All drugs are characterized by the presence of positive and negative ions. This is the discovery behind iontophoresis. Through this therapy, it has indeed become possible to introduce drugs locally, taking advantage of electric current.

One of the main obstacles related to the administration of drugs for the treatment of diseases lies in their mode of introduction into the body, which must take place while ensuring a valid therapeutic action and, at the same time, containing as much as possible any side effects or damage to other organs.

With iontophoresis, which uses a direct current circulating from one electrode to another, the drug is delivered directly to the area in need of treatment, without dwelling on other unaffected organs (such as the stomach, liver, and kidneys).

Specifically, a conductive electrode of the same polarity as its ions is applied to the skin, and at a certain distance, a second electrode of opposite polarity. This system allows any medicinal solution to easily penetrate through the skin.

Iontophoresis is an electrotherapy technique that uses direct current to introduce medicine into the area of pain or contracture.

The drug used can have negative or positive polarity, and based on this indication, it is placed on the cathode or anode of the electrode, positioning the electrode through the interposition of a sponge, avoiding direct contact with the skin.

Through the delivered current, the medicine is carried from one pole to the other, thus passing through the site affected by pathology and releasing the specific active ingredient that will act with its physicochemical characteristics.

Drugs with negative polarity: diclofenac sodium, piroxicam, lysine acetylsalicylate, ketoprofen, indomethacin, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA).

Drugs with positive polarity: calcium chloride, novocaine, silver nitrate, adrenaline.

Iontophoresis is a method that uses galvanic current to transform medicinal substances in solution between the skin and the electrode into ions. Passing the barrier of the skin, these ions are deposited in the underlying layers having locally an accumulation of medicinal substances.

The therapeutic actions are:

• antalgic
• decontracting
• anti-inflammatory
• fibrolytic
• anti-edemic

Iontophoresis is therefore useful in pain of inflammatory and posttraumatic origin, arthritis, rheumatism, muscle contractures, adhesion reactions, cellulitis, nonrecent hematomas, and surgical edema.