Tetracaine belongs to the amino-ester class and has a pKa of 8.46.

Tetracaine can be used as a research tool for studying E-C coupling in both skeletal as well as cardiac muscle. The product is a local anaesthetic drug used for studying the impact of numerous drugs on Tumour-necrosis-factor (TNF)-mediated cytotoxicity as well as TNF-induced arachidonic acid release.

Tetracaine has been used as an anesthetic and to lower the glucose synthesis in upper small intestinal infusions. It has also been used to inhibit ryanodine receptors (RyRs) in rats.

Topical ophthalmic anesthetic; used for spinal anesthesia

Blocks voltage-sensitive release of Ca²⁺ from sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Tetracaine also refers as 4-(Butylamino)benzoic acid 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl ester interfere with calcium movement in muscle and non-muscle cells and can inhibit potassium-induced as well as caffeine-induced shortening of outer hair cells (OHC′s). But, the product can′t inhibit electrically-induced shortening of OHC′s.The product can also stimulate caspase activation and inhibits pro-survival signalling pathways which in turn induce human renal cell apoptosis.

Tetracaine blocks intracellular sodium channels. It mediates phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2 α) via translational inhibition of P-body formation.

250 mg of tetracaine dissolves in 5 ml of EtOH to yield a clear, colorless solution. The product is also soluble in chloroform and ether at a ratio of 1:2 and in ethanol at 1:5. It is very slightly soluble in water.