It is used as an active pharmaceutical ingredient in Strepsils, Cēpacol, Gorpils, Cofsils and Lorsept throat lozenges, typically in combination with dichlorobenzyl alcohol, another antiseptic.

[1][3] A 2017 meta-analysis found that the combination of AMC with dichlorobenzyl alcohol has a modest advantage over un-medicated lozenges regarding pain relief.

Hypersensitivity reactions are very rare and show symptoms such as nausea or dyspepsia, although it is not entirely clear which side effects are caused by AMC and which by dichlorobenzyl alcohol or other ingredients of the lozenges.

[1][3] AMC is a derivative of m-cresol, with a pentyl group attached to the sixth carbon atom.

The pure substance melts at 24 °C (75 °F), and boils between 137 and 139 °C (279 and 282 °F) at a pressure of 6.7 kilopascals (50 mmHg).