Lack of sleep increases the risks of many diseases. Most patients complained of sleep‑wake disorders (SWD) after surgery and anesthesia. The occurrence and development of postoperative SWD are related to the increase of postoperative complications and are not conducive to the rapid recovery of patients after surgery. Studies have shown that perioperative drugs can affect postoperative sleep, which is closely related to the occurrence and development of postoperative SWD. This review aims to discuss the body's sleep‑wake mechanism and postoperative sleep status from the aspects of clinical and basic research, summarizes the effects of commonly used drugs in the perioperative period on postoperative sleep and its potential mechanisms from the perspectives of anesthetics, sedatives, analgesics, and provides a preliminary reference for the prevention and treatment of postoperative SWD.