Many people encounter oxytocin in the context of childbirth, but questions often arise about how it is classified and what is actually known about its effects. Here is what the available label and research data show.
Key takeaways
- Oxytocin is classified under pharm classes that include oxytocic activity, alongside adrenocorticotropic and thyroid stimulating hormone categories.
- More than 1,399 clinical trials have registered oxytocin as a subject of study.
- Reported adverse events in FAERS are dominated by pregnancy exposure terms and drug ineffectiveness reports.
- No boxed warning is present on the label reviewed.
- The compound has a molecular weight of about 1,007.2 and is identified by PubChem CID 439302.
What Oxytocin Is
Oxytocin belongs to a pharm class category described as an oxytocic, a term for agents associated with uterine activity. The same label listing also places it among adrenocorticotropic and thyroid stimulating hormone classes. A specific mechanism of action was not detailed in the label data reviewed.
What The Evidence Shows
Oxytocin has been the subject of at least 1,399 registered clinical trials. One completed trial examined carbetocin use at elective cesarean delivery. Other studies in the sample include an unrecruited trial on pain response in chronic pancreatitis and a trial of unknown status looking at oral oxytocin and women's response to emotional stimuli.
Reported Side Effects
FAERS data reflect reported adverse events, not confirmed incidence or causation. The most frequently reported terms involve pregnancy related exposure, including foetal exposure during pregnancy (443 reports), maternal exposure during pregnancy (432), and exposure during pregnancy generally (361). Drug ineffectiveness was also commonly reported (400 reports), along with premature baby (206), hypotension (191), off label use (191), and premature delivery (160).