Oxytocin (Oxt) is a drug and hormone that acts as a neuromodulator in the brain, used in sexual reproduction of both sexes, in particular during and after childbirth. An example of synthetic oxytocin is Syntocinon.
Oxytocics are drugs relatd to oxytocin. Drugs that are indirect oxytocinergics include:
5-HT1A receptor, a protein responsible for inducing the secretion of oxytocin
Serotonergic, a drug which acts upon serotonin and 5-HT1AR, resultin gin oxytocin release
Purpose
Cause contraction of the uterus, thus used to:
Induce labor (start labor)
Augmentation (increase the speed of labor), which is the process of facilitating further labor. It can be used to increase the rate of vaginal delivery in those wiht a slow progress of labor
Stop PPH (bleeding following delivery), specifically, prevention and Tx of uterine atony
Indications
Used by injection by IM or IV
Physiology
Produced by the hypothalamus, and stored in the posterior pituitary gland
Released due to stretching of the cervix and uterus during labor, and with stimulation of the nipples from breastfeeding
It helps with birth, bonding with the baby, and lactation (milk production)
Sideeffects
Excessive contraction of the uterus, that can cause distress in an unborn baby
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