| Do Stop Smoking Shots sound like a miracle cure? | | | | it if it's for our own good. Besides, the formula for |
| Have you ever said, "If they could only come up with | | | | most of the shots has a numbing ingredient in it so |
| a shot that could make me quit, then I could finally | | | | that you won't feel anything more than a little sting. |
| do it." | | | | If shots make you nervous, ask if the one you're |
| The fact is, there are no miracle cures for Nicotine | | | | considering contains this ingredient. |
| addiction, but there are some methods that have | | | | The original Stop Smoking Shot has been around for |
| shown great promise to finally help smokers kick the | | | | over 20 years. It was developed in the 1980's to help |
| addiction. | | | | people quit smoking. It is a combination of Atropine |
| First of all, if anyone ever advertises a 100% success | | | | and Scopolamine, among other things, and is highly |
| rate, that's your first clue to put your money back in | | | | effective when administered for smoking cessation. |
| your pocket. Secondly, if a program doesn't specialize | | | | Of course, there is no medicine on earth that can |
| in treating Nicotine addiction, then they probably don't | | | | make you stop smoking. The Shot blocks certain |
| know a lot about helping you succeed. Sure, doctors | | | | receptors in the body so that you have no physical |
| know that smoking is bad for you and they know | | | | need for more Nicotine. The net effect is that your |
| how to write a prescription, but quitting smoking is | | | | body doesn't know that you haven't smoked. There |
| more than just taking a shot or a pill. | | | | have been no recent clinical trials to prove success |
| You've probably seen lots of advertisements on the | | | | rates but one national chain of clinics called Welplex |
| web for stop smoking shots. You may have even | | | | sites its tremendous success rates from frequent |
| heard ads on radio or TV if there is a clinic that | | | | patient surveys. According to an Atlanta Clinic where |
| offers that shots in your area. Before you decide to | | | | over 10,000 patients have been treated with the |
| take a shot to quit smoking, you need to have all | | | | shot, most patients are extremely successful. Even |
| your questions answered. | | | | patients who return for a second treatment |
| - Is a Stop Smoking Shot right for you? | | | | acknowledge that the shot was a successful method |
| - Are they safe? | | | | for quitting and that bad behavior was the cause for |
| - How many shots do I have to have? | | | | the relapse. |
| - I hate needles. Do the shots hurt? | | | | If you look on the web, you may find several listing |
| - Do the shots really work? | | | | for clinics in your area that administer the Stop |
| - What's different about each one? | | | | Smoking Shot. Beware! These clinics are not all the |
| - Is the Stop Smoking Shot the same as a vaccine? | | | | same. The differences in these clinics may be the |
| - Will the Shot work for me? | | | | keys to your success or failure with the program. |
| There are a number of things to consider when | | | | First of all, look at the medications in the shot. The |
| deciding if the Shot if right for you. Legitimate | | | | original and most successful program uses Atropine, |
| programs perform medical testing to determine if | | | | an anticholinergic, as an ingredient in the shot. Some |
| you are a good candidate for the shot. At the very | | | | copycat programs use an antihistamine called Atarax |
| least, a clinic should do an EKG, a PFT and check | | | | which has anticholinergic properties. These drugs are |
| your blood pressure. A medical professional will then | | | | not the same and generally will have different results. |
| determine if you meet the criteria for treatment. | | | | Ask which combination of medications is being used |
| There are certain conditions and medications that will | | | | at the clinic that you're considering. Medications are |
| prevent you from taking the Shot. Be sure to | | | | not the only difference to look for when choosing a |
| disclose your complete medical history when you fill | | | | clinic. Choose a clinic that offers a multi-pronged |
| out forms prior to treatment. In addition to the | | | | approach to treatment. Smoking cessation is most |
| medical determination of your physical condition, you | | | | successful when treated as a process. That means |
| should also ask yourself if you are really ready to | | | | that not only should the physical addiction be |
| quit. The shot is not right for you if you are not | | | | addressed, but the emotional and psychological |
| ready to quit smoking. If you have any medical | | | | components of addiction must also be dealt with. If a |
| concerns, it's important to discuss them with the | | | | clinic does not provide one-on-one counseling and |
| treating physician and also with your primary care | | | | behavior modification therapy as well as on-going |
| physician prior to treatment. | | | | availability and support by experienced counselors, |
| Most experts will agree that the Stop Smoking Shots | | | | your chances of success are greatly diminished. Make |
| are safe when given by licensed and trained medical | | | | sure you choose a clinic with an established program |
| professionals. All of the medications used by licensed | | | | before you spend your money. |
| clinics are FDA approved medications and are used in | | | | The Stop Smoking Shot and the stop smoking |
| dosages considered to be safe. Although the Shot | | | | vaccine are not the same thing. You may occasionally |
| itself is not FDA approved for smoking cessation, it is | | | | read articles that mistakenly refer to the vaccine as |
| used in an "off label" manor similar to aspirin being | | | | the stop smoking shot. The vaccine is not currently |
| prescribed for prevention of heart attacks. The | | | | available in the United States but is scheduled to go |
| medications used in the shots have been in use by | | | | into clinical trials. It is a medication developed by a |
| physicians for many years for other treatments. It is | | | | Swiss company to form Nicotine antibodies and make |
| the specific combination of medications that makes | | | | Nicotine less desirable for smokers. It is also being |
| these shots so effective for smoking cessation. | | | | studied to help smokers who have already quit |
| The majority of clinics that administer the Stop | | | | maintain their success. It seems that this treatment |
| Smoking Shot offer it as a one time treatment. | | | | will require multiple injections over a long period of |
| There's no tapering down or weaning process. You | | | | time to achieve the desired effect. The biggest |
| actually quit the day you have the shot. There are | | | | concern with this treatment is the same as with the |
| usually three shots given during one visit to the clinic. | | | | stop smoking pill. Without effective and on-going |
| The treatment generally calls for one shot in the arm | | | | support and counseling for behavior modification, |
| or buttocks and the one shot with a tiny needle | | | | success rates are probably going to be excessively |
| under the skin behind each ear. Follow-up medication | | | | low. |
| is prescribed to be taken for two weeks after the | | | | Will the Stop Smoking Shot work for you? That all |
| shot to continue the blocking effect. | | | | depends on you. Make sure that you're ready to quit. |
| Most people hate shots and sometimes even the | | | | Then, do your research. Check out the clinic and |
| sight of a needle can make them queasy. The Stop | | | | treatment program that offers the shot. Ask |
| Smoking Shot should not be a painful experience. As | | | | questions. You are the only person that can make |
| adults, we know that sometimes shots are | | | | you not smoke. Quitting smoking is hard, but with the |
| necessary to bring us back to good health. We just | | | | right medicine, professional counseling and support, |
| have to put our grown-up attitudes on and deal with | | | | and commitment, you can succeed. |