Is there a tranquilizer/sedative which actually works on animals or humans just like on the TV?

Question

In the TV shows, the guy shoots the animal with a dart and "bonk" down it goes, same with people who get hit. In other shows guy gets a needle to the neck (or behind) and same thing, "bonk" down he goes. He's instantly out. Like in the spy shows, Dexter, mental institutions etc.

My cousin, a vet, says, thats not how it happens, you can't just knock someone (or some animal) out like that. Nobody goes down that fast and even if they do, there is a real risk of overdose and death.

Our question is this, isn't there some drug that would work like it does on TV to knock someone out pretty instantaneously without hurting or killing them? (It seems a little more humane than a 9mm hollow point to the back of the skull?)

Answer 1

Unfortunately the only drugs that do that (that I can think of) are the paralytics.  These are used in ERs and by EMTs to allow rapid sequence intubation of semi-conscious patients with compromised airways.  Only trouble is they knock out their respiratory drive too and that means you MUST breath for the patient or they will die...  The closest thing to what you see in the movies/tv is the response to a Taser charge (and that's not 100% effective depending on the person/animal).  Other meds take a little while to produce the desired effect ranging from a few minutes to half an hour depending on if they are IV or by injection into a muscle etc.