OBJECTIVES:  There is equivocal evidence about preemptive potential of Dexmedetomidine and Tramadol for post spinal anesthesia shivering. We evaluated safety and efficacy of Dexmedetomidine compared to Tramadol in reducing incidence of post spinal shivering with effects on haemodynamics. METHODS:  Sixty American Society of Anesthesiologist’s grade- I & II patients of either sex, aged between 18 to 60 years, scheduled for elective surgeries under spinal anesthesia were divided into two equal sized groups (n=30). After neuro-axial blockade with 3.5 ml Bupivacaine 0.5% (Heavy), patients were administered with preemptive I.V. Dexmedetomidine (1 ug/kg) or I.V. Tramadol (1 mg/kg) in random order determined by chit-pull system. Haemodynamic parameters, grade of shivering as per Wrench scale were recorded from administration of test drug till 135 minutes past administration at regular intervals and sedation score as per Filos was observed at 90 minutes past drug administration. Any adverse events during the study were also recorded. Comparability of both groups in terms of demographics was assessed using ANOVA test. Difference in incidence of perioperative shivering (Grade ≥2) and haemodynamic profile of both groups was evaluated using Chi-square test and unpaired t-test respectively. RESULTS:  Dexmedetomidine group demonstrated lesser incidence of perioperative shivering under spinal anesthesia (3.33%) than that in Tramadol group (20%) (p value=0.044). A sedation score of ≥2 was observed in more number of patients in group D(60%) as compared to that in group T(20%)(p value=0.001). Group T presented higher occurrence of nausea (16%) compared to that in Group D (nil) (p value=0.019). However, incidence of bradycardia and hypotension were higher in group D as compared to that of group T. CONCLUSIONS: Dexmedetomidine was found to have higher preemptive potential for perioperative shivering over tramadol with additional benefit of sedation without respiratory depression.