Does the Stop Smoking Injection Absolutely Accomplish the Goal?

The stop smoking shot is a new player in the field of smoking cessation treatments, but does it actually work? Or is it a waste of money? The answer is that it may work for some and fail for others. Whether the smoking shot is for you will depend on your willpower and motivation to quit.

To find out if the smoking cessation shot is for you, read on.

An Overview of the Shot

You're not injected with nicotine. Instead, you receive a shot with mood enhancers which are designed to limit your withdrawal symptoms and trick your brain into thinking it's getting all the wonderful feelings that nicotine gives it, but without actually having to ingest nicotine or tobacco products.

For some people, this placebo effect works and for others the physical symptoms of nicotine withdrawal are too strong to quit. For the smoking injection to work, a quitter needs to be committed and willing to combine the treatment with other smoking cessation strategies like limiting habit triggers and reducing stress.

It's Effectiveness

Unfortunately, the stop smoking shot hasn't been around long enough to be subject to any long-term studies. And while most providers of the shot claim it has an 80% effective rate, those figures aren't based on long-term research. It's unclear how effective the shot is over a long period of time like 1 to 10 years.

There are currently no studies that illustrate the long-term efficacy of the smoking cessation shot.

The Process

There are currently no studies that illustrate the long-term efficacy of the smoking cessation shot.

Once their treatment is over, individuals receiving them must then go home and continue to take pills for two weeks while wearing a small patch behind the ear that releases a steady flow of drugs to the system.

Safety of the Drugs

The drugs used in most smoking injections are not intended as smoking cessation aids, nor are they approved for it. However, doctors are allowed to administer them as part of a stop smoking program.

Treatment Cost

For a smoking cessation injection and two-week treatment course, you should expect to pay between $300 and $600, depending on the clinic. Many health insurance companies will cover these costs as part of their stop-smoking strategies.

Common Side Effects

Side effects of the stop smoking shot are temporary and rare. They'll typically only last for the first day after the shot is administered and include dry mouth, disorientation, blurry vision and urinary difficulties. If you have a heart condition or are pregnant, you should not get the shot.