Metabolism of benoxinate in humans

The metabolism of benoxinate hydrochloride [2-(diethylamino)ethyl 4-amino-3-butoxybenzoate monohydrochloride; oxybuprocaine] was examined in humans after administration of a single oral dose. The drug was almost completely absorbed and was rapidly excreted in the urine (92.1% of dose in 9 h). Nine metabolites and unchanged drug were isolated from the urine and identified by comparison of TLC, GC, and GC-MS with authentic compounds. Any metabolites reflecting initial loss of the butyl side chain of benoxinate could not be detected. This suggests that the ester portion is metabolized more rapidly than the O-butyl side chain. 3-Butoxy-4-aminobenzoic acid, the hydrolyzed product of benoxinate, was primarily excreted (70-90% of dose) as the glucuronide together with a trace of the glycine conjugate (0.35% of dose). In addition, 3-butoxy-4-acetylaminobenzoic acid, 3-hydroxy-4-aminobenzoic acid, and 3-hydroxy-4-acetylaminobenzoic acid were identified, the latter two being detected partly as the glucuronides (1.20 and 1.43% of dose, respectively).