Bioalmanac
Oxytocin
Pitocin · Syntocinon · The love hormone
Approved as an injection to induce labour. The nasal spray sold for bonding and social anxiety rests on trials that have largely failed to replicate.
Storage
- Freeze-dried powder
- Refrigerated at 2–8 °C.
- After mixing
- Refrigerated at 2–8 °C. Nasal solutions are handled more than injectables and contaminate more easily.
- Long-term, frozen
- Unopened powder is stable at −20 °C or colder.
Reconstitution — 2 mg vial, 50 mcg dose
On a 1 mL U-100 syringe. Check every figure against your own vial before drawing.
| Water added | Concentration | Volume to draw | Units | Doses per vial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mL | 2 mg/mL | 0.025 mL | 2.5 units | 40 |
| 2 mL | 1 mg/mL | 0.05 mL | 5 units | 40 |
| 3 mL | 0.667 mg/mL | 0.075 mL | 7.5 units | 40 |
| 5 mL | 0.4 mg/mL | 0.125 mL | 12.5 units | 40 |
Dose ranges reported in sources
Descriptions of what sources report, not recommendations.
| Goal | Range | Frequency | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doses used in the intranasal research literature | 40–80 mcg | A single administration in most study protocols | Clinical trial |
| Obstetric use | 1–20 mcg | Continuous intravenous infusion, titrated to contractions | Published review |
When to stop
- Headache with confusion, nausea or drowsiness. Possible low sodium. Seek urgent assessment.
- Noticeable swelling or rapid weight gain.
- Abdominal cramping, in anyone who could be pregnant. Seek urgent care.
- Persistent nasal irritation or bleeding.
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