ABSTRACT
A reflex cough is often observed after intravenous bolus of fentanyl. This study was conducted to determine whether pre-treatment with oral clonidine could attenuate fentanyl-induced cough. Two groups, containing 80 patients each, were candidated for elective surgery under general anesthesia. They were randomly divided into case group, receiving preoperative oral clonidine tablet, and control group, receiving preoperative placebo. Then gathered data was analyzed with Chi - square, Mann-Whitney U, T-Student and Tukey tests by 13 spss software, version 13. The results were evaluated as the mean +/- SD and considered statistically significant for p <0.05. Two groups were similar with demographic parameters as age, weigh and sex [p>0.05]. In the clonidine group severity and frequency of fentanyl induced cough were lower [p<0.05]. The OAA/S scaling score in two groups were similar [p>0.05]. Pre-medication with oral clonidine can effectively attenuate fentanyl-induced cough with an unknown mechanism