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.

[2] Common side effects include a brief period of burning at the site of use.

[5] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines[6] A systematic review investigated tetracaine for use in emergency departments, especially for starting intravenous lines in children, in view of its analgesic and cost-saving properties.

[7] Tetracaine is the T in TAC, a mixture of 5 to 12% tetracaine, 0.05% adrenaline, and 4 or 10% cocaine hydrochloride used in ear, nose, and throat surgery and in the emergency department where numbing of the surface is needed rapidly, especially when children have been injured in the eye, ear, or other sensitive locations.