Dexmedetomidine is an alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist that has sympatholytic, sedative, and analgesic effects. It has been used in postoperative sedation and analgesia, and appears to have opioid-sparing effects in analgesia. Administration of dexmedetomidine during surgery has been examined for its effect on postoperative pain from bladder spasms in patients undergoing cancer-related surgery.