Oxytocin Side Effects

Some side effects of oxytocin may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA.

For the Consumer

Applies to oxytocin: injectable solution

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction while taking oxytocin: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Tell your caregivers at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• fast, slow, or uneven heart rate;

• excessive bleeding long after childbirth;

• headache, confusion, slurred speech, hallucinations, severe vomiting, severe weakness, muscle cramps, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady, seizure (convulsions), fainting, shallow breathing or breathing that stops; or

• dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure).

Less serious side effects of oxytocin may include:

• nausea, vomiting;

• runny nose, sinus pain or irritation;

• memory problems; or

• more intense or more frequent contractions (this is an expected effect of oxytocin).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to oxytocin: compounding powder, injectable solution

Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular side effects have included hypertension, premature ventricular contractions, sinus tachycardia, and other cardiac arrhythmias. Neonatal bradycardia, premature ventricular contractions and other arrhythmias have been reported.

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects have included mania-like disturbances and seizures. The seizures may have been related to water intoxication. Neonatal seizures and permanent CNS or brain damage has been reported.

Metabolic

Metabolic side effects have included water intoxication resulting in coma and seizures.

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity side effects have included anaphylactic reactions.

Genitourinary

Genitourinary side effects have included pelvic hematoma. Excessive doses have produced pelvic fracture, uterine hypertonicity, spasm, tetanic contraction and rupture.

Hematologic

Hematologic side effects have included postpartum hemorrhage and fatal afibrinogenemia.

Hepatic

Hepatic side effects have included neonatal jaundice.

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects have included nausea and vomiting.

Respiratory

Respiratory side effects have included pulmonary edema.

Renal

Renal side effects have included decreases in glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow. Doses of 40 milliunits per minute may produce significant decreases in urine output.

Local

Local side effects have included nasal irritation and rhinorrhea.

Ocular

Ocular side effects have included neonatal retinal hemorrhages.

Psychiatric

Psychiatric side effects have included memory impairment and mania in patients on high doses.

General

General side effects have include low Apgar scores at 5 minutes. Fetal death has been reported.

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