Anticoagulant brand and generic names
Coumadin is a historical warfarin brand still seen in study material.
Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs)
| Brand name | Generic name | Class or type |
|---|---|---|
| Eliquis | apixaban | Factor Xa inhibitors |
| Xarelto | rivaroxaban | Factor Xa inhibitors |
| Savaysa | edoxaban | Factor Xa inhibitors |
| Pradaxa | dabigatran etexilate | Direct thrombin inhibitors |
Vitamin K antagonist and heparin-family examples
| Brand name | Generic name | Class or type |
|---|---|---|
| Coumadin / Jantoven | warfarin | Vitamin K antagonists |
| Lovenox | enoxaparin sodium | Low-molecular-weight heparins |
Antiplatelets are not anticoagulants
Antiplatelets inhibit platelet aggregation; anticoagulants affect coagulation factors or thrombin. Keep separate tables when drilling “blood thinner” lists.
| Brand name | Generic name | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Plavix | clopidogrel | Antiplatelet (P2Y12 inhibitor) |
| Effient | prasugrel | Antiplatelet (P2Y12 inhibitor) |
| Brilinta | ticagrelor | Antiplatelet (P2Y12 inhibitor) |
| Bayer Aspirin (example) | aspirin | Antiplatelet (COX-1) |
Selected reversal and rescue agents (recognition)
Reversal choices depend on clinical context. For name recognition, pair Pradaxa with idarucizumab and know Andexxa as andexanet alfa.
| Anticoagulant (example) | Reversal / rescue agent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Warfarin | Vitamin K (phytonadione) | Also 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate in serious bleeding |
| Heparin / LMWH (enoxaparin) | Protamine sulfate | Partial reversal for LMWH; product-specific |
| Dabigatran (Pradaxa) | Idarucizumab (Praxbind) | Specific dabigatran reversal agent |
| Apixaban or rivaroxaban | Andexanet alfa (Andexxa) | Reversal agent for selected factor Xa inhibitors |
Understanding anticoagulants
Apixaban, rivaroxaban, and edoxaban inhibit factor Xa. Dabigatran inhibits thrombin (factor IIa). All are DOACs but have different targets.
Enoxaparin is a low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH). Warfarin is a vitamin K antagonist.
Naming patterns and memory tips
The -xaban ending links apixaban, rivaroxaban, and edoxaban. Pradaxa–dabigatran etexilate breaks the pattern—learn it as the thrombin inhibitor pair.
Practice brand → generic → class → antiplatelet yes/no for each row.
Commonly confused anticoagulant names
Eliquis and Xarelto
Both inhibit factor Xa; only the brand–generic pairs distinguish apixaban from rivaroxaban in flashcard drills.
Coumadin and Jantoven
Both refer to warfarin brand associations, not separate ingredients.