Are Coumadin
Warfarin
This medication is used to treat blood clots and/or to prevent new clots from forming in your body.
Full Answer
Can Marevan be used to replace Coumadin?
After questioning, we established that the patient was well and that brand substitution had occurred. The Coumadin was stopped and replaced with Marevan and the INR returned to an acceptable level. It was fortunate that the initial INR was not higher as the brand substitution could easily have placed the patient at risk of haemorrhage.
How does Coumadin compare to warfarin for thinning blood?
Add to compare. Coumadin is effective at "thinning the blood" (reducing the ability of the blood to clot); however, a number of factors affect blood levels of Coumadin including diet, ethnicity, other medications,... more Warfarin tablets are effective at "thinning" the blood; however, a number of factors affect warfarin blood levels...
Is there more than one brand of warfarin available?
Phasing out formulations of warfarin so only one brand is available, with support from the local regulatory drug agency, including advisory information and support for patients and clinicians, would resolve the confusion. None declared. [1] Product Information: Marevan, Coumadin. Aspen Pharmacare Australia Pty Ltd. eMIMS (accessed 5/7/2015).
What happens if warfarin is not started with an anticoagulant?
If warfarin is not started with an additional anticoagulant, it is likley that the patient will experience blood clots. As warfarin works by interfering with vitamin K, a consistent amount of this vitamin must be consumed every day. Warfarin is monitored by testing that is referred to as an INR test or protime.
Can you substitute warfarin for generic?
As brand substitution is not allowed for warfarin products on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, hospital and community pharmacists should be wary about generic prescriptions and involve themselves in educating doctors and patients. Not only should they check which brand the patient is currently on, but also stress to the patient the importance of staying on that particular brand, in order to avoid possible variations in anticoagulant status.
Is Coumadin bioequivalent to Marevan?
It is reasonable to suggest from this patient that the brands are not bioequivalent.
Abstract
Aim: Warfarin is the most frequently prescribed antithrombotic agent, available in Australia as brands Coumadin and Marevan. Although both are manufactured by Aspen Pharmaceuticals, there are differences in formulation. The product information states they cannot be used interchangeably.
Cite this
Chen, F., Wang, I., Graudins, L. V., & Hopper, I. (2016). Is switching anticoagulant brands safe – Coumadin and Marevan? Australian Medical Student Journal, 7 (1), 22 - 28.
Does diet affect warfarin?
Nutrition and diet can affect your treatment with warfarin. Therefore, it is important to keep...
Does Coumadin thin blood?
Coumadin is effective at "thinning the blood" (reducing the ability of the blood to clot); however, several factors can affect blood levels including diet, ethnicity, other medications, and illness... Warfarin tablets are effective at "thinning" the blood; however, several factors affect warfarin blood levels including diet ...
What is a low molecular weight heparin?
Low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) also fall under the anticoagulant category. They inhibit Factors Xa and IIa. Some examples in this class are Normiflo (ardeparin), Fragmin (dalteparin), Orgarin (danaparoid), Lovenox (enoxaparin), and Innohep (tinzaparin). All of these drugs are administered by injection. They can be done at home and can come in vials or pre-filled syringes. Some people may feel squeamish about self-injecting. I know I was worried at first. The needle on my pre-filled Lovenox syringes were very sharp and went in smoothly without effort. LMWH can be used when a patient is starting a warfarin regimen. This will prevent clots during the beginning of warfarin anticoagulation. LMWH also can be used as a stand alone treatment or prevention of blood clots. This drug class has some additional unique uses. It can be used as a prophylactic before a long haul flight or car trip to prevent clots, it can be used during pregnancy to help someone with a clotting condition to carry the baby to term without complications, and it can be used as a bridge therapy so that warfarin is cleared out of the body prior to surgery. One of the best parts of these medications is that the patient does not need blood tests to assess blood levels. The down side is that this class is very new and is high cost.
Where are anticoagulants made?
Clotting factors and anticoagulants are made in the liver. They have the ability to turn on or turn off as needed. When they turn on, the fibrin can activate and turn into a net that covers the place that is torn and bleeding. The fibrin web catches platelets and other blood cells to form a strong patch that can allow the body to stop bleeding and begin to heal. When blood clots are not needed, the body makes anticoagulant to prevent the clots and also creates enzymes to dissolve any unneeded clots.
How do direct thrombin inhibitors work?
The direct thrombin inhibitor class has some of the newest anticoagulants on the market. They work by binding to the thrombin molecule. Thrombin is a protein that is involved in clotting. It activates many of the clotting factors, including Factor V. There are two ways in which direct thrombin inhibitors act. They can bind to thrombin on the active site (univalent) or on both the active site and exosite 1 (bivalent). Bivalent DTIs may be used in circumstances in which heparin is indicated but not available as an option. They are administered by injection and are not used for long term anitcoagulation. Argatroban is a treatment option when a patient experiences a very rare, life threatening complication of heparin known as heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Dabigatran (Pradaxa) is the most common of this class. Pradaxa is a recently approved medication and is affective for stroke prophylaxis and atrial fibrillation. The benefit of Pradaxa is that it does not require routine blood monitoring. (Currently, there is no standardized test available to measure the anticoagulant effects of this class of drugs.) The largest problem with this class of drugs is the high risk of bleeding complications.
How do anticoagulants work?
Anticoagulants work by interfering with the formation of the fibrin web. They affect the various clotting factors that the liver produces. Venous clots are caused when stationary blood develops unneeded fibrin webs. For this reason, anticoagulants are the best choice for venous clots.
What is the balance of these substances in the blood that allow blood to clot as needed and only when needed?
These substances are called anticoagulants. It is the balance of these substances in the blood that allow blood to clot as needed and only when needed. Clotting factors and anticoagulants are made in the liver. They have the ability to turn on or turn off as needed.
What is blood thinner?
There are a number of drugs that people refer to as blood thinners. Blood thinners actually encompass several classes of drugs, each of which works in a different way and treats different conditions. Most of these drugs do not actually thin the blood. They may work by keeping blood from sticking together, breaking up clotted blood, or changing the way that blood behaves. This article will explain some of the different drug classes that fall under the general heading of "blood thinner." It will also give tips for using some of the different medications.
Where does heparin come from?
Heparin is a natural anticoagulant that is made by the body. Medical heparin comes from the intestinal mucosal tissue of slaughtered pigs and cows. Heparin has a very short half life (about 1 hour) and therefore must be given in frequent doses or on an IV drip. Blood levels of heparin must be watched carefully.
What is the effect of VKORC1 allelic variants?
The effect of VKORC1 allelic variants is relatively similar for all three VKAs. The CYP2C9 polymorphism is associated with delayed stabilisation for coumarin anticoagulants. The effects of CYP2C9 polymorphisms on the pharmacokinetics and anticoagulant response are least pronounced in the case of phenprocoumon.
What is the impact of CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genotypes?
Individuals who test positive for both variant genotypes are at increased risk of major bleeding. The impact of the CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genotype is most significant during the initial period of coumarin anticoagulant therapy. The effect of VKORC1 allelic variants is relatively similar for all three VKAs.
Is Coumarin an anticoagulant?
Coumarin oral anticoagulant drugs have proven to be effective for the prevention of thromboembolic events. World-wide, warfarin is the most prescribed drug. In Europe, acenocoumarol and phenprocoumon are also administered.
Is phenprocoumon good for anticoagulation?
This leads us to conclude that in the absence of pharmacogenetic testing, phenprocoumon seems preferable for use in long-term therapeutic anticoagulation.