The craving for nicotine can be suppressed by a stop smoking shot that uses anticholiergic drugs (for example scopolamine and atropine). Before going ahead with the treatment it’s recommended to do a medical examination because it can cause side effects.

Over a period of 60 – 90 minutes the treatment involves one injection in the hip or the arm, and afterwards behind the ear. After the shots have been administrated the patient is required to take atropine tablets, and wear a scopolamine patch for about two weeks.

Partially covered by insurance, the treatment costs 350-500$, and is supplemented by educational aids, and for bringing behavior change among the patients, counseling is supplemented as well.

Blocking the nicotine receptors prevents withdrawal symptoms, and it is one of the reasons for which people recommend the treatment. Others say that that only happens if high doses or atropine are injected.

According to some studies, some clinics claim a success rate of 80%, but in reality 40% people who took this treatment stopped smoking. Some people believe that more work needs to be done before establishing the efficacy of these drugs, and tend to be quite critical of anti smoking shots.

Confusion, dry mouth, blurred vision, difficulty in urinating, dizziness is commonly side effects that can appear after administrating the anti-smoking shots. Excessive doses of anticholinergic drugs can cause even hallucinations, heart attack, coma and stroke.

Individual who have heart rhythm problems, pregnant women, people with prostate problems or people under mood-altering drugs medication are not advised to take the treatment. It is for the best to leave this treatment as a last resort. Reading the instructions carefully is also important, but most important is to find out the rate of success and the reputation offered by clinics.