Background: Preoperational anxiety is a universal reaction experienced by patients who are admitted in the hospital for surgery. Preoperative anxiety can be defined as- ‟unpleasant state of uneasiness or tension that is secondary to a patient being concerned about disease, hospitalization, anaesthesia and surgery. This study aims to compare the effects of oral melatonin and oral alprazolam alone and with Combination of both melatonin and alprazolam on perioperative anxiety and sedation.

Aims & Objectives: The objectives of our study were to compare anxiety and sedation, using Hospital anxiety and depression scale and Modified Ramsay Sedation Score.

Material and methods: A total of 90 adult patients were randomly allocated into three groups. Group 1received oral alprazolam0.5 mg, Group 2 received oral melatonin 3 mg, Group 3 received alprazolam 0.5 mg and melatonin 3 mg tablet as premedication.

Results: Three groups were comparable with respect to demographic profile including mean age, sex, weight, and ASA physical status, sedation, and anxiety levels. Sedation was better in Melatonin than Alprazolam and it was further improved on adding Alprazolam and Melatonin (p value<0.5). Anxiety was decrease in Melatonin and slightly decrease in Alprazolam, Adding melatonin to alprazolam reduced anxiety levels more than either of the two drugs given alone (P value 0.0004).

Conclusion: Combination of alprazolam 0.5mg and melatonin 3mg significantly reduced the patient’s level of anxiety with sedative effect, which helped in smoother induction of anaesthesia.