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BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to see the efficacy of two different doses of oral clonidine as a premedication in pediatric patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: In a prospective randomized study of 60 cases of 4-12 year old children receiving oral clonidine either 3µg/kg (group C 3) or 4µg/kg (group C 4) as a premedication 90 minutes prior to surgeries. Preoperatively, the level of sedation, response to parental separation, mask acceptance, intravenous cannulation and response to intubation as well as hemodynamic were noted. Postoperative recovery was assessed using Alderate recovery room score. RESULTS: Clonidine 4µg/kg group had higher sedation score compared to clonidine 3µg/kg. At 90 minutes, almost 90% children in C 4 group were asleep but arousable on calling and in C 3 group 33% were asleep, 60% were drowsy and rest 7% children were calm. Parental separation and mask acceptance scores were also higher with clonidine 4µg/kg group. The response to intubation was better attenuated in clonidine 4µg/kg group. There was no respiratory depression or oxygen desaturation at any point of time in our study perioperatively and no delay in postoperative recovery as well as no significant difference in the incidence of post operative nausea and vomiting in both the groups. CONCLUSION: Oral clonidine 4 µg/kg provided better sedation than clonidine 3µg/kg without prolonging the postoperative recovery.