Dexmedetomidine, sold under the trade name Precedex among others, is a drug used in humans for sedation. Veterinarians use dexmedetomidine for similar purposes in treating cats, dogs, and horses. It is also used in humans to treat acute agitation associated with schizophrenia or bipolar I or II disorder.
Similar to clonidine, it is a sympatholytic drug that acts as an agonist of α-adrenergic receptors in certain parts of the brain. It was developed by Orion Pharma.