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Coumadin vs Plavix

Warfarin  ·  Clopidogrel

Two long-established drugs that both reduce clotting but are not interchangeable — one blocks clotting factors, the other stops platelets sticking together.

At a glance

CoumadinWarfarin
PlavixClopidogrel
Brand name
Coumadin
Plavix
Drug class
Vitamin K antagonist
Antiplatelet
Route
Not listed
Oral
Marketed by
Bristol Myers Squibb
Sanofi
First FDA approval
8 Jun 1954
17 Nov 1997
US shortage
Not listed
Not listed

Key differences

What each one treats

CoumadinWarfarin

An oral anticoagulant used to prevent and treat blood clots in veins or lungs.

PlavixClopidogrel

Plavix is a P2Y 12 platelet inhibitor indicated for: Acute coronary syndrome – For patients with non–ST-segment elevation ACS (unstable angina [UA]/non–ST-elevation myocardial infarction [NSTEMI]), Plavix has been shown to reduce the rate of myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke. ( 1.1 ) – For patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), Plavix has been shown to reduce the rate of MI and stroke. ( 1.1 ) Recent MI, recent stroke, or established peripheral arterial disease. Plavix has been shown to reduce the rate of MI and stroke. ( 1.2 ) 1.1 Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) Plavix is indicated to reduce the rate of myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke in patients with non–ST-segment elevation ACS (unstable angina [UA]/non–ST-elevation myocardial infarction [NSTEMI]), including patients who are to be managed medically and those who are to be managed with coronary revasculariza…

How each one works

CoumadinVitamin K antagonist

An oral anticoagulant used to prevent and treat blood clots in veins or lungs.

PlavixAntiplatelet

12.1 Mechanism of Action Clopidogrel is an inhibitor of platelet activation and aggregation through the irreversible binding of its active metabolite to the P2Y 12 class of ADP receptors on platelets.

Related comparisons

Eliquis VS Coumadin Xarelto VS Coumadin Coumadin VS Pradaxa Plavix VS Brilinta Eliquis VS Plavix

Read more

Coumadin profile Plavix profile Anticoagulants Antiplatelets All comparisons
This is not medical advice, and not a recommendation of one drug over the other.

Which medicine is right for a given person depends on their diagnosis, other conditions, other medicines, kidney and liver function, pregnancy, and cost or reimbursement — none of which this page knows. Two drugs in the same class are not automatically interchangeable. Never start, stop or switch a prescription medicine on the basis of a web page; that decision belongs to you and your clinician or pharmacist.

Class and summary text is written by the Priya Life Science editorial team. Label, mechanism, route, manufacturer and approval data come from the U.S. FDA via the openFDA API; shortage status from the FDA Drug Shortage Database. Approvals, indications and brand names differ between the US, EU/Ireland (EMA/HPRA) and other regions — a drug approved in one may not be approved, or may carry a different name, in another.