This drug was used as a topical anesthetic for the treatment of pruritus and associated pain. It could be used to relieve itching, or burning associated with various dermatological lesions. It has been used also as a suppository to treat anogenital or anorectal irritations. It could be safely applied to dry or moist inflamed skin; the relief of itching was very good but usually not complete (80%). In the 1950-70, Quotane was largely used essentially in the form of a 0.5% ointment to treat pruritic dermatoses. This antipruritic cream contained the isoquinoline derivative quinisocaine (also known as dimethisoquin hydrochloride) which is an inhibitor of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR). The product does not penetrate intact cornified skin. It belongs to a class of aromatic amine topical anesthetic like lidocaine and prilocaine. The product was well tolerated, with rare cases of contact dermatitis reported. This local anesthetic drug remains used today (quotane, rectoquotane).
