OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the effect of magnesium sulphate and clonidine as an adjunct to epidural bupivacaine for lower abdominal surgery in a randomized, double blinded trial. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is an institution based randomized double blind study. Sixty patients undergoing elective lower abdominal surgery belonging to American society of anesthesiologists (ASA) class I and II were enrolled to receive either magnesium sulphate (group A) or clonidine (group B) along with epidural bupivacaine for surgical anesthesia. All the patients received epidural anesthesia with 19 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine along with either Magnesium sulphate 50 mg (group A) or clonidine 150 mg (group B). The onset of sensory and motor block, duration of block and analgesia; hemodynamic parameters and any adverse events were monitored. RESULTS: Early onset of anesthesia, longer duration of analgesia and sensory, motor blockage were noted in the Clonidine group (Group B). These were stastically significant. There was no significant difference in hemodynamic parameters and side effects among the two groups but incidence of sedation was more in group B. CONCLUSION: Clonidine is a better adjuvant compared to magnesium sulfate in epidural bupivacaine with respect to earlier onset of action and increased duration of sensory motor blockage and arousable sedation.