Drugs and a portable iontophoresis apparatus for facilitating delivery of the drugs across the cutaneous membrane into adjacent underlying tissues and blood vessels. The apparatus employs a modular, detachable non-reusable medicament-containing applicator electrode which is adapted to attach to a base assembly. The apparatus is designed to be hand-held and includes a circumferential tactile electrode band on the base assembly which provides electrical connection between the skin of the user's hand and one pole of a bipolar power source housed within the base assembly. The opposing pole of the power source is connected to the applicator electrode. When the applicator is placed against the skin of a user, the user's body completes the electrical circuit between the applicator and tactile electrodes. The apparatus employs a disposable applicator electrode which accepts a variety of antimicrobial and anesthetic agents for transdermal iontophoretic or ionosonic delivery. A method for using the device for the treatment of Herpes simplex infection and related viral infections which produce similar cutaneous lesions is presented. The apparatus, when used in accordance with the antiviral medicaments and method described herein, demonstrated >90% treatment efficacy in clinical trials.