Safety
Oxytocin makes the uterus contract, so it is not for use in pregnancy outside a hospital. The injection label warns of severe water intoxication (low blood sodium) with seizures and coma, and of overstimulation of the uterus. Tell your clinician about any heart, kidney or sodium problems and every medication you take.
Legal status
Prescription only; the ingredient has an FDA-approved form, but compounded versions are not FDA-approved. Oxytocin (compounded) is prepared by a compounding pharmacy for an individual prescription. Compounded products are not FDA-approved, and the FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness or quality. Oxytocin is a component of FDA-approved drugs, so a licensed 503A pharmacy may compound it (for example as a nasal spray or troche) for an individual prescription, as long as it isn’t essentially a copy of the approved injection. Off-label uses are not FDA-reviewed.
What oxytocin (compounded) is
The FDA has approved oxytocin only as an injection for labor and after delivery. Compounded nasal sprays, troches and creams for stress, mood, sleep or sex are off-label and not FDA-approved.
Oxytocin injection only, given in hospital: starting or strengthening labor contractions, and controlling bleeding after delivery.
Dosing
Compounded nasal spray, troche or cream, set by the prescriber; there is no FDA-reviewed schedule for these uses. Providers we list sell nasal sprays (for example 15 IU per spray at Healthspan), troches and a cream.
How well it works
The FDA has not reviewed any trial of compounded oxytocin for stress, mood, sleep or sexual function. The approved injection was studied only for labor and delivery. Individual results vary.
Oxytocin (compounded) cost
None of the providers we track publishes a monthly price for compounded oxytocin.