tetracaine + oxymetazoline

tetracaine + oxymetazoline is a combination drug consisting of a local anesthetic and a vasoconstrictor, being evaluated by the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans for needle-free dental anesthesia. Tetracaine is an ester-type local anesthetic that works by inhibiting voltage-gated sodium ion channels, thereby blocking nerve impulse conduction. Oxymetazoline is a sympathomimetic amine that acts as an alpha-adrenergic agonist, causing local vasoconstriction which helps to localize the anesthetic and reduce systemic absorption. In this specific application, the combination is delivered to the oral mucosa using iontophoresis, a technique that uses a low-level electrical current to enhance the transmucosal delivery of ionized drugs, providing a non-invasive alternative to traditional syringe-based local anesthesia for dental procedures.

Other names

Tetracaine Hydrochloride 4% with 0.5% Oxymetazoline