Q: Is Verapmil an anti- malarial drug?

Answer: Sort of !!

Verapamil has shown potential use in the treatment of malaria as an adjuvant treament with chloroquine particularly in resistance. Resistance to chloroquine is caused by the parasite cell's ability to expel the drug outside of its digestive vacuole. Verapamil, when used in combination with chloroquine, enhances the accumulation of chloroquine within a parasitic cell's digestive vacuole, rendering it incapable of detoxifying itself and making it more susceptible to death.

Recent resistance to the anti-malarial drug chloroquine has hindered the treatment of malaria in Southeast Asia, South America and Africa. Adjuvant use of verapamil may be useful in such circumstances.


Martin, S.; Oduola, A.; Milhous, W. (1987). "Reversal of chloroquine resistance in Plasmodium falciparum by verapamil". Science 235 (4791): 899–901