Oxytocin Brand Name– Pitocin
What is Oxytocin
Oxytocin is a natural human hormone secreted by the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus and stored in the posterior lobe of the pituitary.
The pharmacologic and clinical properties of pharmacologic oxytocin, a synthetic agent, are identical to those of naturally occurring oxytocin.
Oxytocin injection stimulates contraction of uterine smooth muscle during gestation and causes milk ejection after milk has been produced in the breast.
Clinically, oxytocin is primarily used intravenously to induce labor, aid in the delivery of the placenta (third stage of labor), and control postpartum bleeding.
Intranasal preparations of oxytocin, which were previously used to stimulate postpartum milk ejection, are no longer available in the U.S.
Indications
- fetal distress
- incomplete abortion
- labor augmentation
- labor induction
- postpartum bleeding
For labor augmentation in patients with a medical necessity for labor induction, at or near to term, when delivery is in the best interests of the mother and the fetus
Side Effects
- afibrinogenemia
- anaphylactoid reactions
- arrhythmia exacerbation
- bleeding
- blurred vision
- cervical laceration
- coma
- fetal bradycardia
- hematoma
- hyperbilirubinemia
- hypertension
- intracranial bleeding
- jaundice
- nausea
- ocular hemorrhage
- postpartum hemorrhage
- premature ventricular contractions (PVCs)
- pulmonary edema
- retinal hemorrhage
- seizures
- uterine contractions
- uterine rupture
- vomiting
- water intoxication
Monitoring Parameters
- laboratory monitoring not necessary
Contraindications
- abnormal fetal position
- breast-feeding
- cephalopelvic disproportion
- cervical cancer
- eclampsia
- elective induction of labor
- fetal distress
- fetal prematurity
- herpes infection
- multiparity
- placenta previa
- pregnancy
- surgery
- uterine atony
- uterine prolapse
- vasa previa
Interactions
- Acetaminophen; Chlorpheniramine; Dextromethorphan; Phenylephrine
- Acetaminophen; Chlorpheniramine; Phenylephrine; Phenyltoloxamine
- Acetaminophen; Dextromethorphan; Guaifenesin; Phenylephrine
- Acetaminophen; Dextromethorphan; Phenylephrine
- Acetaminophen; Guaifenesin; Phenylephrine
- Articaine; Epinephrine
- Brompheniramine; Carbetapentane; Phenylephrine
- Brompheniramine; Dextromethorphan; Phenylephrine
- Carbetapentane; Chlorpheniramine; Phenylephrine
- Carbetapentane; Diphenhydramine; Phenylephrine
- Carbetapentane; Guaifenesin; Phenylephrine
- Carbetapentane; Phenylephrine
- Carbetapentane; Phenylephrine; Pyrilamine
- Carbinoxamine; Hydrocodone; Phenylephrine
- Carbinoxamine; Phenylephrine
- Carboprost Tromethamine
- Chlophedianol; Guaifenesin; Phenylephrine
- Chlorpheniramine; Dextromethorphan; Phenylephrine
- Chlorpheniramine; Dihydrocodeine; Phenylephrine
- Chlorpheniramine; Hydrocodone; Phenylephrine
- Chlorpheniramine; Phenylephrine
- Codeine; Phenylephrine; Promethazine
- Dextromethorphan; Diphenhydramine; Phenylephrine
- Dextromethorphan; Guaifenesin; Phenylephrine
- Diclofenac; Misoprostol
- Dinoprostone, Prostaglandin E2
- Diphenhydramine; Hydrocodone; Phenylephrine
- Diphenhydramine; Phenylephrine
- Dopamine
- Ephedrine
- Epinephrine
- Ergonovine
- General anesthetics
- Guaifenesin; Phenylephrine
- Hydrocodone; Phenylephrine
- Methohexital
- Methylergonovine
- Midodrine
- Misoprostol
- Norepinephrine
- Phenylephrine
- Phenylephrine; Promethazine
- Prilocaine; Epinephrine
- Succinylcholine
- Thiopental
