Patent ID: 8623334

Claim:
A topical anesthetic for use in producing local anesthesia in about three to five minutes when applied to skin or mucosa, said topical anesthetic comprising tetracaine free base in an amount from about 4 wt % to about 8 wt % of the topical anesthetic in a non-aqueous vehicle, wherein the non-aqueous vehicle comprises a high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) homopolymer in combination with a cellulose polymer wherein the combination makes up about 10 wt % of the topical anesthetic, said high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) homopolymer is present in an amount from about 3 wt % to about 8 wt % of the combination; propylene glycol in an amount from about 5 wt % to 15 wt % of the topical anesthetic; and a plasticized hydrocarbon gel in an amount of about 70 wt % of the topical anesthetic, said topical anesthetic being stable under refrigeration for at least twenty-five months as to efficacy and potency of the tetracaine free base as an anesthetic.