You may have begun to see signs for a "Stop Smoking Shot," but is it a miracle or just another scam designed to part you from your money? Maybe you've tried acupuncture, the patch, nicotine gum, fake cigarettes, hypnotism and every other trick in the book, but are you ready for this?

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

An Introduction to the Smoking Injection

The smoking shot isn't an injection of nicotine to help you get over your addiction. Unlike the patch or nicotine gum, it attempts to relive withdrawal symptoms by injecting you with, essentially, antidepressants that give your brain the same "high" as nicotine.

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

There have only been a minimal number of studies done on the stop smoking shot. While the data from these studies would suggest that the shot has close to an 80% success rate, it's important to note that this data was collected only about a month or two after the treatments were administered.

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

What Happens When You Get the Shot

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

Once your injections are complete, you need to continue wearing a patch behind your ear and taking complimentary drugs for two additional weeks. At that point, you and your doctor will decide if additional treatment is needed.

Safety of the Drugs

The smoking cessation shot is not technically approved by the FDA. The drugs used are approved and doctors are allowed to administer them, but they're not intended to be used as a smoking cessation tool.

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.

Side Effects Associated With the Shot

Common side effects of the stop smoking shot include dizziness, dry mouth, confusion, blurred vision and trouble urinating. However, these side effects are typically temporary and tend to disappear. If you're pregnant or suffer from a heart condition, this treatment isn't for you.