Comparing two doses of oral melatonin to reduce anxiety in children before surgery

Comparing Two Doses of Oral Melatonin as Premedication in Children Undergoing Surgery: A Double-Blind Randomized Trial

Not applicable Interventional Al-Azhar University · NCT06489327

This study is testing if two different doses of melatonin can help reduce anxiety in children aged 4 to 14 before they have surgery.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment120 (estimated)
Ages4 Years to 10 Years
SexAll
SponsorAl-Azhar University Academic / other
Locations2 sites (Cairo, Cairo Governorate and 1 other locations)
Trial IDNCT06489327 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of two different doses of oral melatonin as a premedication to alleviate preoperative anxiety in children aged 4 to 14 years undergoing elective surgeries. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either a low dose (0.2 mg/kg), a high dose (0.4 mg/kg) of melatonin, or a placebo. The study will assess the levels of anxiety experienced by the children prior to surgery, comparing the outcomes across the different groups. The goal is to determine if melatonin can serve as a safer alternative to traditional anxiolytics like midazolam.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are children aged 4 to 14 years who are scheduled for elective surgeries and have a physical status classified as ASA I or II.

Not a fit: Patients with ASA physical status greater than III, drug allergies, or gastrointestinal disorders may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a safer and effective method to reduce preoperative anxiety in pediatric patients.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown that melatonin can effectively reduce anxiety in various populations, suggesting potential success for this approach in pediatric patients.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients of either sex
* age from 4 to 14 years
* Patients with American society Anesthesiologist physical status I and II
* Patients undergoing elective surgeries

Exclusion Criteria:

* ASA more than III
* Drug allergy.
* Gastrointestinal disorders.

Where this trial is running

Cairo, Cairo Governorate and 1 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Preoperative Anxietypreoperative anxietygeneral anesthesiamajor surgeryoral melatoninplacebopremedication
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.