BACKGROUND: Propofol is a good induction agent. but it has a disadvantage of pain on intravenous injection. Pretreatment of metoclopramide or lidocaine have been reported to reduce pain on injection. thus, we have evaluated the quantity and quality of anagesic effect of metoclopramide and lidocaine. We observed differences in quality of pain according to venous cannula sizes and intravenous injection sites as well as nausea and vomiting in the postoperative state. METHODS: Eighty patients scheduled for an elective operation by general anesthesia were chosen according to ASA (I or II) and divided into four groups randomly. Each group was injected through venous cannulas with normal saline (control group), metoclopramide 5 mg (group 1), metoclopramide 10 mg (group 2), or 2% lidocaine 40 mg (group 3) respectively. Then, propofol was injected of a 2 mg/kg dose with 0.5 ml/sec to all groups and we asked questions about injection pain after 10 seconds. RESULTS: Pain relief was shown in all groups compared with the control. but metoclopramide 10 mg and lidocaine 40 mg pretreatment groups showed significant pain reief. Pain was relieved significantly when the drug was injected in the antecubital area. Postoperative nausea and vomiting were not observed. CONCLUSIONS: Metoclopramide 10 mg or lidocaine 40 mg pretreatment to induction by propofol revealed a good analgesic effect for propofol injection pain.