You will find a whole chapter devoted to iontophoresis in the book "Clinical
Electrotherapy" (2nd
edition), editors Roger M. Nelson and Dean P. Currier, published by Appleton
and Lange
(Norwalk, Conneticut/San Mateo, California).
Iontophoresis is applied using direct current (galvanic). Some units, such as
the one you are
referring to, are now available as small portable units, but many electric
stimulators used in
clinics are capable of generating this kind of current. Iontophoresis is used
as a means of
driving ionized medication through the skin (galvanic current is also used in
treating a sweaty
hands-feet-axillae condition called hydrosis -- some commercial units bear the
tradename
"Drionic").
I have used this treatment on occasion and if my memory serves me correctly,
Decadron
(Dexamethasone) is positively charged, and therefore to be applied to the
positive electrode.
Here's what I did: using a syringe, I extracted 1ml of the substance from its
flask (rubber-sealed)
and gently injected it into the center of a thin square sponge (available
commercially); another,
thicker sponge was placed on top, and topmost, the electrode itself
(custom-made or simply
multiple layers of aluminium foil). After each treatment, the sponge --
unrinsed -- was
refrigerated in a small plastic bag. Another ml was added before each
subsequent treatment,
and I gently increased the intensity and/or time according to skin tolerance
and results.
Dosage depends on the surface of the electrodes and on the lesion to be treated
(again, refer to
the book mentioned above).
Hope this helps,
Benoit Turcot
[log in to unmask],Internet writes:
>I´m a Finnish PT and one of my patients (an American athlete) has an
>Empi Dupel iontophoresis system ( http://www.empi.com )
>The system is new here in Finland and I´d like to have more information
>about the system and how to use it. If anybody has use this kind of
>system, please tell me how to use it: indications, doses, currents and
>drugs to use etc.. The drug he has is Dexamethasone sodium phosphate 4
>mg/ml. What are the indication for this and do you use any other drugs ?
>How do I know the polarity of the drug ? How much drug is needed ? Is it
>commonly used in sports medicine and have you got good results ?
>Anybody knows any references, books or web sites about these
>ionto-systems ?
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