Oxytocin

Areas of active research — not promised effects

Each tag links to other compounds with research into that goal. Research use only: these are areas of study, not human-use claims.

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Oxytocin is an FDA-approved active pharmaceutical ingredient (Pitocin, NDA 018261). It requires a prescription and is used in clinical settings under physician supervision. The approved IV formulation is commercially available. Because oxytocin has existing FDA approval as an ingredient of an approved drug, it is eligible for compounding by 503A pharmacies per prescription without being subject to the unapproved-peptide bulk substance restrictions. The 2026 FDA compounding regulatory activity (docket FDA-2025-N-6895; PCAC meeting July 23–24, 2026) primarily concerns Category-2 unapproved peptides such as GHRP-2, GHRP-6, Melanotan II, LL-37, and PEG-MGF; oxytocin is not in that group. Compounded intranasal, sublingual, or other novel formulations of oxytocin may be prepared by licensed 503A pharmacies under valid prescription, but those formulations are not FDA-reviewed for safety or efficacy.

Confirmed high-severity market-integrity event (enforcement / recall / counterfeit)

Transparent blend · bci-1.0 · never paid-placement

Primary name

Oxytocin

Origin

Oxytocin is an endogenous cyclic nonapeptide (CAS 50-56-6; MW 1007.2 Da; formula C43H66N12O12S2) produced by magnocellular neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei, packaged with neurophysin-I, transported along the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial tract, and released from the posterior pituitary into systemic circulation. The sequence (Cys-Tyr-Ile-Gln-Asn-Cys-Pro-Leu-Gly-NH2; disulfide bridge Cys1–Cys6) was first determined and synthesized by Vincent du Vigneaud in 1953, earning the 1955 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Synthetic oxytocin identical to the endogenous peptide is commercially available as the injectable approved drug Pitocin (Pfizer/JHP) and was previously marketed as the intranasal spray Syntocinon, which was voluntarily withdrawn from the US market in 1995 by its manufacturer (Novartis); no approved US intranasal product currently exists.

Registry IDs

PubChem CID

439302

CAS

50-56-6

InChIKey

XNOPRXBHLZRZKH-DSZYJQQASA-N

ChEMBL

CHEMBL395429

Molecular formula

C43H66N12O12S2

Molar mass

1007.2 g/mol

Monoisotopic

1006.43645793 Da

InChIKey

XNOPRXBHLZRZKH-DSZYJQQASA-N

Appearance

White to off-white lyophilized powder (synthetic pharmaceutical-grade); the natural peptide is released in aqueous solution from neurosecretory granules

Solubility

Freely soluble in water and aqueous buffers; slightly soluble in ethanol. Molecu…

Sequence not available in current seed.

Stability: The disulfide bridge is essential for receptor binding activity and is susceptible to reduction under strongly reducing conditions. The peptide is degraded rapi

Vial sizes

null mg · 2 mg

Purity grades

USP (10 IU/mL, commercial)

Salt forms

Free base (primary)

• GHS hazard class on file
• PPE & spill response
• Disposal guidance
• Not-for-human-consumption posture

How much research exists, and of what maturity — never a verdict on whether it works.

Mechanism of action

• Oxytocin exerts its biological effects through the oxytocin receptor (OXTR), a Gq/11-class G-protein-coupled receptor expressed in uterine myometrium, mammary myoepithelium, kidney, heart, and multiple brain regions including the hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus, nucleus accumbens, and prefrontal cortex
• Peripheral receptor activation in the myometrium triggers phospholipase C-β, generating inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol; IP3 mobilizes intracellular Ca²+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum while diacylglycerol activates protein kinase C, together driving actin-myosin cross-bridging and coordinated uterine smooth muscle contraction
• A feed-forward amplification loop operates via gap junction upregulation and stimulation of local prostaglandin E2 and F2α synthesis, which further sensitize the myometrium to oxytocin and sustain coordinated labor
• In the mammary gland, equivalent signaling through myoepithelial OXTR drives milk ejection (the let-down reflex) in response to suckling-induced neurohypophysial release

Pharmacokinetics (ADME)

Half-life

IV plasma distribution half-life approximately 3–5 minutes; terminal elimination half-life approximately 10–20 minutes. Intranasal delivery: peripheral plasma half-life similar but central nervous system effects persist up to 2–4 hours, likely due to direct olfactory-to-CNS delivery pathways independent of peripheral clearance.

Clearance

Primarily metabolized by aminopeptidases (oxytocinase/leucyl-cystinyl aminopeptidase) in plasma, liver, and kidney; renal excretion accounts for approximately 60% of elimination. In late pregnancy, plasma oxytocinase activity rises substantially (up to 1000-fold), markedly accelerating oxytocin metabolism. Distribution volume approximately 33 L in non-pregnant adults, substantially exceeding plasma volume.

