The paper presents basic indications for the use of sedation in intensive care unit. Main goals of the use of sedation and analgesia in intensive care unit are to maintain acceptable patient comfort, ensure adequate pain control, anxiolysis and anterograde patient amnesia, particularly in unpleasant, painful and stressful procedures of diagnosis and treatment, and ensure basic daily rhythm of sleep. Tables show basic pharmacokinetics of the most frequently used drugs, comparison of their effect, basic shortcomings and adverse effects, and scoring scales for clinical evaluation of sedation level.