Synthetic oxytocin, marketed under names including Pitocin, is a medication derived from the naturally occurring peptide oxytocin and acts as an oxytocin receptor agonist. It is given by intramuscular or intravenous injection, or as an intranasal spray, and serves three main obstetric purposes: causing the uterus to contract to start or speed up labor, and stopping bleeding after delivery. Intranasal formulations reach the brain by a different route, crossing the blood brain barrier along the olfactory nerve to the brain's olfactory lobe. The natural peptide was discovered in 1906, and oxytocin is included on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.
Facts
Drug ClassOxytocin receptor agonist 1 Mechanism of ActionActs at oxytocin receptors and as a positive allosteric modulator of the mu and kappa opioid receptors 1 Approved UseUsed to induce or support labor and to stop bleeding following delivery 1 First Approved / Isolated Year Significant RiskAssociated with a significantly higher risk of severe postpartum hemorrhage, and can cause uterine rupture, sometimes fatal 1 Classification
Approval Status ATC ClassSourced to the subject's own accountG: Genito-Urinary System and Sex Hormones 2 Route of Administration WHO Essential MedicineSourced to the subject's own account FAQs
How does medical oxytocin differ from the natural hormone?
It is a synthetic copy of the natural peptide given to start or support labor.
Synthetic oxytocin is a medication derived from the naturally occurring peptide and acts as an oxytocin receptor agonist. It has also been found to act as a positive allosteric modulator of the mu and kappa opioid receptors. It is used to induce labor and to support labor in cases of slow childbirth, and the uterine-contracting properties of the natural peptide were discovered by Henry Hallett Dale in 1906. Oxytocin during labor is associated with a significantly higher risk of severe postpartum hemorrhage. This is a description of what the sources record, not medical advice.
Sources
1. Oxytocin (medication) (Wikipedia)
Infobox, clinical data
Oxytocin receptor agonist
Pharmacodynamics section
oxytocin has been found to act as a positive allosteric modulator of the mu- and kappa-opioid receptors
Medical uses section
used to induce labor and to support labor in case of slow childbirth
History section
oxytocin's uterine-contracting properties were discovered by British pharmacologist Henry Hallett Dale in 1906
Side effects section
Oxytocin during labour is associated with a significantly higher risk of severe postpartum hemorrhage
Lead section, route-of-administration statement
Oxytocin is also available in intranasal spray form for psychiatric, endocrine and weight management use as a supplement.
- Regulatory approval status
View the Source2. Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System (Wikipedia)
WikipediaFirst-level anatomical group codes, Code GQuote, First-level anatomical group codes, Code G
Genito-urinary system and sex hormones
3. WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (Wikipedia)
WikipediaWHO Model List of Essential Medicines, Uterotonics sectionQuote, WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, Uterotonics section
Oxytocin
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