IONTOPHORESIS

Iontophoresis is the transfer of the ions of drugs into the body through the skin by the use of a constant direct current

1. IONTOPHORESIS BY S.CHRISTY SOPNA

2. DEFINITION Iontophoresis is the transfer of the ions of drugs into the body through the skin by the use of a constant direct current It is a painless, sterile,non invasive technique having a positive effect on healing process

3. BIOPHYSICS Transfer of ions depends on the principle of “like poles repel and opposite poles attract each other” Ions are charged particles with positive or negative charge that can be pushed through the skin by a similar charge applied to the electrode placed over it. These ions on entering through the skin combines with other ions and radicals present in the blood stream to form new compounds that are therapeutically valuable in specific disease conditions.

4. IONTOPHORESIS Selection of suitable ionic compounds and placing them under a appropriate electrode is a key to successs of iontophoresis

5. DOSIOMETRY OF IONTOPHORESIS Duration of treatment Current density or current intensity per square cm areas of the electrodes Concentration of ions in the medium used for iontophoresis . I X T X ECE = grams of substance introduced through skin I = intensity of direct current (measured in amperes) T = Time measured in hours ECE = electrochemical equivalency

6. TYPE OF ELECTRODE LESS THE SIZE OF ELECTRODE – more will be the current density and more ions will be transferred INCREASING THE SIZE OF ELECTRODE – decrease the current intensity thus reduces the concentration of ions at the electrode. CURRENT INTENSITY: 5-12 Ma DURATION : 5-12 minutes

7. USES IONS INFLAMMATION Dexamethasone(-) Hydrocortisone (-) Salicyclate (-) Analgesia Lidocaine (+) Magnesium (+) Spasm Calcium (+) Magnesium(+) Open skin lesion Zinc(+) Edema Hyaluronidase (+) Salicyclate (-) Scar tissue Chlorine (-) Iodine (-) Salicyclate (-)

8. INDICATION Pain Adhesion – renotin Chronic congestion of mucous membrane- znso4 Calcium deposits Idiopathic hyperhidrosis Oedema Inflammation Scars Open wounds Spasm