Doctors' Answers to "Frequently Asked Questions" - Electrical Shock Injuries

These comments are made for the purpose of discussion and should NOT be used as recommendations for or against therapies or other treatments. An indi vidual patient is always advised to consult their own physician.

[posted 11/8/1999]
Question: I have a new Honda Civic 99. For the past month or two, every time I get out of the car after driving in it, when I go to close the door I get an electric shock. This does not happen to my husband or to my mother, just to me. One time, my husband came around and closed the door for me and we both stood there in the driveway not touching the car I touched him and there was an electric shock.

I would like to know why this is happening to me and if it is doing me any harm. I cannot figure out why it is happening to me and not my husband or mother. I currently take 2.5 mg of Parlodel daily to treat hyperprolactinemia and I had an MRI in September.

Thank you

Answer: You are building up a capacitance electrical charge. Usually due to shoes, clothing not allowing the charge to dissipate slowly. No harm other than being startled.

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