There are a few clinics popping up around the United States that specialize in the stop smoking shot. It sounds too good to be true – a shot to quit smoking, but many users are convinced that the shot is truly a miracle.
The SMART shot, a combination of two drugs called Scopolamine (used in the sea sickness pill) and Atarax (an antihistamine), helps block nicotine from being picked up by the nicotine receptors in the brain. This can help ease the common withdrawal symptoms many people experience when quitting smoking.
The original stop smoking shot used atropine, which could make people experience tachycardia, or rapid heart rate. It also contained Thorazine, which is an anti-psychotic drug! The new shot works quite differently, and unlike the old shot, it only requires one shot instead of three. (The original required two shots behind the ear and one in the buttocks.)
Two of the most popular clinics that use the new shot are in Atlanta, Georgia and Tampa, Florida. Other clinics are opening up around the country, but as of now those are the two busiest clinics.
A shot is a good solution for people who have tried to stop smoking through various methods and haven’t been able to, or don’t have the discipline to use other methods. Since the shot doesn’t require you to remember to use certain aids, it can help you even if you can’t remember to use patches, pills, or gum.
Another type of shot called QUIT 1-2-3 has also made it onto the market. It’s a bit different than the SMART shot, treating the psychological aspects of smoking rather than just the physical symptoms.
Both types of stop smoking shot require administration by a medical professional, so you’ll have to visit a clinic to get it. I recommend looking for a reputable clinic, because you want to be sure you’re getting the real thing and not a placebo or something that could potentially be harmful.