Drug structure and treatment algorithms: treatment of hypertension

The objective of this manuscript is to describe and document the usefulness of incorporating drug structure knowledge in treatment algorithms in our medicinal chemistry courses. Treatment algorithms from therapeutics textbooks and recommendations from major health organizations for treatment of different disease states were incorporated as part of an instructional model to teach clinically relevant medicinal chemistry. Drug structure knowledge pertinent to the use of different drug classes used for the treatment of various diseases is introduced to help students apply that knowledge. Examples of hypertension treatment are provided to illustrate how this knowledge is incorporated into the treatment algorithm for hypertension. Student subjective and objective data are provided as evidence of student learning.