Clinical medicine profile
Oxytocin
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone [EPC], Oxytocic [EPC], Thyroid Stimulating Hormone [EPC]
- Route
- See product SmPC
- Schedule
- POM
- ATC
- Not assigned
- PPB status
- registered
Safety essentials
The information most likely to change a prescribing or dispensing decision.
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to the active substance or excipients.
- Additional absolute contraindications are indication- and product-specific — consult SmPC.
Precautions
- WARNINGS Stop use and ask doctor if symptoms persist more than 5 days.
- If pregnant or breast-feeding ask a health professional before use.
- Keep out of reach of children.
- In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.
- Contains ethyl alcohol 30%
Dosing matrix
Population and organ-function guidance, shown together for faster comparison.
Augmentation of labor: IV initially less than 0.5-2 MU/min, increased every 15- 60 min by of 1-2 MU/min until adequate uterine activity is established. Treatment of incomplete abortion or therapeutic abortion: IV inf, 10 Units at a rate of 20-40 MU. Treatment of postpartum haem- orrhage: IV inf., 10 Units at a rate of 20 - 40 MU after the delivery of the infant[s] and preferably the placenta[s]. Diagnosis of uteroplacental insufficiency: IV inf., initially 0.5 MU/min, doubled every 20 min as necessary to the effective dose [5-6 MU/Min]. When 3 moderate uterine contractions occur with a 10 - minute interval, the infusion is discontinued and baseline and oxytocin-induced fetal heart rate and uterine contraction patterns are compared.
See label paediatric section if present; otherwise use paediatric formulary — do not extrapolate adult doses.
Review renal impairment dosing; many agents need CrCl/eGFR adjustment.
- CrCl 0–120: Confirm renal dosing in product SmPC / primary label.
Review hepatic impairment dosing; monitor LFTs if agent is hepatically cleared or hepatotoxic.
Use, effects & interactions
Indications
- Postpartum uterine haemorrhage
- medical induction of labour
- augmentation of labour
- hypotonic uterine inertia
- diagnosis of utero-placental insufficiency [oxytocin challenge test]
- treatment of lactation deficiency [mostly intranasally]
- diagnosis of foetal distress
Adverse effects
- Fibrinogenaemia
- pelvic haematoma
- postpartum haemorrhage: allergic reactions
- cardiac arrhythmias
- hypotension followed by hypertension
- uterine rupture
- water intoxication
- vomiting.
Drug interactions
Open multi-drug checker ↗- Professional use: confirm indication, dose, duration, monitoring and patient counselling points against current Kenya STG / EML and the product SmPC.
- Document allergy status and key interactions.
Mechanism & disposition
It acts by increasing intracellular calcium concentrations in the uterine myometrium, which contains receptors specific to oxyto- cin, thus inducing contractions.
Read complete mechanism
It acts by increasing intracellular calcium concentrations in the uterine myometrium, which contains receptors specific to oxyto- cin, thus inducing contractions. It induces lactation by stimulating smooth muscle to help dis- charge of milk from breasts
Product-specific
Product-specific
See product SmPC
are product-specific. Consider food effects, protein binding, hepatic CYP/UGT
when adjusting for organ impairment, age and drug interactions. Verify parameters in the current SmPC.
Pregnancy, lactation & diet
Use only if potential benefit justifies potential risk; prefer agents with better reproductive data when alternatives exist.
Assess infant risk vs benefit of maternal therapy; prefer agents with lactation data.
Brands & loaded prices
| Brand | Manufacturer | Pack | Observed price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santocyn Injection | Pt Sanbe Farma | Solution For Injection 10 IU/ml | Unavailable |
Sources & review state
Decision support only. Confirm patient-specific decisions against the current product SmPC, Kenya STG/EML, and professional judgement.