title: Use of dexmedetomidine for pain control.
abstract: For many years, clonidine, an α2-adrenergic receptor (α2-AR) agonist, has been widely used as an analgesic adjuvant in perioperative conditions and pain therapy. Dexmedetomidine (DMET) is currently the most potent α2-AR agonist available and was first approved as a sedative agent for use in the intensive care unit. However, DMET has recently been investigated for its analgesic effects and has the potential to become an alternative to clonidine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Saint-Luc Hospital Medical School, Université Catholique de Louvain Avenue Hippocrate 10-1821, B-1200 Brussels Belgium.
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Grosu
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lavand'homme