Drug-induced sleep endoscopy emerged and developed as an essential alternative diagnosis tool in sleep-disordered breathing patients. Accurate identification and dynamic characteristics of upper respiratory airway obstruction are paramount in establishing an adequate therapeutic plan and selecting for particular surgical or non-surgical strategies. This article reviews the current aspects of intravenous sedation for drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) in adults, emphasizing its implications for patients with sleep apnea. The ideal sedative agent for DISE should replicate natural sleep patterns while maintaining upper airway dynamics. The clinical practice exhibits a significant variability in drug selection, with midazolam and propofol often being preferred. The review presents emerging trends and advancements in DISE, emphasizing its role in optimizing surgical indications, predicting outcomes, and screening patients for alternative therapeutic strategies for OSA. Future research is needed to understand better the impact of specific sedative drugs on DISE findings, contributing to the development of standardized protocols and the evolution of new sedative drugs with improved effects and optimized techniques for delivering sedation.