, using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), a machine that delivers air pressure through a mask placed over your nose while you sleep, keeps your upper airway passages open.
Lifestyle and home remedies
If sleepwalking is a problem for you or your child, here are some things to try:
- Make the environment safe for sleepwalking. To help prevent injury, close and lock all windows and exterior doors at night. You might even lock interior doors or place alarms or bells on the doors. Block doorways or stairways with a gate, and move electrical cords or other objects that pose a tripping hazard. If your child sleepwalks, don't let him or her sleep in a bunk bed. Place any sharp or fragile objects out of reach.
- Get more sleep. Fatigue can contribute to sleepwalking. Try an earlier bedtime or a more regular sleep schedule.
- Establish a regular, relaxing routine before bedtime. Do quiet, calming activities ? such as reading books, doing puzzles or soaking in a warm bath ? before bed. Meditation or relaxation exercises may help, too.
- Put stress in its place. Identify the things that stress you out, and brainstorm possible ways to handle the stress. If your child seems anxious or stressed, talk about what's bothering him or her.
- Look for a pattern. If your child is sleepwalking, keep a sleep diary. For several nights, note how many minutes after bedtime a sleepwalking episode occurs. If the timing is fairly consistent, wake your child about 15 minutes before you expect a sleepwalking episode. Keep your child awake for five minutes, and then let him or her fall asleep again.
Symptoms References
- Sleepwalking. National Sleep Foundation.
- Sleepwalking. SleepEducation.com
- Sleepwalking & sleeptalking. American Academy of Sleep Medicine. http://www.aasmnet.org./FactSheets/SleepwalkingTalking.pdf
- National sleep disorders research plan. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. National Institutes of Health. SLEEP-DISORDERED BREATHING: National Sleep Disorders Research Plan, 2003, NCSDR, NHLBI, NIH
- Guilleminault C, et al. Sleepwalking and sleep terrors in prepubertal children: What triggers them? Pediatrics. 2003;111;e17.DS01009
