Which iontophoresis machine should I buy?

Soy Sauce

Well-known member
So I'm ready to purchase a new iontophoresis machine to replace my Drionic unit that I've used the past 5 years.

I've been looking at the Hidrex PSP 1000 and the Idromed 5PC. Both are pulsed current.

I'd like to hear peoples recommendations and experiences with their own iontophoresis units, regardless of manufacturer. Pros/cons of specific units and any other input.

Also, where did you buy yours? I'm located in Canada.

These things cost an arm and a leg so want to be confident in my purchase before placing my order.
 

ukchick

Well-known member
This is such a tricky thing to answer. I researched like you and decided to purchase the Hidrex 1000 pulsed. It worked great for my feet but not for my daughters hands. So I now have bought the Idrostar (no I haven't won the lottery,lol)as it's the machine they are using at the hospital for my daughters 7 ionto treatments, after her first hospital session her hands stopped sweating but that only lasted a week.
Good luck with what you choose.
 

hyp-hi

Well-known member
I have been using the RA Fischer MD-1a for over a year. I use it about every other day for 15 minutes on my hands and it seems to help. I still sweat, but not as bad. It was expensive and insurance didn't cover it. The company is located in California. They let you rent it before you commit on buying it so that might be worth checking out.
 

Sprawling

Well-known member
I would go with a machine that offers both pulsed and regular direct current in the same machine. I'm currently using 2 different machines. Pulsed (Inexpensive Galvanic unit) for my left hand, and regular dc (Fischer MD1A) for my rt. I'm trying to do a several month study to see if I notice any difference. So far the outcome appears to be the same other than the pulsed is way more comfortable to use.
 

Soy Sauce

Well-known member
So I purchased the Hidrex PSP1000. I'll post my results soon.

Question: Is 26 the highest level it will go? I've tried turning it up higher but once I put my hands in it would always stop at 26 and wouldn't go any higher.
 

Soy Sauce

Well-known member
Haven't had any success with the Hidrex yet. I've done about 4 hours of treatment but no change yet. With the Drionic, I would've been dry by now for sure. Gonna maybe try switching the Hidrex to direct current, like the Drionic, and see if that makes a difference.

I can't turn the amperage up as high as I want because the limiter kicks in and won't let it reach the level I want. Supposedly protects your hands from burning, but I definitely think I can go higher then 30, which is a high as it will go for me.
 

Sprawling

Well-known member
This pulsed machine gives ME the same results as the Fischer MD1A unit except that it's way more comfortable. My hands sweat pretty bad. Ionto cured the sweating about 95%, sometimes 100%. It's hard to put an exact percentage, so I'm just estimating.

During the past year my fibromyalgia has played a major factor with increased sweating. Both machines seem to work equally cutting the sweat down to 50% to 85% depending on my body flareups.

This just proves to me how over priced IONTO machines really are. MY latest side by side testing of both machines made me a convert to the Pulsed Current Galvanic. I'm now switching over to my galvanic machine full time. I've been using the Fischer unit since the summer of 2005. I starting using the pulsed unit since January 2012 and have been doing varies side by side test that are in the back posts of this forum.

http://www.allegromedical.com/elect...galvanic-high-voltage-stimulator-p561962.html

This other machine appears to be exactly the same except it doesn't have a digital readout.

http://www.allegromedical.com/elect...-pgs-123-high-voltage-stimulator-p561961.html
 
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paidinfull

Active member
How to Build Your Own Iontophoresis Device

This is what I did. I did 30-40 minute sessions for 5 days straight and it has drastically stopped my sweating. I sweat on my hands and feet and it's funny cause I can feel my feet being moist and sweaty but my hands never break into sweats, as I've only used it on my hands. I also got a 2mg robinul prescription from my doctor and I take that on days where I'll be going out.
 

