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Published on: 4/28/2025

What Causes the Feeling of an Electric Shock in the Body?

An electric shock feeling in the body can happen when nerves send unexpected signals—this might be due to nerve injury, medication side effects, or even real electrical events.

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Explanation

When you feel a sudden electric shock inside your body, it can be because your nerves are giving off mixed-up signals. For example, if a nerve, such as one in your finger, is injured, it can send false signals that feel like a jolt. This is one way the nerves might try to communicate that something isn’t quite right. Some medications like clozapine have been known to cause an electric shock sensation as a side effect. This means the medicine might change the way nerve signals are sent, making you feel a shock fluttering through your body. In addition, when the body is exposed to an actual electrical current, it conducts electricity, and you might feel a real shock. However, most of the time, when we talk about an electric shock feeling, we’re describing abnormal signals from our nerves rather than electricity flowing through us. If this feeling happens a lot or starts to worry you, it’s a good idea to talk with a healthcare provider so they can check if the nerves are working properly. This explanation is for education only and isn’t medical advice.

(References)

  • Fish RM, Geddes LA. Conduction of electrical current to and through the human body: a review. Eplasty. 2009 Oct 12;9:e44. PMID: 19907637; PMCID: PMC2763825.

  • Kafiabadi MJ, Biglari F, Sabaghzadeh A, Khabiri SS, Sadighi M, Ebrahimpour A. Electric shock sign after digital nerve injury; report of a case and review of literature. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2022 May;94:107156. doi: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2022.107156. Epub 2022 May 3. PMID: 35658312; PMCID: PMC9092984.

  • Mujahid B, Lutfi L, Alhassan A. Electric Shock Sensation and Recurrent Falls as a Side Effect of Clozapine Therapy: A Case Report. Cureus. 2024 May 26;16(5):e61143. doi: 10.7759/cureus.61143. PMID: 38933635; PMCID: PMC11199893.

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