Oxytocin
General
- Type: Uterotonic
- Dosage Forms:
- Routes of Administration: IM/IV
- Common Trade Names: Pitocin
Adult Dosing
Postpartum hemorrhage
- 10 international units (IU) can be injected intramuscularly OR[1]
- 20 IU in 1 L of saline may be infused at a rate of 250 mL per hour
- 500 mL can be infused over 10 minutes without complications.
Pediatric Dosing
Special Populations
- Pregnancy Rating: X
- Lactation risk: Safe
- Renal Dosing
- Adult
- Pediatric
- Hepatic Dosing
- Adult
- Pediatric
Indications
- First line therapy for postpartum hemorrhage
Contraindications
- Allergy to class/drug
- Many contraindications when used to induce labor
Adverse Reactions
- Rapid administration may cause hypotension
Pharmacology
- Half-life: 1-6min
- Metabolism:
- Excretion: Urine (small amounts)
- Mechanism of Action: "Uterine stimulant, vasopressive, & antidiuretic effects; activates G-protein-coupled receptors that trigger increases in intracellular calcium levels in uterine myofibrils, which results in uterine contractions; increases local prostaglandin production, which further stimulates uterine contraction"[2]
Comments
See Also
References
- ↑ Soriano D et al. A prospective cohort study of oxytocin plus ergometrine compared with oxytocin alone for prevention of postpartum haemorrhage. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1996;103:1068–73.
- ↑ https://reference.medscape.com/drug/pitocin-oxytocin-343132#10