Coumadin vs. Warfarin

[Gnusgal]

Alright, I know I've heard people debate this subject before, but I didn't pay attention at the time. However, I got refills on my meds the other day, and now that I'm out of my 4mg Coumadin, I pulled out the new bottle. Only it's Warfarin, not Coumadin. So is this going to completely mess up my INR? It is quite a bit cheaper, which I like, but what should I expect my INR to come out as? Will it be higher? lower? what? And I know I've read about people knowing which generic brand they use, but where does one find that information? Should I just take these bottles back and ask for my Coumadin, or work towards using the Warfarin? I'm about to mail in my prescriptions to expresscipts, but I don't know if they would end up giving me one or the other... Arg! Why can't they be exactly the same???

Thanks,

 

[Rich]

Niki,
Al will probably answer this one, he certainly is the expert.
A lot of companies have been instructed to fill scrips with generics unless the doctor says otherwise.
He/she has to put DAW(dispense as written) on the prescription or you probably will get the generic.
Although I don't have a problem with generics(they certainly are a lot cheaper) I have seen my wife have big trouble when she got switched from Coumadin to the Warfarin.
She started internal bleeding but when we got her back on Coumadin she was OK.
Fortunately she only had to stay on it for a couple of months unlike us who need it for a lifetime.
My cardiologist said one or the other is OK but once established never, never switch.
Because Iv'e never had a problem in almost seven years on Coumadin I'll stick with it and pay a little more for it.

 

[JimL]

I get my warfarin via mail order, works great. There's probably little difference between coumadin and warfarin, but consistency in what you take is the key.

My label says:
WARFARIN SOD 5 MG TABS (PEACH)
Generic for COUMADIN 5 MG TABLET(PEACH)
BARR

Don't be concerned about the warfarin. Since you're on the D-con for the long term, you might as well get used to the cheaper kind.

 

[Ross]

http://www.warfarinfo.com/generic.htm

 

[Gnusgal]

one more question

one more question

I'm thinking I might try switching just to save some money (going to talk to my card about it today, though) but I'm wondering one more thing. I ran out of my 4mg way before my 5mg pills. Is it a problem to mix the two (take 5mg coumadin and 4mg warfarin)? Last night I took a 5mg and 4 of my 1mg so I could talk to my card before switching anything. I have a ProTime monitor, so I will definitly keep a close eye on my INR.

Thanks for the responses!

 

[Ross]

The mixing of brand and generic is something I think I would avoid. I have no evidence to back up that statement, but I think it's better to use one or the other but not both.

Oh Mr. Lodwick help me out here please.

 

[Granbonny]

My Warfarin

My Warfarin

Bottle..says the EXACT thing as Jim L. I get mine filled at Eckerd's and I have 94 refills remaining. 8 Years?? Bonnie

 

[JimL]

I wouldn't hesitate to use up the remaining coumadin or warfarin, but for the future, I would aim at getting only one or the other, since consistency is the key.

 

[Sunshine susan]

Hi--the same thing happened to me this last go-round with a new prescription. The pharmacist gave me Warfarin instead of Coumadin. I took it back, and the cost difference was almost nothing when I received the coumadin--like only a couple of dollars. I have a very active life and high stress job and just didn't want to be concerned with any changes that could throw me out of kilter. I have been very consistent for over 4 years now in my INR results, sooooo, figured the cost differential was worth it to not risk rocking the boat. Susan

 

[Guest]

I recommend generic and see no problem with switching.

But I also drive a 1991 Colt.

I hate spending more money for something than is absolutely necessary.

 

[John & Joann]

Cleveland Clinic recommend that Joann stay on the coumadin (because it has worked for 32+ years). The definately do not recommend changing from one to another.

Somewhere I read that the generic made by Barr is the best. There are other companies that also make generic. That is part of the problem. Their controls are not consistent.

 

[Rich]

John,
You said enough to convince me to stay on Coumadin for the rest of my life.
Iv'e only got about seven years on it so far but absolutely no problems.
I doubt I'll see 32+years on it but every year these days is one more than I thought I would.
Good for Joann, sounds like you are both doing well.

 

[dano]

I asked about the difference between the two and my doc said that the Coumadin is well regulated and when it says 5 mg, it is 5 mg. His thoughts are that some of the generics may not have quite the same control. But, he also said that he would be ok with a generic, if you could always get the generic from the same company (lab not pharmarcy). That way, if there was a difference, it would hopefully be consistent. Might take a different dosage with generic than Coumadin, but if the generic was the same every time, it should be able to be regulated.

My only concern with that is knowing if the generic brand this month was from the same company as last month. He thought that the pills would look slightly different, if they came from a different company. Not sure if that is the case. I'm still getting the Coumadin since I was trying to get the right dosage.

 

[KristyW]

Generic Warfarin here

Generic Warfarin here

I've been on the generic warfarin by Barr labs since I was discharged from the hospital. Mostly because my insurance will NOT pay for Coumadin. I have had absolutely no problems with the generic whatsoever! The only troubles that I have had, have been caused by my own inconsistencies with my vitamins. If you were concerned about not getting the same generic each time, you may want to check with your pharmacist...they are a wealth of information. More than likely, they use the same generic manufacturer all the time.

Hope this helps.

 

[Rain]

I'm currently taking coumadin & warfarin.

I'm currently taking coumadin & warfarin.

Nikki,

The same thing happened to me! I?ve been taking coumadin forever. Then I decided to start getting my coumadin through the mail with my other meds. Well.... they sent me warfarin! Grrrrrr I went through a million phone calls, finally had my cardio call a new prescription to a local pharmacy... but my insurance wouldn?t cover it... because the prescription had just been filled through the mail for 3 months! Grrrrrr!! Finally decided it just wasn?t worth it.... I?d just take the flippin warfarin. I still had almost a full bottle of 2 ½ mg coumadin. So for the last month or so I?ve been taking the 2 ½mg pill of coumadin with a 1 mg pill of warfarin. I was so mad at the pharmacists, the insurance people, the nurses in my cardios office.... didn?t ask anyone.... I?ve just been doing it. And I?m gonna keep doing it until its gone. At the end of the three month supply I?ll make a decision whether to go back to coumadin or not.

The other thing that makes me so mad at my insurance people is that I have to pay two copays for the same prescription!! If I want 2 ½ mg pills and 1 mg pills I have to pay $25.00 for each bottle. Do you guys have to do that? Seems so ridiculous to me. I even had my cardio write a prescription stating that I need both pills to acquire the desired dosage.... they STILL make me pay two co-pays. $15.00 each for generic.

I think insurance companies are the biggest rip off artists in the world!!

And Al.... I drive a 2002 Explorer... but you see, you probably know how to fix your car if it dies in the road... I don?t! I just wanna know that baby is gonna get me where I wanna go and back home with no problems. Same with the rotten coumadin...

 

[Guest]

Me, mechanical??? I don't even have tools in the car.

I call AAA.

But my wife has a 2001 Crown Victoria that we take out of town