PK–PD note: The very short plasma half-life of oxytocin necessitates continuous IV infusion for labor induction; bolus IV injection is associated with cardiovascular instability (transient hypotension, reflex tac…

Reading the evidence

• Evidence quality and gaps vary by application — see the cited grades above.
• Indexed-article counts span all evidence tiers, not only completed human trials.
• No first-party human-dosing, efficacy, or benefit claims are made here.

Key reviews & evidence-gap sources

• Mekhael et al. 2023 — Evaluating the efficacy of oxytocin for pain management: systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs and observational studies. Can J Pain. — Anchoring systematic review; searched MEDLINE/Embase/PsycINFO/CINAHL/ClinicalTrials.gov Jan 2012–Feb 2022.
• Grace et al. 2018 — Oxytocin and brain activity in humans: systematic review and coordinate-based meta-analysis of fMRI studies. Psychoneuroendocrinology. — Systematic review + meta-analysis of intranasal oxytocin fMRI studies.
• Arrowsmith & Wray 2014 — Oxytocin: its mechanism of action and receptor signalling in the myometrium. PubMed. — Mechanistic review of OTR signalling cascades and Ca2+ dynamics.
• Jurek & Neumann 2018 — The Oxytocin Receptor: From Intracellular Signaling to Behavior. Physiological Reviews. — Comprehensive review; states ~25,000 oxytocin publications since 1930 (PubMed).
• StatPearls — Oxytocin. NCBI Bookshelf. — FDA-approved uses: labor induction/augmentation, postpartum hemorrhage control, milk ejection.
• An overview of the oxytocin-oxytocin receptor signaling network. PMC. — Curated pathway map of OXT signaling (molecular association, catalysis, transport, gene expression).

5 registered trials — 3 currently recruiting.

NA
NCT07609693
The Relationship Between Oxytocin Massage in Mothers With Insufficient Milk Production in the Early Postpartum Period and Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy and Milk Let-down Reflex: A Randomized Controlled Study

RECRUITING

EARLY_Phase 1
NCT07093060
The Effect of Oral Oxytocin and Atosiban on Social Attention

RECRUITING

Phase 1
NCT02149823
Examining Dose-Related Effects of Oxytocin on Social Cognition Across Populations

TERMINATED

NA
NCT07559656
Oxytocin's Effects on Real Time-fMRI Neurofeedback Training of Anterior Insula Activity

RECRUITING

NA
NCT02486822
Labor Scale Versus WHO Partograph in the Management of Labor

UNKNOWN

Summary (literature)

The safety profile of IV oxytocin (Pitocin) is well-characterized from decades of obstetric use and is documented in the FDA-approved prescribing information. The most clinically significant risk from IV bolus or excessively rapid infusion is acute cardiovascular instability: tra…

WADA status

Oxytocin is not specifically named on the WADA 2026 Prohibited List. It is an endogenous peptide hormone; it does not fall under the prohibited subcategories wi…

Dominant research route: Intranasal (IN)

FDA-approved clinical use (Pitocin) for labor induction/postpartum hemorrhage in humans; CSF penetrance studied in rhesus macaques (80 IU d5-oxytocin)

Bioavailability: Plasma half-life ~1–6 min (shortened in late pregnancy/lactation); uterine response occurs almost immediately and subsides within 1 hour. IV d5-OT detected in CSF of macaques, with no clear advantage over IN for CSF penetration.

IV infusion is the labeled clinical route on the FDA Pitocin label; requires ~40 min to reach steady-state uterine contraction response.

FDA-approved clinical route (Pitocin) for postpartum uterine contraction/bleeding control in humans

Bioavailability: Following IM injection, uterine response occurs within 3–5 minutes and persists for 2–3 hours.

Listed alongside IV infusion on the Pitocin label as a labeled route of administration.

Dominant route in human behavioral/neuroimaging research; CSF penetrance confirmed in rhesus macaques (80 IU d5-OT); absolute bioavailability estimated ~11.1% in humans

Bioavailability: Estimated absolute bioavailability ~11.1%; time to peak plasma ~30 min; plasma half-life ~2 h. Thought to partly enter brain via olfactory/trigeminal pathways, though macaque data did not show a CSF advantage over IV.

Preferred route in clinical neuropsychiatric research (autism, schizophrenia, addiction). Wikipedia lists intranasal as a labeled route alongside IV/IM.

GI stability/degradation studied in vitro and in rodent models; RAGE-mediated intestinal transport demonstrated in mice; gelatin-capsule + PPI pretreatment studied in animals

Bioavailability: Rapidly degraded by pepsin in stomach and pancreatic enzymes in intestine; harsh gastric pH causes chemical degradation. RAGE transporter can carry oxytocin across intestinal epithelium into blood (rodent evidence). Oral bioavailability negligible without protection.

Oral-stability (not oral-absorption): peptide is unstable in the GI tract; formulation strategies (enteric coating, PPI pretreatment) investigated preclinically. Wikipedia notes RAGE transport challenges the assumption of complete oral destruction.

