Dexmedetomidine, a highly selective and potent alpha 2 agonist, has a potentially useful role as a sedative agent in patients requiring intensive care. This study compared dexmedetomidine to propofol in patients requiring sedation in intensive care. Forty adult patients with respiratory failure who required mechanical ventilation were randomized to receive sedation with either dexmedetomidine or propofol infusions, for a duration of six hours to reach a Ramsay sedation score (RSS) of (2-3). Sedation was equivalent in the two groups with a p-value= 0.6233. Respiratory data were obtained and showed no significant difference between the two groups. Hemodynamic monitoring found no differences in the mean arterial pressures between the groups, but heart rate was significantly lower in the dexmedetomidine group(p>0.05), which led to an increase in the stoke volume index (SI) in comparison to the propofol group (p> 0.05). Both groups had almost the same recovery time (p=0.2712). In conclusion, despite ventilation and intubation, patients sedated with dexmedetomidine could be easily roused to cooperate with procedures (e.g. physiotherapy, radiology) without showing irritation.