{"id":3361,"date":"2018-12-05T21:25:34","date_gmt":"2018-12-06T02:25:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=3361"},"modified":"2025-10-07T13:21:36","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T17:21:36","slug":"eliquis-vs-warfarin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/eliquis-vs-warfarin\/","title":{"rendered":"Eliquis vs. warfarin: Differences, similarities, and which is better for you"},"content":{"rendered":"

Eliquis<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>warfarin<\/span><\/a> are medications used to prevent and treat clotting disorders. Both drugs are <\/span>oral <\/span>anticoagulants<\/span><\/a> that lower the <\/span>risk of stroke<\/span>, <\/span>deep vein thrombosis<\/span>, and other clotting disorders by preventing blood clots. <\/span>Blood thinners<\/span> like <\/span>Eliquis<\/span> and <\/span>warfarin<\/span> are usually prescribed by a <\/span>cardiologist<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although both <\/span>Eliquis<\/span> and <\/span>warfarin<\/span> are part of a broad group of medications called <\/span>blood thinners<\/span><\/a>, or <\/span>anticoagulants<\/span>, they are not exactly the same. Continue reading to learn more about <\/span>Eliquis<\/span> and <\/span>warfarin<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Main differences between Eliquis vs. Warfarin<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

<\/td>\nEliquis<\/b><\/td>\nWarfarin<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Drug class<\/span><\/td>\nFactor Xa<\/span> inhibitor<\/span>; also known as a direct oral anticoagulant<\/span><\/td>\nVitamin K antagonist<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Brand\/generic status<\/span><\/td>\nBrand<\/span><\/td>\nGeneric<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
What is the generic name?<\/span><\/p>\n

What is the brand name?<\/span><\/td>\n

Generic name: <\/span>apixaban<\/span> (not yet available as a generic)<\/span><\/td>\nBrand names: <\/span>Coumadin<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(no longer available as a brand-name) and Jantoven<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

What form(s) does the drug come in?<\/span><\/td>\nTablet, Starter pack<\/span><\/td>\nTablet<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
What is the standard dosage?<\/span><\/td>\n2.5 mg or 5 mg by mouth twice a day; dosage varies by indication<\/span><\/p>\n

*Routine <\/span>INR<\/span> monitoring is not required<\/span><\/td>\n

Varies based on regular blood tests (<\/span>INR<\/span> blood test)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
How long is the typical treatment?<\/span><\/td>\nVaries<\/span><\/td>\nVaries<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Who typically uses the medication?<\/span><\/td>\nAdults<\/span><\/td>\nAdults; sometimes used <\/span>off-label<\/span><\/a> in children<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

What are the main differences between <\/span>Eliquis<\/span> and <\/span>warfarin<\/span>?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Eliquis<\/span> (<\/span>apixaban<\/span>) and <\/span>warfarin<\/span> (often referred to by the brand name <\/span>Coumadin, even though this brand name is no longer available on the market<\/span>) are both <\/span>anticoagulants<\/span> or <\/span>blood thinners<\/span>. The United States Food and Drug Administration (<\/span>FDA<\/span>) has approved both drugs for prescription use.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Eliquis<\/span> is made by <\/span>Bristol-Myers Squibb<\/span>. <\/span>Eliquis<\/span> is available in brand-name only, but a generic will likely be <\/span>available sometime in 2028<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Warfarin<\/span> is available in generic form only. The brand-name product, <\/span>Coumadin<\/span>, was <\/span>discontinued by its manufacturer<\/span><\/a> in April 2020. <\/span>Warfarin<\/span> is made by various generic manufacturers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Warfarin<\/span> requires routine monitoring of the <\/span>international normalized ratio<\/span> (<\/span>INR<\/span>) through <\/span>blood tests<\/span>, while <\/span>Eliquis<\/span> does not require regular <\/span>INR<\/span> monitoring.<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>INR<\/span> measures how quickly the <\/span>blood clots<\/span>. If the <\/span>blood clots<\/span> too quickly, there is a higher risk of <\/span>blood clots<\/span>. If the blood is clotting too slowly, there is more of a risk of bleeding. The goal is to keep the <\/span>INR<\/span> in a <\/span>therapeutic range<\/span><\/a> (usually 2 to 3, but may vary based on the person), where the blood does not clot too fast or slow. Based on the <\/span>INR<\/span> blood test<\/span> results, the <\/span>warfarin<\/span> dose may be changed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Conditions treated by <\/span>Eliquis<\/span> and <\/span>Warfarin<\/span><\/h2>\n

Eliquis<\/span> is <\/span>FDA<\/span>-approved to:<\/span><\/p>\n