Background: Pain relief with minimal side effect in post operative surgical patients is essential for early mobility and recovery. Objective: This study was conducted to find out whether preoperatively oral pregabalin used as an adjunct in spinal anaesthesia has any effect in the prolongation of duration of dose of first rescue analgesic requirements, effect on anxiety, sedation scores and patient satisfaction level in the post operative period. Patients and Methods: This is a randomized double blind placebo controlled study conducted in 60 ASA 1&2 patients undergoing lower limb orthopaedic surgery under spinal anaesthesia. The patients are divided randomly into two groups. Group ­1 patients the control group where placebo drug is given one hour prior to surgery as an adjunct in spinal anaesthesia and Group­2 patients 75mg oral pregabalin is given similarly. VAS Scale was used for anxiety score and Ramsay Sedation Scale was used for sedation score, patient satisfaction level, duration of dose of first rescue analgesic requirements were measured. Results: Demographically there was no significant difference between both the groups. Comparison of time of first rescue analgesia there was statistically significant difference between Group­1 and Group­2 patients(p value >0.95) Sedation scores and anxiety scores are just significant between both the groups. No significant difference was found in the haemodynamic parameters between the groups.Patient satisfaction was better in the treated group as compared to the control group. Conclusion: From this study we concluded that oral pregabalin reduced the anxiety level and also prolonged the time period for the need of first dose of rescue analgesia. No side­effects of Pregabalin were noted and patient’s satisfaction was better in the treated group thanin the control group.

Keywords: Postoperative Pain; Calcium Channel Modulators; Spinal Anaesthesia; Rescue Analgesia; Sedation; Anxiety.