Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, potency and side effects of clonidine as compared to tramadol in post–spinal anaesthesia shivering. In this prospective double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial, 90 American Society of Anaesthesiologists grade-l (ASAI) parturients aged between 18 and 35 years scheduled for lower segment cesarean section under spinal anaesthesia,who developed shivering were selected.The patients were divided into two groups. Group C (n=45) comprised of patients who received clonidine 0.5µg/kg intravenously (IV) and group T(n=45) patients who received tramadol 0.5 mg/kg IV. Grade of shivering, disappearance of shivering, haemodynamics and side effects were observed at scheduled intervals. Disappearance of shivering was significantly earlier in group C (3.02±0.56) than in group T (6.1±1.0) (P=.000001). Response rate to treatment in group C was higher (97.7%) than in group T (93.7%), but the difference was not significant. Nausea, vomiting and dizziness were found to be higher in group T s while the patients in group C were comparatively more sedated (sedation level, 2; group C, 33.3%). We conclude that clonidine gives better thermodynamics than tramadol, with fewer side effects.