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.

Source: 4493/1/bp2p34_3q43_l.jpg">eHive

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

• 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

• Used by injection by IM or IV

• 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)

• Excessive contraction of the uterus, that can cause distress in an unborn baby
• Maternal:
  • Nausea
  • Bradycardia (slow HR)
  • Water intoxication
  • Uterus rupture, due to excessive dose

• Uterotonics (category)
• Tocolytic (antonym)