Understanding Sleepwalking: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

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Sleepwalking

by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023

Additional names

This group contains additional names: - Somnambulism - Noctambulism

General

Sleepwalking in its classic form, as the name implies, is a condition in which an individual arises from bed and ambulates without fully awakening.It is sometimes called somnambulism, and individuals can engage in a variety of complex behaviors while unconscious. It usually occurs during a period of deep sleep. This peaks during the early part of the night, so sleepwalking tends to occur in the first few hours after falling asleep.Sleepwalking can start at any age but is more common in children. Most grow out of it by the time they reach puberty, but it can sometimes persist into adulthood.

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Signs & symptoms

When people sleepwalk, they may sit up and look as though they are awake when they are actually asleep. They may get up and walk around. Or they do complex activities such as moving furniture, going to the bathroom, and dressing or undressing. The episode can be very brief (a few seconds or minutes) or it can last for 30 minutes or longer. Most episodes last for less than 10 minutes. If they are not disturbed, sleepwalkers will go back to sleep. But they may fall asleep in a different or even unusual place. Symptoms of sleepwalking may include: - Acting confused or disoriented when the person wakes up - Aggressive behavior when woken up by someone else - Having a blank look on the face - Opening eyes during sleep - Not remembering the sleepwalking episode when they wake up - Performing detailed activity of any type during sleep - Sitting up and appearing awake during sleep - Talking during sleep and saying things that do not make sense - Walking during sleep

Diagnosis

Usually, examinations and testing are not needed. If a person has a history of emotional problems, it is recommended to also to have a mental health evaluation to look for causes such as excessive anxiety or stress.

Treatment

Most people do not need specific treatment for sleepwalking. In some cases, medicines such as short-acting tranquilizers are helpful in reducing sleepwalking episodes.

Note

☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

National Institutes of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ MedlinePluse ∙ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

☝ All information has been reviewed by certified physicians from Alike

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