Objective To evaluate the association of multidrug resistance gene 1 (MDR1) polymorphism with the effectiveness of calcium channel blockers (CCB) therapy in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Methods The distribution of MDR1 polymorphism were investigated in 215 ESRD patients from Haikou Xiangya Hospital of Central South University using polymerase chain reaction and bidirectional sequencing. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the association between polymorphisms and efficacy of CCB. Results The MDR1 genotype distribution was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The patients in the standard hypertension group who carried the CT allele had a higher serum creatinine level (P = 0.020) when compared to those who carried TT and CC genotypes (P < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between MDR1 C3435T genotypes and efficacy of CCB (P > 0.05). Conclusions MDR1 polymorphism may not associate with the effectiveness of CCB therapy in ESRD patients. The patients who carry the CT allele have a higher serum creatinine level in the standard hypertension group. Further studies are necessary to validate our findings and to examine whether patients with CT genotype have predisposition to ESRD.