Etorphine (Immobilon or M99)
Etorphine (Immobilon or M99) is a semi-synthetic opioid possessing an analgesic potency approximately 1,000-3,000 times that of morphine.
Dexter Morgan uses it to subdue his victims in a fictional storyline in the Showtime series DEXTER, Dexter: Original Sin and Dexter: Resurrection.
History[]
It was first prepared in 1960 from oripavine, which does not generally occur in opium poppy extract but rather in "poppy straw" and in related plants, oriental poppy Papaver orientale and Papaver bracteatum. It was later reproduced in 1963 by a research group at Macfarlan-Smith and Co. in Edinburgh, led by Professor Kenneth Bentley. It can also be produced from thebaine.
Etorphine is often used to immobilize elephants and other large mammals. Etorphine is available legally only for veterinary medicine|veterinary use and is strictly governed by law. Diprenorphine (M5050), also known as Revivon, is an opioid receptor antagonist that can be administered in proportion to the amount of etorphine used (1.3 times) to reverse its effects. Veterinary-strength etorphine is fatal to humans. For this reason the package as supplied to vets always includes the human antidote as well as Etorphine.
Large Animal Immobilon is a combination of etorphine plus acepromazine maleate. An etorphine antidote Large Animal Revivon contains mainly diprenorphine for animals and a human-specific naloxone-based antidote, which should be prepared prior to the etorphine.
A close relative, dihydroetorphine has been used as an opioid painkiller for human usage in China. It is claimed to be less addictive than traditional opioids, but this has yet to be confirmed.
Using Etorphine[]
Dexter Morgan injects a tiny dose of Etorphine to his victims as a way of immobilizing them. The sedative works instantly, rendering the person immobile and unconscious within a couple of seconds, and lasting for several hours. He administers the Etorphine via a hypodermic needle, typically to the neck of his victims. Dexter is inspired to use it after his boss at Miami Metro, Tanya Martin describes how strong a tranquilizer it is, as she described it as being stronger than morphine to the 'nth degree'. Tanya had been watching a horse race at the time where an injured horse was sedated with etorphine. Prior to using etorphine, Dexter is forced to subdue his first two kills in a fight as they struggled against him and Anthony Moretti escaped before Dexter could properly restrain him.
In the case of Gareth's Twin, Dexter instead squirts a syringe full of etorphine into a gin and tonic that he makes for the Gemini Killer, causing Gareth's twin to ingest it and pass out.
While M99 has been primarily used by Dexter, other people have also used M99 taken from Dexter. Lila West uses M99 taken from Dexter's bag in her abduction of Astor and Cody Bennett while Dexter includes it in the supplies that he gives to Hannah McKay, enabling her to escape from Jacob Elway. Dexter provides a syringe to Harrison as a form of protection which Harrison uses to knock out Leon Prater while being held at gunpoint by him.
Obtaining Etorphine[]
Dexter seems to have a near endless supply of Etorphine. In the episode "Return to Sender", we learn that he uses the alias Patrick Bateman, M.D. to obtain his Etorphine. He describes this alias as, "So wholesome, so inconspicuous" but he has to delete off a record as it could be traced back to him. Patrick Bateman was also the name of the main character in the book American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis, portrayed by Christian Bale in the movie of the same name. In "Backseat Driver", it's revealed that the book was a formative read for Dexter when he was 19 and he orders the drug from Veterinary Rx, Inc.
In Dexter: New Blood, Dexter is no longer able to obtain etorphine, so he instead uses ketamine purchased from a local veterinarian under the guise of needing it to treat his sick goat, Vincent van Goat II.
In Dexter: Original Sin, Dexter steals it from a veterinarian at Hileath Park Race Track by releasing a horse as a distraction and then sneaking into her office while the vet was distracted. However, Dexter is forced to hide until the vet leaves again, causing him not to be there with Debra at Doris' grave. Before using etorphine for the first time, Dexter uses an Etorphine Injectable Dosing Chart that he also stole to figure out the proper dosage to use.
In the Dexter: Resurrection episode "Backseat Driver", Dexter uses his old alias to get more etorphine when he resumes his killing spree in New York City. Dexter is shown getting a call from "Veterinary Rx, Inc" and having it shipped to a PO Box. Veterinary Rx, Inc is revealed to have been Dexter's source of etorphine in Miami as well with the caller noting that it's been awhile since his last order and asking if Dexter is trading in the Florida sunshine for life in the Big Apple. Dexter receives the package of etorphine just before he goes after Ronald Schmidt.
