Meditation as a non-pharmacological treatment for narcolepsy: A literature review.
Sleep medicine – June 24, 2025
Source: PubMed
Summary
Could behavioral strategies offer relief for narcolepsy? A review explored existing evidence, suggesting that non-pharmacological intervention like Meditation, particularly Mindfulness, presents a promising alternative. It found these practices may effectively reduce symptoms such as excessive daytime sleepiness, improving quality of life without medication side effects.
Abstract
Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and hallucinations, and is often associated with other psychological and physiological disturbances. These symptoms lead to decreased social functioning and lower quality of life for individuals with narcolepsy. While current pharmacological treatment for narcolepsy can be effective in improving symptoms, there are also significant side effects (e.g., headaches, dizziness, insomnia). Meditation, a non-pharmacological intervention focusing on regulation of attention and emotion, could be a viable alternative. We introduce the conceptualization and applications of meditation, and review the potential mechanisms and existing evidence of meditation as an intervention for reducing narcolepsy symptoms (i.e., EDS, cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and overweight).