abstract |
A topical anesthetic includes about 1-10% by weight lidocaine hydrochloride, about 0.01-0.10% by weight adrenaline, and about 0.25-4% by weight tetracaine hydrochloride, preferably in an aqueous base with about 2% benzyl alcohol or in a gel including about 3% hydroxyethyl cellulose. The topical anesthetic has been found to be at least as effective as TAC (tetracaine hydrochloride, adrenaline, cocaine), but with fewer harmful side effects and at a greatly reduced cost (about +E,fra 1/10+EE of the cost of TAC). |