title: A comparative study of pre-operative oral clonidine and pregabalin on post-operative analgesia after spinal anesthesia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pregabalin and clonidine have anti-nociceptive properties. This study assesses their efficacy in prolonging the analgesic effect of spinal anesthesia and post-operative analgesic requirement in patients undergoing vaginal hysterectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 90 females in the age group of 30-60 years were randomly allocated in to three groups of 30 each, to receive either oral clonidine (150 μg) or oral pregabalin (150 mg) or oral multivitamin as placebo 1.5 h before spinal anesthesia with 3ml (15 mg) of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine. Intensity of pain was measured on a visual analog scale (VAS) at the end of operation (0 h) then at 1,2,4,6,12 and 24 h thereafter. Diclofenac sodium intramuscularly 1 mg/kg was provided when the VASscore was >4 in the study period. Sedation was defined by Ramsay sedation scale at 0,6,12 and 24 h. Side-effects such as nausea and vomiting, respiratory depression and dryness of mouth were noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The VAS scores were significantly less in the pregabalin group compared with the clonidine group at 6,12 and 24 h post-operatively with a P < 0.0001. More sedation was seen in the clonidine group than in the pregabalin group (P < 0.05). Analgesic consumption and VAS scores were lower in clonidine and pregabalin group compared with the placebo group (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral pregabalin (150 mg) prolongs the post-operative pain relief after spinal anesthesia but produces less sedation compared with oral clonidine (150 μg).
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Burdwan Medical College and Hospitals, West Bengal University of Health Sciences, Burdwan, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Anu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Burdwan Medical College and Hospitals, West Bengal University of Health Sciences, Burdwan, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Susmita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhattacharyya
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Burdwan Medical College and Hospitals, West Bengal University of Health Sciences, Burdwan, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Atanu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Burdwan Medical College and Hospitals, West Bengal University of Health Sciences, Burdwan, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Mrityunjaya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Burdwan Medical College and Hospitals, West Bengal University of Health Sciences, Burdwan, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Sudeshna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mondal
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Burdwan Medical College and Hospitals, West Bengal University of Health Sciences, Burdwan, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Dona
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Saha
keywords: Clonidine; Ramsay sedation scale; post-operative analgesia; pregabalin; vaginal hysterectomy; visual analog scale score