Abstract : Anticonvulsants like pregabalin has been used in pre-emptive analgesia for postoperative pain relief in various surgical procedures, particularly when pain includes a neuropathic component. We have studied the effect of a single preoperative dose of Pregabalin on acute postoperative pain after inguinal hernia open mesh repair. The study included 66 patients, who were divided into two groups. Group A was the control group who had opted not to consume pregabalin, while Group B participants were given 150 mg of oral Pregabalin 1 hour before the procedure. Acute postoperative scores were calculated based on a 0-10 point Visual Analogue Scale/VAS (0-no pain, 10- worst pain) at time intervals of 0, 6, 12, 18 and 24 hours. Mann Whitney U test was done for comparing pain scores between the two groups. Friedman’s test was used to compare pain scores at different periods within the groups. Significant differences in pain scores were noted between the groups. Group A had the highest scores at 6 & 18 hrs and lowest at 0 hr. Pain scores in Group B were highest at 18 hrs and lowest at 0 hr. There was a statistically significant difference in pain scores between groups A and B at 0 hr, 6 hrs, and 18 hrs. But, there was no significant difference at 24 hrs and between the total pain scores. Single preoperative dose of 150 mg of Pregabalin taken orally reduces acute pain scores in the immediate postoperative period following inguinal hernia repair.