Comparative study of oral clonidine and diazepam as premedicants in children.

In a prospective, double-blind, controlled study the efficacy of clonidine was assessed in children, with respect to sedation, intubation response, and recovery. Fifty children, aged 4-12 years, undergoing general anesthesia were studied. Twenty-five children (group I) received oral diazepam) 0.2 mg/kg and another 25 children (group II) received oral clonidine 3 micrograms/kg, 90-120 minutes before induction of anesthesia. The level of sedation, hemodynamic changes to laryngoscopy and intubation, the recovery from anesthesia were noted and compared between the groups. Clonidine 3 micrograms/kg produced sedation comparable to diazepam 0.2 mg/kg (p > 0.1). There was significant (p > 0.01) attenuation of hemodynamic intubation response with clonidine. The recovery with clonidine was not delayed (p < 0.01). Clinically significant hypotension and bradycardia were not observed in any of the patients. We conclude that clonidine 3 micrograms/kg produces sedation comparable to diazepam 0.2 mg/kg and also attenuates the intubation response without increasing the incidence of complications.