After a thorough exam and sleep study, if needed, your doctor may recommend the appropriate treatment which may include: 

• Sedatives 
• Appropriate safety precautions 
• Specific therapies aimed at sleep disorders that may be causing sleepwalking

If a person’s safety is at risk as a result of sleepwalking or other sleep related disorders, contact your doctor, or learn how the sleep experts at the UW Sleep Disorders Center at Harborview Medical Center can help.

Your doctor may recommend safety interventions for mild cases of sleepwalking:

• Removing electrical cords that the person may trip over
• Removing or covering sharp corners
• Installing gates in front of staircases
• Removing any other objects that might injure the person as they move about

There are some interventions that the person with sleeping disorders can try at home. They are collectively called sleep hygiene, which generally refer to sleeping habits. Changing sleep hygiene can help in the management of sleeping disorders.

Methods of improving sleep hygiene can take one of three forms:

1. Personal habits

• Limit your use of stimulants, such as alcohol, caffeine or nicotine at bedtime.
• Exercise daily, but avoid exercising just prior to bedtime.
• Avoid eating large meals just before bedtime, as this may lead to heartburn or other discomforts.
• Try to set up a routine by going to bed the same time every day, and waking up the same time every day, including on weekends.
• Allow adequate time to sleep.
• Avoid naps during the day.
• Use your bedroom for restful activities. Avoid using the bedroom for stress-inducing activities, such as work, eating, watching TV, or even playing video games.

2. Sleeping Environment:

• Create a restful environment, such as darkening the room by using heavy curtains or reducing distracting noises by using a fan.

3. Medical Considerations

Talk with your doctor to rule out serious illness that may be the underlying cause of the sleep-related problems.