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Background This study was conducted to evaluate oral clonidine and oral midazolam as premedications for general anaesthesia in elective open abdominal surgery. Methods This was a hospital-based study conducted among 100 patients undergoing elective open abdominal surgery carried out in the General Surgery and Gynaecology OT and in the Department of Anaesthesiology of a Tertiary care teaching Hospital over a period of 1 year. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups of 50 each. Group M(n=50) patients received Tablet Midazolam 7.5mg per orally and Group C(n=50) patients received Tablet Clonidine 150 µg (0.15mg) per orally 60 minutes before the induction of anaesthesia. Results At 60 minutes following the administration of oral midazolam, patients in Group M had extremely significant changes in their sedation scores (SedSco). Changes in sedation score [SedSco] in Group C patients were statistically significant (but less than midazolam) sedation at 60 minutes after administration of oral clonidine. There was statistically extremely significant anxiolysis at 60 minutes after oral midazolam administration in the group M patients' changes in anxiety score (AnxSco). At 60 minutes following the administration of oral clonidine, Group C patients had noticeable anxiolysis (although less than midazolam) according to the changes in their anxiety score [AnxSco]. It was also found that oral Clonidine decreased both the heart rate and Blood Pressure more than oral Midazolam. Clonidine effectively attenuated the cardiovascular stress response associated with laryngoscopy & intubation and following extubation Conclusion Oral clonidine may be considered to be a superior premedication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]