Tetracaine

Tetracaine
Clinical data
Trade namesPontocaine, Ametop, Dicaine, others
AHFS/Drugs.comMonograph
MedlinePlusa682640
License data
Pregnancy
category
  • AU: B2
Routes of
administration		Topical
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
  • AU: S4 (Prescription only) / S2
  • BR: Class C1 (Other controlled substances)[1]
  • US: ℞-only
  • In general: ℞ (Prescription only)
Pharmacokinetic data
Protein binding75.6
Identifiers
  • 2-(Dimethylamino)ethyl 4-(butylamino)benzoate
CAS Number
PubChem CID
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
PDB ligand
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.002.106 Edit this at Wikidata
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC15H24N2O2
Molar mass264.369 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
  • O=C(OCCN(C)C)c1ccc(NCCCC)cc1
  • InChI=1S/C15H24N2O2/c1-4-5-10-16-14-8-6-13(7-9-14)15(18)19-12-11-17(2)3/h6-9,16H,4-5,10-12H2,1-3H3 checkY
  • Key:GKCBAIGFKIBETG-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  (verify)

Tetracaine, also known as amethocaine, is an ester local anesthetic used to numb the eyes, nose, or throat.[2] It may also be applied to the skin before starting intravenous therapy to decrease pain from the procedure.[3] Typically it is applied as a liquid to the area.[2] Onset of effects when used in the eyes is within 30 seconds and last for less than 15 minutes.[2]

Common side effects include a brief period of burning at the site of use.[2] Allergic reactions may uncommonly occur.[4] Long-term use is generally not recommended as it may slow healing of the eye.[2] It is unclear if use during pregnancy is safe for the baby.[2] Tetracaine is in the ester-type local anesthetic family of medications.[4] It works by blocking the sending of nerve impulses.[2]

Tetracaine was patented in 1930 and came into medical use in 1941.[5] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines[6]

  1. ^ Anvisa (2023-03-31). "RDC Nº 784 - Listas de Substâncias Entorpecentes, Psicotrópicas, Precursoras e Outras sob Controle Especial" [Collegiate Board Resolution No. 784 - Lists of Narcotic, Psychotropic, Precursor, and Other Substances under Special Control] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Diário Oficial da União (published 2023-04-04). Archived from the original on 2023-08-03. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Tetracaine". The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  3. ^ British national formulary : BNF 69 (69 ed.). British Medical Association. 2015. pp. 769, 897. ISBN 9780857111562.
  4. ^ a b World Health Organization (2009). Stuart MC, Kouimtzi M, Hill SR (eds.). WHO Model Formulary 2008. World Health Organization. p. 437. hdl:10665/44053. ISBN 9789241547659.
  5. ^ Fischer J, Ganellin CR (2006). Analogue-based Drug Discovery. John Wiley & Sons. p. 475. ISBN 9783527607495. Archived from the original on 2016-12-29.
  6. ^ World Health Organization (2019). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.