ask: Could you tell me why you refer to the drug as "Coumadin" and "Warfarin" when "Coumadin" is the generic name for "Warfarin"?

Dear Anon,

Thank you for your question!

Warfarin is the Generic name, and Coumadin is the brand name. This occurs with every medication and both (or more) names are usually used interchangeably. Sometimes you will hear people refer to it as Coumadin while others may refer to the same drug as Warfarin. Basically, when a drug is made it is given a generic name. After it has passed many tests and is ready to be sold to the public, manufacturer's begin to purchase the formulation and give it their own name and look. In Warfarin's case Bristol-Myers-Squibb has reproduced Warfarin into Coumadin and given it its own name.

If you notice, many people refer to Motrin as Ibuprofen or Tylenol as Acetaminophen. It is the same case with Coumadin and Warfarin.

The truth is most, if not all, medications have a generic name and at least one other brand name-- this is why pharmaceutical companies are constantly walking in and out of doctor's office-- trying to convince them to use their product over the other. Hope this answers your question.