Switching warfarin pills for a few days?

[marc_kowal]

I normally use warfarin from Taro but my 3 month supply may not be here before I run out (there was a problem express scripts mailing these out on time), my cardiologist gave me a 2 week script to use just in case and when I got it filled out at CVS they gave me warfarin pills from Barr labs (they don't use Taro labs). I know some people have had issues with switching manufacturers while others have not. Do you think 2-3 days of a different brand would make a big difference? I may call my cardio just to see what they say and then call other drugstores in the area and see if any of them can get the Taro pills in.

 

[Protimenow]

Naaah. They are supposed to be bioequivalent. If you have a meter, you can always test your INR after taking the new pills for a few days. (This is what I did a few years ago, when I ordered my warfarin from an Indian pharmacy -- and got Taro-manufactured Warfarin. Since then, I've either gotten the generics at my local pharmacy - 90 days for ten bucks, or Costco (even less expensive)). As long as the dose that you're taking remains the same, and you don't change anything that WOULD influence your INR, you should be fine -- especially for only a few days.

I've gotten to where I trust the generics from Barr or Taro -- and I test weekly anyway.

 

[dick0236]

I agree that it should not be a problem. I used to switch between Taro and Barr frequently due to drug store inventories with little noticable problem. However, because of FDA allowable tolerances, I now stay with one or the other of these two brands for long periods ...currently Barr. I do think(???) it makes INR testing consistency a little easier.

 

[pellicle]

What I read suggests that there is little measurable difference to INR. So it should be all OK. Naturally, test a few days into it and see.

Do you self test?

 

[marc_kowal]

Thanks for the responses guys. I didn't think it would make too much of a difference, but I figure I'd ask people who have done it before. @Pellicle- Yes, I home test once a week with an InRatio2.