What Are Electric Shock Sensations and What Might Cause Them?

Reviewed by Suo Lee, MD

Internal Medicine

Electric shock sensations are sudden, sharp feelings like being zapped that can come from nerve injuries, medication changes, or other conditions. They may be related to actual electrical injury, side effects of certain drugs, or nerve damage.

Explanation

Electric shock sensations feel like a quick zap or jolt running through your body. These feelings can happen when there is damage or irritation to the nerves, such as after an injury to a digital nerve (a nerve in your finger or hand) or even an actual electrical injury. Sometimes, people with cancer or those who stop taking certain medications like venlafaxine suddenly may also feel these shocks. In some cases, medications like clozapine might cause unexpected shocks and even falls. The nerves in your body send signals to help you feel things, and when these signals get mixed up, it can feel like an electric shock. If you are experiencing these kinds of sensations and they worry you or affect your activities, it is important to discuss them with a healthcare provider. They can help find the reason behind these feelings and suggest the best way to feel better.

(References)

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.
Lossos A, Siegal T. Electric shock-like sensations in 42 cancer patients: clinical characteristics and distinct etiologies. J Neurooncol. 1996 Aug;29(2):175-81. doi: 10.1007/BF00182141. PMID: 8858523.
Nielsen KJ, Carstensen O, Kærgaard A, Vestergaard JM, Biering K. Neurological symptoms and disorders following electrical injury: A register-based matched cohort study. PLoS One. 2022 Mar 2;17(3):e0264857. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264857. PMID: 35235596; PMCID: PMC8890633.
Reeves RR, Mack JE, Beddingfield JJ. Shock-like sensations during venlafaxine withdrawal. Pharmacotherapy. 2003 May;23(5):678-81. doi: 10.1592/phco.23.5.678.32198. PMID: 12741444.
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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