Coumadin VS Warfarin

[Jeff Summers]

Here's a poll question. I'm thinking about making the switch from Coumadin to Warfarin, based on the rising costs of coumadin with my insurance. I am always in the 2.5-3.5 INR range, and check at the Dr's office every 8-10 weeks. What say you all? Coumadin or Warfarin, and if you made the switch did it mess with your INR.

 

[Ross]

Age old question that has been answered many times over. The only difference is cost. I've used both, with each other, seperately and every which way. Never did make a difference in my INR. Some people swear that only Name brand keeps them stable, but there is no real proof of this.

 

[csutherland]

Same here with Jerry. No difference whatsoever.

 

[catwoman]

There was no difference -- other than my checkbook .
When I asked my PCP's office to write Rxes for warfarin instead of Coumadin, his RN was really hesitant, saying my INR would change. I just reminded her I home-test and would notice any difference pretty quickly.

Al Lodwick posted something here in the last week or so about a study that found no difference in INRs on Coumadin or warfarin. Check it out. I'm going to print it out for my PCP's office.

 

[ccrawford]

I made the switch with no problems. Now my drug insurance provider has chosen to use Coumadin for the generic option so I'll swith back again with no qualms. I also have 100 sample tablets from another manufacturer which I will use soon- again with no qualms about doing so. Some docs are nervous about switching, but there have been some recent tests that disprove any concerns. Go do it and same some greenbacks !!!

 

[tommy]

Jeff,
My cardio still refuses to accept the generic. He claims that the time release is not consistent in Warfarin as it is with Coumadin. I choose not to argue with him, but based on what has been posted in here, I would try Warfarin if the script was written that way.

Chris,
Who is your drug ensurer. Medco bills Coumadin as "brand preferred" - not as expensive as "brand non-preferred", but not as inexpensive as "generic".

 

[Karlynn]

Jeff,
My cardio still refuses to accept the generic. He claims that the time release is not consistent in Warfarin as it is with Coumadin. I choose not to argue with him, but based on what has been posted in here, I would try Warfarin if the script was written that way.

My cardio refuses to accept generic too. She says she has seen the ingredient lists and won't write a script for it. Like you Tom, I don't argue. She seems to be in line with most other things. (Except for keeping my INR above 3.0 because of a low hematocrit). Al says there's no difference. That's good enough for me. I stay with her because I trust her, even though I may disagree with her every now and then. I'm sure if I brought her the information she'd read it and discuss it some more, but I don't choose to fight that battle right now. I will if my Coumadin RX cost goes too high for me though.

 

[Guest]

Time release is one of the least important things to consider in a drug that takes 2 to 3 days exert its effect. Sounds like a doc who makes up his own rules as he goes along.

Time release is important when you have baby gasping for air with pneumonia, not for the day in day out dosing of warfarin.

 

[Barry]

I have more problems with an unstable INR when I'm on generic Warfarin than when I take brand-name Coumadin.

 

[catwoman]

When my PCP starts footing the bill for my Rxes and when my insurance plan covers Coumadin at the same price as generic, I'll use Coumadin.

All I had to do to persuade my PCP to write scrips for generic was to show him printouts from my insurer's website comparing the price for Coumadin vs. generic. He agreed to write for generic.

Coumadin is 2-3 times the price I pay for generic.

 

[ccrawford]

Tom - My drug insurance is with Caremark. So far I'm satisfied with their service. They even email me when it ok to place a reorder - that's pretty nice.

 

[perrybucsdad]

I'm the same as Ross and some of the others. Used both, never noticed much of a difference.

I see more of a difference when I don't watch my diet or do a kegger with friends (well, don't do that much any more) than with generic or brand name. I'd rather get generic and spend the savings on my wife and kids.

- John