Rodent behavioral/pharmacokinetic studies (e.g., latent inhibition, social/emotional behavior in mice); CSF OT increase documented in rats

Bioavailability: IP and IN administration in rodents produce rapid increase in brain OT levels; ~0.002% of peripherally applied dose (5 μg) reaches CNS at 10 min after IP/SC injection in rats.

Common preclinical research route; not used in humans. Used to probe peripheral-mediated central effects.

Rodent pharmacokinetic/CSF studies; functional behavioral effects reported in animal models

Bioavailability: After SC or IP injection in rats, ~0.002% of peripherally applied oxytocin (5 μg) reaches CNS at 10 min; CSF OT concentrations increase. Bioavailability ~2% reported in rodent context.

Animal-model route used to demonstrate peripherally mediated central effects; not a labeled human clinical route.

Animal & human figures are kept visibly separate so studied animal doses are never misread as human guidance.

Sorted A–Z by vendor — never by price

Weekly median $/mg from the live vendor crawl.

Researched storefront prices, bucketed

p25 $4.85 · median $5.85 · p75 $8.67 · 8 researched vendors

Legit, COA-backed band: $4.50–$6.50/mg.

Value rule: don't just buy the cheapest — a price under $3/mg is a red flag. Pair price with COA and independent-test grade.

Estimated cost of research (10 mg)

Vial (best researched price)

$45

Bacteriostatic water (generic estimate)

$6

Syringes / supplies (generic estimate)

$12

What each test proves — general guidance, plus this compound's researched purity data

Purity on the current market (researched)

Vendor-claimed purity ≥99% by HPLC is common in research-peptide listings (e.g., Paramount Peptides, Verified Peptides), but these are supplier self-claims; no independent aggregate purity range for oxytocin was retrievable from a primary lab source.

Independent labs cited for this compound

Two oxytocin-specific recalls found: (1) PharMEDium nationwide sub-potency recall of compounded oxytocin in Lactated Ringers (Aug 2017, terminated); (2) QuVa Pharma recall of oxytocin 30U/500mL Lot 30027403 for incorrect formulation (Sep 2022). No retail/consumer-grade oxytocin peptide recalls found.

Buyer red-flag checklist

• Compounded intranasal/sublingual oxytocin ('Oxipops') is NOT FDA-approved for any non-obstetric indication; safety/efficacy not established.
• Oxytocin is oxidation-sensitive (disulfide bridge Cys1-Cys6); a single oxidation event can markedly reduce receptor affinity, making storage/handling critical.
• Multiple compounded-oxytocin sub-potency and formulation recalls indicate potency/quality variability in compounded sterile preparations.
• Research-peptide vendor purity claims (≥99%) are typically self-reported COAs without independent third-party verification.
• No oxytocin-specific FDA Import Alert was found; grey-market imports would fall under general unapproved-new-drug detention (e.g., Import Alert 66-41) rather than a compound-specific red list.

GMP vs research-grade: the chemistry (SPPS + HPLC + MS) is identical — the difference is the quality system.

Underdosing / mislabeling: Sub-potency was the stated reason for the PharMEDium compounded-oxytocin recall (lower than expected potency on certain lots), but no independent prevalence statistic (0–1) across the grey-market peptide supply is available from Janoshik/MZ Biolabs/Finnrick aggregates for oxytocin.

• An RUO label is not an import exemption — CBP judges actual intended use.
• Lyophilized powder is ambient-stable in transit; temperature control needed for > 7-day transit.
• US-warehouse vendors dodge import scrutiny — they cost more but ship more reliably.

Every item dated & sourced

Not specifically listed on the WADA 2025 Prohibited List; oxytocin is a peptide hormone but is not enumerated under S2 (Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances and Mimetics). Athletes should verify status via GlobalDRO.

No granted patents identified in current seed. Composition-of-matter coverage is limited given the peptide's synthetic origin.

• IACUC / IRB research context
• RUO buyer responsibilities & documentation
• Veterinary / alternative-use where lawful
• Jurisdiction-aware "who may lawfully obtain"

What people discuss

Reported concerns — discussion, not established effects

Reading caveats

• Self-selection toward positive subjective reports
• Context-dependent effects confound attribution
• Gray-market sourcing without independent controls
• No standardized dosing across reports
• Recurring oxytocin/oxycontin naming confusion in threads
• Aggregator pages may carry commerce bias

Manually researched from reddit— theme weights are research estimates, not live counts; aggregated & de-identified. No individual posts, quotes, or usernames are ever shown.

Relative research / market volume — populated once the activity stream is wired

Inline tooltips for lyophilized, RUO, EU/mg, SPPS, 503A and more.

Toggle plain-language ↔ scientific in the header.

• How to read a COA
• Free base vs acetate
• Understanding evidence grades

FDA-approved posterior pituitary nonapeptide; drives uterine contractions and milk ejection; modulates social bonding and fear via central OXTR signaling. Approximately 33,535 articles are indexed (literature last scanned 2026-05-29). US regulatory status: FDA-approved prescription drug (Pitocin injection); intranasal formulation (Syntocinon) withdrawn 1995; compoundable under 503A. Research use only.

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