Is the atropine shot effective for helping to quit smoking?

There is not scientific evidence as of 2015 to show that atropine shots help patients quit smoking, though some physicians might prescribe and administer them, according to ABC News. Doctors generally use atropine to block nerve receptors, before anesthesia, or in eye or heart surgery, reports the Smithsonian.

Atropine shots may seem effective because smokers who try various ways to quit may also be more determined to quit and therefore succeed, suggests ABC News. Smoking cessation is not among the standard uses of atropine, as detailed on WebMD. However, it is good for patients to have many different methods to quit smoking available, notes Psychology Today.