In a clinical setting, the physical therapist determines the medication to be delivered via iontophoresis and places it on a special clinical patch. The skin covering the target area needs to be cleaned before applying the iontophoresis patch. Once everything is in place, a low electrical current is applied for about 3 minutes to break the resistance of the skin. The patch remains attached for the next 8 to 24 hours, according to the therapist's recommendation.
The take-home form of iontophoresis is even more convenient as it has a built-in battery that does not require any clinician to apply current with an iontophoresis machine. To use this convenient IontoPatch at home, you must first prepare the skin by trimming the hair, cleaning the area with soap and water, and drying it thoroughly. Make sure you do not use alcohol wipes before applying such iontophoresis patches. There are cases where the manufacturer recommends it, but IontoPatch is not one of them.
The next step is filling the electrode with the prescribed medication and the opposite electrode with about 1 ml of saline solution, starting at the center of the pad. Remove the backing of the iontophoresis patch and place it with the medication electrode directly over the painful site. Secure the edges of the patch without pressing on the center of the electrodes. Keep it on as the drugs will be slowly and continuously delivered over the next several hours.