If you're a smoker, you know how hard it is to quit. In fact, the physical withdrawal from nicotine can be as intense as one from drugs. If you've tried quitting on your own and failed, you might be ready to get some medical help. The SMART shot, short for scopalamine mediated anticholingergenic receptor treatment, is an injection administered by a doctor to help ease the physical discomfort of quitting smoking.
Step 1
Locate a doctor in your area who administers the SMART shot and make an appointment.
Step 2
Prepare your social support system for your new post-smoking life before the appointment. The SMART shot will help with the physical withdrawal symptoms you may experience, but you are responsible for setting yourself up for psychological success.
Step 3
Make a plan for how you will avoid areas where people smoke, what you will do instead of smoking when the urge hits and how you will hold yourself accountable.
Step 4
Discuss the SMART shot with the doctor. He will explain that the injection is made from a combination of two drugs, scopalamine, which is used in medications for sea sickness, and Atarax, which is an antihistamine. The SMART shot blocks the nicotine receptors in your brain that cause the physical dependence on smoking.
Step 5
Allow the doctor to inject you in the hip or the buttock. You will receive follow-up medication and a patch to be used for the next two weeks to continue blocking the nicotine receptors in your brain.
Step 6
Execute the stop-smoking plan you made before your doctor's appointment. Create new routines and habits that don't include cigarettes. If you are having trouble, get help from friends, support groups or a counselor.
Tips and Warnings
- Follow your doctor's instructions for follow-up care for the best results.
- Inform your doctor of all the medications you are currently taking to avoid potentially dangerous drug combinations.
Things You'll Need
- Doctor
