Could melatonin be the key to calming anxious kids before surgery?

NCT ID NCT06489327

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests whether a dose of melatonin, a natural sleep hormone, can reduce anxiety in children before surgery. 120 kids aged 4 to 14 will receive either a low dose, a higher dose, or a placebo 90 minutes before anesthesia. The goal is to see if melatonin works as well as or better than standard sedatives, with fewer side effects.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

melatonin

What this could lead to

If it works, this could offer a safer alternative to midazolam for calming children before surgery, with fewer side effects.

What could go wrong

This is a small, early-phase trial with only 120 participants. Melatonin may not reduce anxiety better than a placebo, and the optimal dose is unknown.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • Al-Ayen Univerisity

    RECRUITING

    Madīnat Bābil, Babel, 51015, Iraq

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Facualty of Pharmacy, Al Azhar University

    RECRUITING

    Cairo, Cairo Governorate, 11765, Egypt

    Contact

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••