A member of the class of acetamides that is acetamide in which one of the hydrogens attached to the nitrogen is substituted by a 4-ethoxyphenyl group. California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA): Phenacetin can cause cancer according to California Labor Code.ChEBI: Phenacetin is a member of the class of acetamides that is acetamide in which one of the hydrogens attached to the nitrogen is substituted by a 4-ethoxyphenyl group. It has a role as a non-narcotic analgesic, a peripheral nervous system drug and a cyclooxygenase 3 inhibitor. It is a member of acetamides and an aromatic ether. It is functionally related to a N-phenylacetamide, a 4-ethoxyaniline and a paracetamol.