Sounds like back when the original poster started this thread that they were not using the proper sponge electrodes. If I followed it correctly, sounds like once they got them that the shock side effect went away. It's been a few years since then so I would guess they have probably worked out any of the bugs in that time to come up with proper protocols. All the current information that I've seen says the same thing, that irritation at the site of the electrodes is the only side effect.