Background and rationale : Varenicline is a partial agonist at the α-4 β-2 subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor that appears to aid smoking cessation by alleviates nicotinic dependent symptoms and leads to success for smoking cessation. Both of psychosocial counseling and pharmacotherapy are effective to quit smoking. The hospital admission also provides the chance to help the patient to abstinence smoking. In this study, we determine the efficacy and safety of Varenicline with Nortriptyline for smoking cessation in hospitalized smokers. Material and methods : A double blind randomized controlled trial was conducted. We recruited active smoking hospitalized patients, smoked 10 cigarettes/d or more and aged 18 - 75 years. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive brief counseling and Varenicline titrated to 1 mg twice per day , Nortriptyline 12.5- 50 mg per day orally for 12 weeks. Smoking status was established by self-report and confirmed at clinic visits by exhaled CO measurement. The primary end point was compared the efficacy of Varenicline and Nortriptyline for short-term treating smoking cessation in the inpatient setting. The secondary end point includes the adverse events and Point prevalence Abstinence Rate (PAR)at weeks 2,4,8,12 and 16 of treatment. Results : A total of 51 participants were enrolled in the study, 25 and 26 to Varenicline and Nortriptyline respectively. Subjects were aged 22-72 years (mean age, 49.8 and 50.9 years for Varenicline and Nortriptyline, respectively), mean of previous attempts 3.52 and 2.88, and had smoked a mean 16.1 and 15.8 cigarettes/d over the past month respectively. The PARs of Varenicline at week 2,4,8,12 and 16 were 28%, 56%, 60%, 60%and 60%, respectively. The PARs of Nortriptyline at week 2,4,8,12 and 16 were 42%,57%,65,65 and 57%,respectively. PARs tended to be no statistical significant between Varenicline and Nortriptyline over 12 weeks on treatment and follow up phase. The patients who were on Varenicline had the nausea symptoms (2/25), headache (3/25), but no complaint of the sleep disturbance symptoms on this study. The patients who were on Nortriptyline had the dry mouth (2/26). Cost of Varenicline and Nortriptyline medication is 10,800 and 135 bahts/12wks, respectively. Conclusion : Nortriptyline is as effective as varenicline for smoking cessation in the inpatient setting with minor adverse effect. Therefore, nortriptyline is a cost-effective option for smoking cessation treatment in a resource – limited country.