Ethyl 4-aminobenzoate (94-09-7)

1.Allergic reactions occur with ester local anaesthetics (like benzocaine) because of the PABA structure.
2.Benzocaine also is a well-known cause of methemoglobinemia. Because it may be used in topical creams with a concentration as much as 20%, it is not difficult to administer a dose sufficient to cause this problem.
3.Over-application of oral anesthetics such as Anbesol can increase the risk of pulmonary aspiration by relaxing the gag-reflex and allowing regurgitated stomach contents or oral secretions to enter the airway. Applying an oral anesthetic and consuming beverages before going to bed can be particularly hazardous.
4.In Phillip K. Dick's book A Scanner Darkly, one of the main characters attempts to extract pure cocaine out of a bottle of sunburn spray by freezing it, claiming that benzocaine is simply an industry name for cocaine.

A commonly used topical pain reliever. Main active ingredient in anesthetic ointments.