Background and Aims: Our study had been designed to compare the effect of oral pregabalin and clonidine on cardiovascular response from laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation and also to find the time for rescue analgesia in patients undergoing thyroidectomies. Materials and Methods: 78 adult patients scheduled for thyroid surgeries were divided randomly into two groups. Group C received clonidine 200 μg and Group P received pregabalin 150 mg as oral premedication. The heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure were recorded serially. Time for rescue analgesia in the postoperative period was also noted. Results: Clonidine showed significantly better attenuation of stress response to laryngoscopy and intubation than pregabalin. The mean time for rescue analgesia after thyroidectomy was higher in pregabalin group. Conclusion: Attenuation of hemodynamic response of laryngoscopy and intubation was better with clonidine whereas pregabalin was a better analgesic.