Background: Narcotics when used for postoperative analgesia may release histamine and cause bronchospasm in asthmatic patients. The present study was conducted to compare ketamine and tramadol for postoperative analgesia in asthmatics. Materials & Methods: 60 asthmatic patients of both genders were divided into 2 groups of 30 each. Group I received ketamine-midazolam infusion preceded by a bolus of ketamine 0.5 mg-kg-' IV. Group II received a bolus dose of tramadol (2 mg/kg) followed by an intravenous infusion (0.2 mg · kg−1· h−1) postoperatively. Parameters such as Forced vital capacity in 1 s (FEV1), respiratory rate, pain score in minutes and sedation score was compared