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Home/Compounds/Oxytocin
OtherFDA approvedRx required

Oxytocin

Also known as: Pitocin · Syntocinon
Brands: Pitocin · Syntocinon

Nine-amino-acid posterior pituitary hormone used clinically for labor induction and postpartum hemorrhage.

A
Grade A
Multiple human RCTs
Human studies28
PubMed citations29
Routeintravenous, intramuscular, intranasal
Regulatory (US)FDA approved · Rx
Last verified2 days ago

Mechanism of action

Binds the oxytocin receptor (OXTR), a Gq-coupled GPCR. Stimulates uterine contractions and milk ejection; CNS effects under ongoing study.

Evidence summary

28
Human studies
29
PubMed citations
25
Clinical trials
A
Evidence grade

Evidence summary in progress. See the citations section below for the underlying research papers.

Dosing protocols

Educational information only. Consult a licensed provider before using any peptide.
Administration routes
intravenousintramuscularintranasal

Side effects & safety

From the FDA label
Source
nauseavomiting

Terms pulled directly from the referenced source. We don't fabricate frequencies — when a label doesn't publish a percentage, we don't either.

Interactions

No documented drug interactions on file.

Regulatory status

United States
FDA approved

FDA approved for labor induction and postpartum hemorrhage (Pitocin). Intranasal oxytocin (Syntocinon nasal) was previously approved in the US for lactation; off-label intranasal use is investigational.

Compounding
Permitted

Available through compounding pharmacies with valid prescription.

Regulatory data last verified 4/19/2026

Clinical trials

NCT07507266Evaluation of Emotions From Salivary Molecular Biomarkers in an Architectural ContextNot Yet Recruiting · Emotions · n=60NCT07401524Carbetocin Administration for the Prevention of Postpartum Hemorrhage in Twin Deliveries: A Randomized Controlled TrialNot Yet Recruiting · Phase 4 · Postpartum Hemorrhage · n=120NCT06325007The Effect of Combining Single Balloon Catheter With Castor Oil Ingestion for Cervical Ripening on Time to Delivery Among Nulliparous Women.Recruiting · N/A · Induction of Labor Affected Fetus / Newborn · n=142NCT06335017The Effect of Combining Balloon Catheter With Castor Oil Ingestion for Cervical Ripening on Time to Delivery Among Multiparous Women.Recruiting · N/A · Induction of Labor · n=216NCT04523922Oxytocin to Enhance Integrated Exposure-Based Treatment of Co-occurring Alcohol Use Disorder and PTSDActive Not Recruiting · Phase 2 · PTSD · n=175NCT06285396Effect of Ephedrine, Phenylepinephrine, and Norepinephrine on Myometrial Contractility in Pregnant People With Type II and Gestational Diabetes During Cesarean Section: An In-vitro StudyRecruiting · N/A · Postpartum Hemorrhage · n=96NCT06285409Comparing the Dose-response Profiles of Uterotonics After Initial Carbetocin Administration - an Ex-vivo Study in Desensitized Human MyometriumRecruiting · N/A · Postpartum Hemorrhage · n=32NCT05290129Oxytocin Maintenance Infusion in Labouring Women Undergoing Cesarean Delivery: an Up-down Sequential Allocation StudyRecruiting · N/A · Postpartum Hemorrhage · n=40NCT04738838Evaluating Potential Benefits of Intranasal Oxytocin on Undersea Operator Training and Performance: Cold Water Task Performance and RecoveryCompleted · Phase 2 · Cold Exposure · n=17NCT06333340Comparative Efficacy of Carbetocin and Oxytocin in Parturients at Risk of Atonic Postpartum Hemorrhage Undergoing Elective Cesarean Delivery: a Randomized Controlled TrialRecruiting · N/A · Post Partum Hemorrhage · n=160NCT07492186Labor Induction With Double-balloon Catheter Placed for 3 Hours Versus 12 Hours in Patients With an Indication for Induction: a Randomized Controlled TrialNot Yet Recruiting · N/A · Induction of Childbirth · n=280NCT06259097Misoprostol Versus Pitocin for Induction of Labor in Patients With BMI > 30: A Randomized Controlled TrialRecruiting · Phase 3 · Pregnancy · n=300

Showing 12 of 25 indexed studies. View all on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Citations

PMID 41118743Winokur SB, Caslin AY et al. · Oxytocin.Current biology : CB (2025)HumanPMID 39455012Josselsohn A, Zhao Y et al. · Oxytocin in neurodevelopmental disorders: Autism spectrum disorder and Prader-Willi syndrome.Pharmacology & therapeutics (2024)HumanPMID 37460365Hermesch AC, Kernberg AS et al. · Oxytocin: physiology, pharmacology, and clinical application for labor management.American journal of obstetrics and gynecology (2024)HumanPMID 35755926Carter CS · Oxytocin and love: Myths, metaphors and mysteries.Comprehensive psychoneuroendocrinology (2024)HumanPMID 36744978Hibert M · [Oxytocin and its receptor: molecular and therapeutic approaches].Biologie aujourd'hui (2023)HumanPMID 37232186Balestrino R, Losa M et al. · Intranasal oxytocin as a treatment for obesity: safety and efficacy.Expert review of endocrinology & metabolism (2023)HumanPMID 36967387Szewczyk AK, Ulutas S et al. · Prolactin and oxytocin: potential targets for migraine treatment.The journal of headache and pain (2023)HumanPMID 37767153Kagizman SC, Hocaoglu C · Oxytocin in the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders.Medeniyet medical journal (2023)HumanPMID 35225885Edinoff AN, Thompson E et al. · Oxytocin, a Novel Treatment for Methamphetamine Use Disorder.Neurology international (2022)HumanPMID 35863332Rigney N, de Vries GJ et al. · Oxytocin, Vasopressin, and Social Behavior: From Neural Circuits to Clinical Opportunities.Endocrinology (2022)HumanPMID 36008555Gul M, Bocu K et al. · Current and emerging treatment options for premature ejaculation.Nature reviews. Urology (2022)HumanPMID 34062986Kong XJ, Liu J et al. · Probiotic and Oxytocin Combination Therapy in Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Trial.Nutrients (2021)HumanPMID 34346654Dumont GJH · [Oxytocin for the treatment of PTSD?].Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde (2021)HumanPMID 34225952Kerem L, Lawson EA · Oxytocin, eating behavior, and metabolism in humans.Handbook of clinical neurology (2021)HumanPMID 33670047Goh KK, Chen CH et al. · Oxytocin in Schizophrenia: Pathophysiology and Implications for Future Treatment.International journal of molecular sciences (2021)HumanPMID 34639199Liu CM, Spaulding MO et al. · Oxytocin and Food Intake Control: Neural, Behavioral, and Signaling Mechanisms.International journal of molecular sciences (2021)HumanPMID 32683141Thul TA, Corwin EJ et al. · Oxytocin and postpartum depression: A systematic review.Psychoneuroendocrinology (2021)HumanPMID 32912963Carter CS, Kenkel WM et al. · Is Oxytocin "Nature's Medicine"?Pharmacological reviews (2021)HumanPMID 33005139Harvey AR · Links Between the Neurobiology of Oxytocin and Human Musicality.Frontiers in human neuroscience (2020)HumanPMID 30506703Bhargava R, Daughters KL et al. · Oxytocin therapy in hypopituitarism: Challenges and opportunities.Clinical endocrinology (2020)Human

Showing 20 of 29 papers. View all on PubMed →