A device is provided for controlling the depth of sedation of a respirated patient. The device includes a respirator (2) and a sensor array (1) for detecting the tidal volume and/or the respiration rate of the patient being respirated. A computing unit (5) is provided for calculating the measured values determined with the sensor array (1). A drug regulating unit (3), a drug dispensing unit (4), and a central control device (6) are provided. The central control device (6) has stored desired values for the drug concentration to be dispensed as a function of a preselected depth of sedation corresponding to the corresponding variability over time of the tidal volume and/or respiration rate. The drug regulating unit (3) sets the drug dispensing unit (4) as a function of the tidal volume detected and/or the respiration rate for a preselected depth of sedation of the patient.