Objectives: To compare the duration of labour and rate of cervical dilatation with drotaverine hydrochloride and valethamate bromide in first stage of labour. Materials and methods: Sixty consecutive uncomplicated primigarvida with spontaneous onset of labour, at term gestation with vertex presentation were selected and randomized into two groups of 30 each. One group received drotaverine hydrochloride and another group received valethamate bromide as per protocol. Duration of labour, rate of cervical dilatation, maternal and fetal outcome were studied. Results: The mean rate of progress of labour in the drotaverine group (4.2 cm/hr) was significantly faster than that of the valethamate group (1.92 cm/hr). The mean duration of labour in the drotaverine group (167.85 minutes) was significantly lower than that of the valethamate group (297.06). 17% of the drotaverine group patients had instrumental deliveries as compared to 20% of the valethamate, which was not significant. One patient (in the drotaverine group) had Cesarean section. The most commonly observed maternal side effects were nausea and vomiting. Neither of the groups had serious complications. There was no significant difference in the fetal outcome. Conclusion: Drotaverine hydrochloride is more effective in dilating the cervix, thereby reducing the duration of labour, than valethamate bromide.