BACKGROUND: The importance of the intrinsic analgesic properties of the alpha 2-agonist is difficult to establish, but many studies have shown the beneficial effect of epidural clonidine in postoperative pain management. The authors examined the analgesic effect of clonidine, a preferential alpha 2-adrenergic agonist, upon hemodynamics, and side effects during the post-operative period in patients undergoing Cesarean section. METHODS: Sixty healthy parturients undergoing Cesarean section with general anesthesia were divided into two groups as follows: 1) Epidural Morphine group: An initial dose of morphine 3 mg diluted with 10 ml of 0.125% bupivacaine was injected epidurally at time of the peritoneal closure, followed by a continuous epidural infusion of morphine 7 mg and 100 ml of normal saline for the postoperative 2 days. 2) Epidural Clonidine group: An initial dose of clonidine 150 microgram diluted with 10 ml of 0.125% bupivacaine was injected epidurally at time of the peritoneal closure, followed by a continuous epidural infusion of clonidine 1800 microgram and 100 ml of normal saline for the postoperative 2 days. Postoperative analgesia was assessed by recording the VAS (Visual Analogue Scale), PHS (Prince Henry Score) at postoperative 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours. Blood pressure, heart rate, sedation, and side effects were also recorded. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in the VAS and hemodynamic changes between the two groups, but the epidural clonidine reduced the PHS significantly at 1, 2, 3 postoperative hours (P < 0.05). There were less side effects in the cases of epidural clonidine as compared with epidural morphine. CONCLUSION: In comparison to epidural morphine, epidural clonidine produces a similar degree of analgesia but less side effects.