OBJECTIVE The present study was conducted to compare the effect of clonidine and gabapentin premedication in modifying the hyperdynamic response following laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. METHODS Seventy-five ASA I-II patients of both sexes (37 males (49.3%), 38 females (50.7%)) 18 to 45 years (mean 32.8 +/- 8.65 yr.) were randomly allocated into three equal groups (25 each). Group-1 received 0.2 mg clonidine, Group-2 received placebo and Group-3 received 900 mg gabapentin, 120 minute before operation. Heart rate, systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure were measured before induction of anesthesia, before laryngoscopy, and 1, 3, 5, 10 min after intubation. RESULTS Analysis revealed that the heart rate, systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure significantly differed between groups (p<0.001, p = 0.003, p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively). The highest rates of heart rate, systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure were in the placebo group and in one minute after laryngoscopy, and the lowest rate were in the gabapentin group at the time of 1, 3, 5 and 10 after laryngoscopy, except that the lowest rate of heart rate in 10 min after laryngoscopy was in clonidine group. CONCLUSIONS The data propose that both clonidine and gabapentin have effective role in blunting hyperdynamic responses after laryngoscopy, more so with gabapentin.