Aim: Dexmedetomidine provides hemodynamic stability and appears to have no clinically important adverse effects on respiration. Its sedative properties are unique in that it produces only mild cognitive impairment, allowing easy communication between health-care provider and patient in the ICU. We therefore compared the sedative and analgesic properties of dexmedetomidine with those of the commonly used I.V., sedative agent propofol and midazolam in the ICU. Methods: 90 patients enrolled in the study divided into three groups. There are 30 patients allocated in each group. Patients in dexmedetomidine group received a loading dose of dexmedetomidine 0.5 to 1 mcg/kg over 10 minutes followed by a maintenance infusion of 0.1 to 1 mcg/kg/hr. The rate of the maintenance was subsequently titrated to achieve a target Ramsay sedation score that was specified for each patient. Patients in the propofol group received a loading dose of 0.5 to 1mg/kg then an infusion of 25 to 75 mcg/kg/min was adjusted to achieve the target Ramsay sedation score. Patients in midazolam group received an infusion of .012 to .024 mg/kg/hr adjusted to achieve the target Ramsay sedation score. Results: The use of dexmedetomidine, propofol and midazolam for sedation in patients in the ICU was associated with reduced time to tracheal extubation for dexmedetomidine (7.4±1.85) hrs, for propofol (5.6±1.56) hrs compared to midazolam (16.9 ±15, 62) hrs, P value between dexmedetomidine and propofol group is > 0.05 which is statistically not significant. Conclusion: Our study conclusively states that dexmedetomidine a new sedative analgesic agent is safe to be used in the ICU. Dexmedetomidine provides hemodynamic stability and have no clinically important adverse effects on respiration. Tracheal extubation was earlier in patients receiving dexmedetomidine and propofol than from midazolam.