Pitocin® | Pitocin (Oxytocin IP) - 0.5ml (10 Ampoules)
| Main Use |
Active Integredient |
Marketed Name |
Manufacturer |
Country of Origin |
| Inducing labour (childbirth) |
Oxytocin |
Syntocinon® |
Novartis |
Argentina |
How does Pitocin (Oxytocin IP) work?
Syntocinon contains a synthetic version of the naturally-occurring hormone oxytocin. It works in the same way as the natural hormone.
Oxytocin is normally released by the pituitary gland in the brain towards the end of pregnancy to stimulate the smooth muscle of the uterus (womb). The oxytocin causes the muscle of the uterus to contract during labour so that the baby can be pushed out.
Synthetic oxytocin is used to induce labour for medical reasons, or if labour has not started naturally. The dose of the medicine is adjusted until the contractions produced are in a similar pattern to that of normal labour.
Synthetic oxytocin can also be used to stimulate labour that has started naturally, but is considered too weak to push out the baby. In this case the medicine strengthens the contractions of the uterus.
After the baby has been born, Syntocinon may be given to stimulate contractions that help push out the placenta and prevent heavy bleeding.
Syntocinon is given as a drip into a vein.
What is Pitocin (Oxytocin IP) used for?
- Starting (inducing) labour
- Stimulating labour when the contractions are considered too weak
- Preventing or controlling heavy bleeding due to delivery of the placenta after childbirth (post-partum haemorrhage)
- During caesarian section
- Management of certain types of miscarriage
Pitocin (Oxytocin IP) Side Effects
- Nausea and vomiting
- Spasms of the uterus
- Bleeding
- Abnormal heart beats (arrhythmias)
- Skin rashes
- Fall in blood pressure (causing dizziness, lightheadedness, feeling faint)
- Difficulty in breathing
- Shock (blood pressure too low to maintain blood supply to the tissues)
- High doses may cause very strong contractions of the womb, resulting in tearing of the womb, tissue damage or distress to the baby
- Water intoxication and low levels of sodium in the blood may occur if high doses are used for long periods (symptoms include headache, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, lethargy, drowsiness, unconsciousness and seizures)
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