Furthermore, medications usually are not helpful in the long term. Prescribe medications only for severe symptoms that affect waking behavior, such as school performance and peer or family relations. Administer medications only as a temporary treatment. The medication was given at bedtime for an 8-week period. Frequent contact with the family to provide support and reassurance is helpful in alleviating anxieties.
Episodes usually are short-lived and last several weeks.
Nearly all children outgrow night terrors by adolescence. The adequacy of the child's sleep should be examined, and parents should be educated about consistent bedtime routines. Eliminating all potential sources of sleep disturbance and maintaining a consistent wake-up time are also important. The pharmacologic treatment of sleep disorders. The natural history of night terrors.