Background and objectives: The airway instrumentation by direct laryngoscopy and tracheal manipulation are powerful noxious stimuli causing adverse hemodynamic responses. The present study is to evaluate and compare oral clonidine and pregabalin premedication on the hemodynamic responses following laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation and toassess any side effectsassociated with the drugs.

Materials and Methods: Prospective randomized study after obtaining institutional ethical committee approval was conducted in R.L.Jalappa hospital and research center, Kolar. 60 patients of ASA Grade I, IIaged between 18 to 50 years, of either sex, posted for elective surgeries under general anaesthesiawere divided into 2 groups of 30 after obtaining informed written consent. Group c received 200mcg clonidine and group p 150mg pregabalin.Analysis done using Chi-Square test and Student’s t-test.

Results: Group P was better in attenuating increase in BP whereas tachycardia response was better attenuated in group C and Group P causes more sedation, which were statistically significant.

Discussion: α2 adrenoreceptor agonist clonidinehas beneficial effects on hemodynamics following laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation.Pregabalin,structurally related to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is emerging as an effective drug as it leads to sedation, analgesia and hemodynamic stability perioperatively.

Conclusion Both pregabalin and clonidine attenuate the hemodynamic response to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. Pregabalin better attenuates pressor response and clonidine better attenuates tachycardia response.