Tetracaine
Systematic (IUPAC) name
2-(dimethylamino)ethyl 4-(butylamino)benzoate
Identifiers
CAS number	94-24-6 136-47-0 (hydrochloride)
ATC code	C05AD02 D04AB06 N01BA03 S01HA03
PubChem	5411
Chemical data
Formula	C15H24N2O2
Mol. mass	264.363 g/mol
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	?
Protein binding	75.6
Metabolism	?
Half life	?
Excretion	?
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.	?
Legal status
Routes	Topical, Epidural, Spinal

Tetracaine (INN, also known as amethocaine; trade name Pontocaine) is a potent local anesthetic of the ester group. It is mainly used topically, in ophthalmology and as an antipruritic, and has been used in spinal anesthesia.

In biomedical research, tetracaine is used to alter the function of calcium release channels (ryanodine receptor) that control the release of calcium from intracellular stores. Tetracaine is an allosteric blocker of channel function. At low concentrations, tetracaine causes an initial inhibition of spontaneous calcium release events, while at high concentrations, tetracaine blocks release completely^[1].

[edit] References

1. Györke, S., V. Lukyanenko, et al. Dual effects of tetracaine on spontaneous calcium release in rat ventricular myocytes. J Physiol 1997;500(Pt 2):297-309.

Faisal Al-Otaibi

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