Sedated Persons[]
Note: This excludes those killed at the time, such as Valerie Castillo.
- Harry Morgan - Dexter injected Harry so that he would pass out and not shoot Levi Reed, though Harry's drunkenness also helped with this. This was the first time that Dexter had used M99, and he had made sure to calculate the dosage exactly so it would not interfere with Harry's heart medicine either.
- Debra Morgan - Brian Moser injected her so she would pass out, saying it was a "Homage to a fellow traveler I admire." Dexter Morgan also used it on her to prevent her from confessing to LaGuerta's murder.
- Dexter - Brian used it on him, so that he could "have a beer with him".
- Jimmy Sensio - Dexter used the M99 on him, and attempted to kill him, but he found that he could not.
- Little Chino - Dexter used two needles on him, likely for comedic effect. Dexter did end up killing him later, though long after this was done.
- Lexi - Lila West used it on her to knock her out, so she could kidnap Astor Bennett and Cody Bennett.
- Billy Fleeter - Dexter used it, though Miguel Prado was the one who killed him.
- Kyle Butler - Dexter used it on him so he could hide him from Arthur Mitchell.
- Arthur Mitchell - Dexter used it on him, and then threw him in his van. However, before Dexter could kill him he was arrested for hit and run.
- Boyd Fowler - Dexter used it on him, though before Boyd passed out, he shot Dexter in the stomach with his own animal tranquilizer.
- Lumen Pierce - Dexter used it on her when she struggled with him, despite him trying to help her.
- Robert Brunner - Dexter used it on him with the intentions of killing him. He later found out that Robert couldn't have been one of the men that raped Lumen, since he was a parolee wearing an ankle bracelet, proving that he was in the same area the whole time (beneath Julia Tuttle Causeway).
- Alex Tilden - Dexter used it, though Lumen Pierce was the one who killed him.
- Travis Marshall uses it on Dexter, taking advantage of his disoriented state.
- Louis Greene - Dexter used it on him, because he kept screwing with his life (cancelling his credit cards and sending him the Prosthetic Hand. He planned to kill Louis, but stopped, due to his promise to Debra to not kill again.
- Hannah McKay - Dexter used it on her, planning to kill her for her crimes (murdering her mentor and husband). However, he instinctively frees her and the two have sex on the kill table.
- Zach Hamilton - Dexter used it on him, planning to kill him for murdering an innocent woman, however, upon seeing the similarities between Zach and himself, he frees him and decides to teach him the Code of Harry.
- Oliver Saxon - Dexter uses it on Oliver, so that he can finally rid him and the threat he poses to those close to him. He later decides to let Debra arrest Oliver and so spares him, which results in Oliver escaping and shooting Debra in the process.
- Jacob Elway - Hannah seizes an opportunity to use it on him, allowing her to leave him unconscious in the bus, as she leaves with Harrison Morgan for her flight to South America, thus preventing him from ever catching her.
- Vinny Valente - Dexter uses it to abduct the slumlord king of New York in order to intimidate Vinny into doing right by his tenants. Afterwards, Dexter releases Vinny.
Quotes[]
- "Dude, this stuff is strictly controlled. The only way to get it is with a DEA license. I put a request in for the list." - Vince Masuka to Dexter ("Return to Sender")
- "Probably etorphine. It's more powerful than morphine to, like, the nth degree." - Tanya Martin inspiring Dexter's use of M99 ("F is for Fuck-Up")
- "Pot didn't do it for me. This was my drug of choice." - Dexter's narration as he steals etorphine for the first time ("F is for Fuck-Up")
- "And I learned from my mistake. No more perps waking up early. 1 milligram of this can knock a racehorse out for hours. I calculated the dosage for weight and body fat composition. Even made sure there was no interaction with your heart medication. No more shrapnel." - Dexter demonstrates to Harry his solution to his problems ("F is for Fuck-Up")
- "M99 to knock out the Dark Passenger and whoever else is a guest at my table." - Dexter orders M99 for the first time in ten years ("Backseat Driver")
- "Finally. The last tool I need for the kill." - Dexter prepares to resume his killing spree ("Backseat Driver")
- "If you're spending the night there, you might want some... protection." - Dexter gives Harrison a syringe of M99 for protection ("Touched by an Angel"/"And Justice For All...")
- "I'm sorry that I couldn't give you the protection that you needed." - Dexter discreetly reminds his son about the M99 ("And Justice For All...")
Novels and Comics[]
- Mustached Victim - Dexter uses it on the unnamed killer. (Dexter: Issue 1)
Related Pages[]
Gallery[]