J4812

Well-known member
I tried the hidrex machine and was not happy with the results at all. I used it everyday for 2 weeks and felt like my sweating had increased instead of decreased. I even liked the drionic machine better.
 

Jezza

Well-known member
I bought an Idromed 4 DC in '07. At first I quit too soon thinking it didn't work though so I haven't used it the whole time, but still I have been using it for a couple of years.

I'm quite happy with the results on my hands and feet. Sadly I have generalised HH and it doesn't help me with that as some might have thought after dry hands reduce anxiety.

I do think it's costly but it's comparable with other machines. Over a few years I replaced the net adapter (for 170 Euros :( ) and I recently bought a set of new alu plates (50 Euro) as one of the original ones had started rusting around the connector, and I was getting quite worried by the stuff that visibly came out of the plates (corrossion). Didn't feel to happy about more than necessary metal parts in my skin through ionto.

Finally the display goes kinda wonky oftentimes but it works ok and I use a deeper custom tray for my feet as the original doesn't fit comfortably and doesn't immerse the sweaty areas on my feet. (but again, this last one goes for all of them).

So yeah I'm reasonably happy but it could be better for the price. For me the most important thing is if I do treatments daily it keeps my hands dry which was the goal.
 

salli

Member
cant believe somone states a drionc over a hidrex... what i cant understand is, why does someone buy such a expensive hidrex when the drionic works well?
 

Sprawling

Well-known member
The Drionic is just has a very poor design. I've used it and does work. I'm still using my High Voltage Galvanic Pulsed Stimulator. It's been years since I've first tested it and I must say I'm quite pleased. My Fischer MD-1A has been mothballed for years along with the dual Drionic units.

Ionto does not need to be expensive. There are numerous options to make one by modifying and or modifying various electronic accessories.

Splurging for the Galvanic Stimulator that is pulsed current is the best investment for my hand treatment I've ever made. Nothing beats the comfort of using pulsed current.
 

backfish

Member
I have been doing Iontophoresis treatments for the last seven years with the Idromed 5 PC machine. At first when I tried it I thought that it would be just another one of the experiments that I had tried (unsuccessfully) to stop my palmar Hyperhidrosis. I was surprised and elated when after three weeks of painless daily treatments with this machine my hands were dry - something that I had given up hope of ever achieving. Then came the ( for me ) twice weekly maintenance treatments which of course I am still doing...and I am still dry.I can highly recommend this machine ,in seven years it has never let me down . It is very easy to use and I have never had any technical problems with it.The question was " which iontophoresis machine should you buy? " , well if I ever lost my machine I would not hesitate to buy another Idromed 5 PC because it has given me a new lease on life - its just that simple.
 

Soy Sauce

Well-known member
Glad you've found a device that works for you. Good to know that there is more than one option when it comes to iontophoresis. I have to say, despite taking poor care of my Hidrex the 4 years I've owned it, it has worked flawlessly. Best purchase I've ever made. It's so easy to forget just how horrible it was when I suffered HH with no options (so I thought) other than Avert, which I hated. The social anxiety, the constant wiping of the hands, not wanting to touch ANYTHING, not being able to sleep, etc.
 

Sprawling

Well-known member
The bottom line with ionto is that it's not about a specific machine. All the units use DC voltage. Some machines have more bells and whistles than others. I'll keep stressing that cost should not be a factor. You can build a decent working machine for around $50 and for around $150 you can have a classy Pulsed current machine that either runs on a battery or plugged into a wall.

If you prefer to spend $700- $1000, go for it. In the end they all will do the same. Either it will work for you or it won't. Finding the correct treatment schedule for you may be challenging. I've had to adjust my maintenance treatments many times over my 11-year span of using ionto.

Always feel free to ask questions.
 

Sprawling

Well-known member
Interesting, it's something I thought about yet never tried and recently just read about.

For more effective ionto treatment using less water wear 100% cotton gloves. This will surely treat your entire hand and try wearing socks on your feet
 
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