Abstract: An electrically assisted transdermal drug delivery system for highly effective electrotransport of an anesthetic and a vasoconstrictor producing clinically acceptable depth and duration of dermal anesthesia at a treatment site. In certain embodiments, the anesthetic comprises lidocaine and the vasoconstrictor comprises epinephrine.

Abstract: The use of an iontophoresis electrode assembly for delivery of a drug formulation is described. The drug formulation includes an anaesthetic and a vasoconstrictor. It is administered to a patient prior to a procedure to produce clinically acceptable depth and duration of dermal anaesthesia at the portion of skin to subject to a painful procedure or to reduce or eliminate pain. The procedure is one selected from the group consisting of venipuncture, IV cannulation, needle aspirations, body piercings, blood donations, electrolysis, tattoo removal, tattoo application, injections, dermabrasion, skin peeling, high velocity particle ablation, pace maker implantation, pace maker replacement, epidural puncture, lumbar puncture, regional nerve blocks, skin harvesting, small skin incisions, skin biopsies, circumcisions or excisions. The iontophoresis electrode assembly may also be used to reduce or temporarily eliminate neuropathic pain.