# Tetracaine

National Cancer Institute

## Source

National Cancer Institute. Tetracaine. NCI Thesaurus. Code C66590.

A benzoate ester with anesthetic properties. Upon administration, tetracaine reversibly binds voltage-gated sodium ion channels in neuronal cell membranes and inhibits sodium influx. This prevents the initiation and conduction of nerve impulses, and stabilizes neuronal membranes. This results in a loss of sensation, and thereby provides analgesia and anesthesia.