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Oxytocin

Oxytocin Grindeks · ATC code H01BB02

Also known as: Oksitosin, Ossitocina, Ocytocine, Oxitocina · Brand names: Oxytocin Hexal, Oxytocin Panpharma, Oxytocin Grindeks, Oksitosel, Postuitrin Fort, Synpitan Forte, Uvera

Key facts
Active substance
Oxytocin
ATC code
H01BB02
Authorisation
authorised nationally; no central EU authorisation
Information as of
2026-11-06

Key facts

Oxytocin is a synthetic posterior pituitary hormone that stimulates uterine contractions. Per the US label it is used for medically indicated induction or stimulation of labour and to control postpartum bleeding; it is not for elective induction.

What it is used for

  • Induction of labour with a medical indication (e.g. Rh problems, maternal diabetes, pre-eclampsia at or near term, prematurely ruptured membranes)
  • Stimulation or reinforcement of labour in selected cases of uterine inertia
  • Adjunct in incomplete or inevitable abortion
  • Uterine contractions in the third stage of labour and control of postpartum bleeding

Dosing

  • Labour: intravenous infusion only, with an infusion pump and monitoring of contractions and fetal heart rate
  • Usual solution: 1 mL (10 units) in 1,000 mL of non-hydrating diluent (10 mU/mL)
  • Start with no more than 1 to 2 mU/min; increase in increments of no more than 1 to 2 mU/min until a normal labour pattern is reached
  • Postpartum bleeding: 10 to 40 units in 1,000 mL infused at the rate needed to control uterine atony, or 1 mL (10 units) intramuscularly after delivery of the placenta
  • Incomplete or inevitable abortion: 10 units in 500 mL saline or dextrose-saline at 20 to 40 drops/minute

Contraindications

  • Significant cephalopelvic disproportion; unfavourable fetal positions such as transverse lie
  • Obstetric emergencies favouring surgery; fetal distress when delivery is not imminent
  • Hypertonic uterine patterns; prolonged use in uterine inertia or severe toxaemia
  • Vaginal delivery contraindicated (cord presentation or prolapse, total placenta previa, vasa previa)
  • Hypersensitivity to the drug

Important warnings

  • For labour only intravenously, in hospital, under continuous observation by trained staff
  • Uterine overstimulation, tetanic contractions and rupture; stop the infusion at once in hyperactivity or fetal distress
  • Avoid except in unusual circumstances: prematurity, previous Caesarean section or major uterine surgery, uterine overdistension, grand multiparity
  • Antidiuretic effect: water intoxication, especially with continuous infusion and oral fluids

Side effects

  • Mother: anaphylaxis, postpartum haemorrhage, arrhythmias, nausea, vomiting, pelvic haematoma, fatal afibrinogenaemia
  • Severe water intoxication with convulsions and coma
  • Fetus or infant: bradycardia, arrhythmias, brain damage, fetal death; neonatal retinal haemorrhage and jaundice

Interactions

  • Severe hypertension when given three to four hours after a prophylactic vasoconstrictor with caudal block anaesthesia
  • Cyclopropane anaesthesia: hypotension, maternal sinus bradycardia

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

  • No known use in the first and second trimester other than in abortion; not expected to cause fetal abnormalities when used as indicated
  • Excretion in human milk unknown; caution when breastfeeding

Summary of the official product information, written with AI on 2026-11-14. Every number was checked automatically against the original text. Not reviewed by a physician – the full official text is authoritative.

Full official text →

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For patients

Patient information (US)

This product has no separate US patient information.

Authorisation and brand names by country

Medicines with exactly this active-substance composition, as listed in the national registers – alphabetical and without ranking. Whether a product is currently available is not shown here.

Germany

  • Oxytocin HexalHexal Ag · 1 register entry
  • Oxytocin PanpharmaPanpharma Gmbh · 1 register entry

Source: EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), as of 2026-11-06

Austria

  • Oxytocin GrindeksGrindeks · 1 register entry

Source: EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), as of 2026-11-06

Turkey

  • OksitoselHAVER FARMA İLAÇ A.Ş. · 1 register entry
  • Postuitrin FortMENARİNİ SAĞLIK VE İLAÇ SAN. TİC. A.Ş. · 1 register entry
  • Synpitan ForteDEVA HOLDİNG A.Ş. · 3 register entries
  • UveraVEM İLAÇ SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş. · 1 register entry

Source: TİTCK – Ruhsatlı Beşeri Tıbbi Ürünler Listesi, as of 2026-11-06

Brand names in 25 more European countries
Belgium
Oxytocin Grindeks, Syntocinon
Bulgaria
Окситоцин Pихtep
Croatia
Syntocinon
Cyprus
Syntocinon
Czechia
Ofost, Oxytocin Avmc
Denmark
Oxytocin Orifarm, Syntocinon
Estonia
Oxytocin Grindeks
Finland
Oxytocin Orifarm, Syntocinon
France
Oxytocine Ever Pharma, Oxytocine Grindeks, Oxytocine Medisol, Oxytocine Panpharma, Syntocinon
Greece
Oxytocin Gap
Hungary
Oxytocin Grindeks, Oxytocin Panpharma, Oxytocin Richter Gedeon
Ireland
Ofost, Oxytocin Pinewood Laboratories
Italy
Ossitocina Grindeks, Syntocinon
Latvia
Ofost, Oxytocin Grindeks
Lithuania
Ofost, Oxytocin Grindeks
Malta
Oxytocin Wockhardt, Syntocinon
Netherlands
Syntocinon
Norway
Oxytocin Cd Pharma, Oxytocin Orifarm
Poland
Oxytocin Grindeks, Oxytocin Grindex, Oxytocin Richter
Portugal
Oxitocina Generis, Oxitocina Grindeks, Oxitocina Hikma, Syntocinon
Romania
Ofost, Oxitocină Panpharma
Slovakia
Ofost, Oxygrindeks
Slovenia
Ofost, Syntocinon
Spain
Oxitocina Grindeks
Sweden
Oxytocin Cd Pharma, Oxytocin Grindeks, Oxytocin Pilum

EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-11-06

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Sources

  1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Oxytocin (Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC) – Prescribing Information, 2026-01-12. DailyMed (NLM), 2026-11-06. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=c7fd585a-99b7-4309-b003-a6cbef05372c
  2. EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-11-06. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/post-authorisation/data-medicines-iso-idmp-standards-post-authorisation/public-data-article-57-database
  3. EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-11-06. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/post-authorisation/data-medicines-iso-idmp-standards-post-authorisation/public-data-article-57-database
  4. TİTCK – Ruhsatlı Beşeri Tıbbi Ürünler Listesi, 2026-11-06. https://www.titck.gov.tr/dinamikmodul/85

Editorial: Medelix editorial team · last updated 2026-11-06 · How these pages are made · Report an error

Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), prescribing information, via DailyMed (NLM); public domain. Not advertising, not a treatment recommendation. For questions about your own treatment, ask your doctor or pharmacist.