A stop smoking shot uses anticholinergic drugs like scopolamine and atropine to suppress the craving for nicotine. Since it can cause side effects, doctors advise medical examination before allowing the patients to go ahead with the treatment.
Usually the treatment involves taking one injection in the hip or the arm, followed by two behind the ear over a period of 60 to 90 minutes. After this the patient has to take atropine tablets, and wear a scopolamine patch behind the ear for two weeks.
The treatment costs $350 to $500, and is partially covered by insurance. It is supplemented by educational aids and counseling to bring about a behavior change among patients.
People who recommend the treatment say that the shots prevent withdrawal symptoms by blocking the nicotine receptors. Others say that this happens only when very high doses of atropine are injected.
According to one study, about 40% of the people who took this treatment stopped smoking, though some clinics claim a success rate of 80%. There are some who are quite critical of anti smoking shots. They believe that more work needs to be done before establishing the efficacy of these drugs.
The side effects commonly associated with anti-smoking shots are blurred vision, difficulty in urinating, dizziness, dry mouth, confusion, etc. Hallucinations, heart attack, coma and stroke may be caused by excessive doses of anticholinergic drugs.
The treatment is certainly not advisable for women who are pregnant, or for individuals who have heart rhythm problems, prostate problems or are taking mood-altering drugs. It is best to opt for the treatment as a last resort. You therefore need to find out the rate of success, the reputation and the support offered by clinics that offer stop smoking shots. You also need to follow all the instructions carefully.
