Efficacy and safety of meglumine antimoniate and sodium stibogluconate BP 88R were compared in cutaneous leishmaniasis treatment in Corte de Pedra, Bahia, an endemic area of leishmaniasis due to Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis. An open trial was developed with one hundred twenty seven patients who were diagnosed based on clinical criteria and Montenegro's skin test. Fifty eight patients were treated with meglumine antimoniate and 69 received sodium stibogluconate. Both groups received 20 mg/Sbv/kg/day for 20 days. Patients were followed every ten days during treatment and every month thereafter for three months. Sixty two percent patients cured with meglumine antimoniate and 55% cured with sodium stibogluconate (p = 0.42). Headache was more frequent during the first half of treatment in patients receiving sodium stibogluconate (p = 0.026). During the second half, patients treated with sodium stibogluconate showed a greater frequency of myalgia/arthralgia (p = 0.004) and abdominal pain/anorexia (p = 0.004). Three patients treated with sodium stibogluconate had severe side effects.