BACKGROUND: The antihypertensive agents such as verapamil and esmolol are well known about effects of hemodynamic stabilization to tracheal intubation. The aim of the present study was to compare and evaluate the efficacy of those for controlling hemodynamic responses to tracheal intubation. METHODS: Thirty six patients, ASA physical status I or II, were randomly assigned to one of three groups (n=12 each): saline (control), verapamil 0.1 mg/kg and esmolol 1 mg/kg. Anesthesia was induced with thiopental 5 mg/kg intravenously, and then saline, verapamil and esmolol were administered as an intravenous bolus, and immediately followed by succinylcholine 1.5 mg/kg. Tracheal intubation was done 60 s and 90 s after intravenous injection of verapamil and esmolol, respectively. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were measured before induction and every min for 5 minutes after tracheal intubation. RESULTS: There was a significant attenuation in systolic and diastolic arterial pressure after tracheal intubation in verapamil group compared to control group. Heart rate was significantly lower in esmolol group than in verapamil group after tracheal intubation. CONCLUSIONS: Verapamil 0.1 mg/kg and esmolol 1 mg/kg attenuated the increases in blood pressure and heart rate after tracheal intubation, respectively.