Single research dose
Trial- Dose
- 24 IU (studies used 18–40 IU)
- How often
- Once, 45–60 min before a task
- How long
- Single dose
Nasal spray. A review of 38 trials found side effects no different from placebo at these doses.
Draw 4 units2 mg + 2 mL
Approved drugPeptide hormone
Oxytocin
Pitocin (obstetric injection)
- Common dose
- 20–24 IU intranasal, as needed
- Cycle
- As needed
- Vial sizes
- 2, 5, 10 mg
- Typical draw
- 4 units2 mg with 2 mL, 24 IU
A 9-amino-acid hormone that triggers uterine contractions and milk let-down. It also acts in the brain and is studied as a nasal spray for social behavior, anxiety and pain.
Evidence. FDA-approved only as an IV/IM injection for labor, postpartum bleeding and, as an adjunct, incomplete or inevitable abortion. Intranasal use for social and emotional effects is investigational.
Status
- Approval
- Approved in the US as Pitocin, an IV or IM injection for labor induction or augmentation and postpartum bleeding. Intranasal use is investigational.
- Sport (WADA 2026)
- Not banned in sportNot named on the 2026 list.
Sport status follows the WADA Prohibited List in force since January 1, 2026; athletes should confirm with their anti-doping organization. Checked October 5, 2026.
Protocol
Trial
Research studies
Intranasal: a single 18–40 IU dose, most studies 20–24 IU, taken 45–60 minutes before the task.
Label
Pitocin
Obstetric use only, given by clinicians by IV infusion or as 10 units IM after delivery.
- Frequency
- As needed
- Route
- Intranasal (research); IV or IM (obstetric label)
- Cycle
- As needed.
As needed, shown over 26 weeks
Common protocols
The ways Oxytocin is most often run, each tagged with where it comes from.
Repeated research dosing
Trial- Dose
- 18–40 IU
- How often
- Repeated, per study protocol
- How long
- Short-term only
Some trials gave many doses (up to 182 in one). Longer-term safety is less studied.
Draw 3–6.7 units2 mg + 2 mL
Obstetric (hospital only)
Label- Dose
- IV 0.5–1 mU/min; IM 10 units
- How often
- IV infusion in labor; one IM dose after delivery
- How long
- Hospital use only
IV rate raised by 1–2 mU/min every 30–60 min with constant monitoring. Rates over 9–10 mU/min are rarely needed.
Taking it
Where it goes
Research: nasal spray, split between both nostrils. Label: IV infusion or IM injection, given only by clinicians in hospital.
If you miss a dose
No missed-dose rule. Research doses are single, timed before a task, and the obstetric product is only given by clinicians.
What to expect
- 45–60 min after a nasal dose
The window studies use for testing. Most people can’t tell it from placebo.
Trial - Short-term research use
A review of 38 trials (1,529 people) found side effects no different from placebo at 18–40 IU.
Trial - Labor (IV)
Stronger contractions. The rate is raised slowly; over 9–10 mU/min is rarely needed.
Label
Side effects and what to do
Intranasal, short-term: no side effects above placebo (review of 38 trials)
Three case reports of problems involved misuse or longer-term use.
Water intoxication and low sodium (label)
Tied to long IV infusions with lots of fluid; can cause seizures and coma. Headache, confusion or vomiting needs urgent care.
Uterine overstimulation (label)
Can harm mother and baby. Don’t use in pregnancy outside medical care.
Nausea, vomiting, irregular heartbeat, blood pressure spikes (label, IV use)
Reported with obstetric use; clinicians stop the infusion.
Allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis (label)
An emergency. Stop and get help.
Stop and get medical help
Get help for contractions or bleeding in pregnancy, severe headache, confusion, vomiting or seizures (possible low sodium), a racing or irregular heartbeat, or allergy signs.
Tracking and pairing
Worth tracking
- Label (IV): contractions, fetal heart rate and fluid balance
- Headache, confusion or swelling (possible low sodium)
Often paired with
Usually run on its own.
Human studies
4 key published human studies, with how many people took part. Animal studies aren’t listed here.
-
Blood loss of 500 mL or more, or extra uterotonics: 14.4% with oxytocin vs 14.5% with carbetocin, so carbetocin was noninferior.
- Design
- Randomized controlled trial (noninferiority)
- Dose
- 10 IU IM oxytocin vs 100 mcg IM heat-stable carbetocin after vaginal birth
- Length
- Single dose
Widmer et al., N Engl J Med 2018 (WHO CHAMPION), PMID 29949473
-
No benefit on social withdrawal in children and teens with autism vs placebo (change -3.7 vs -3.5, P=0.61); side effects similar.
- Design
- Randomized controlled trial
- Dose
- Intranasal, target 48 IU daily
- Length
- 24 weeks
Sikich et al., N Engl J Med 2021 (SOARS-B), PMID 34644471
-
Side effects did not differ from placebo at 18–40 IU in short-term research use; 3 case reports of adverse reactions with misuse or longer use.
- Design
- Systematic review of 38 randomized trials
- Dose
- 18–40 IU intranasal, mostly single doses
- Length
- Single doses up to 182 administrations
MacDonald et al., Psychoneuroendocrinology 2011, PMID 21429671
-
No overall effect on caregiver-rated social responsiveness in children 3–12 with autism (p=0.686); possible benefit at ages 3–5; well tolerated.
- Design
- Randomized controlled trial
- Dose
- 16 IU intranasal twice daily (32 IU a day)
- Length
- 12 weeks
Guastella et al., Mol Psychiatry 2023, PMID 36302965
Mixing your vial
| Vial | Water | Common dose | Draw | Strength | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 mg | 2 mL | 24 IU | 4 units (0.040 mL) | 1 mg/mL | |
| 5 mg | 5 mL | 24 IU | 4 units (0.040 mL) | 1 mg/mL | |
| 10 mg | 5 mL | 24 IU | 2 units (0.020 mL) | 2 mg/mL |
1 IU is about 1.68 mcg, so 1 mg is about 595 IU and a 2 mg vial holds roughly 1,190 IU. Intranasal doses don’t carry over to injection: far less of a nasal dose reaches the bloodstream.
Dose chart
Syringe units for common doses at different water volumes. Select a cell to open it in the calculator.
| Dose | Water added | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mL | 2 mL | 3 mL | |
| 18 IU | |||
| 20 IU | |||
| 24 IU | |||
| 25 IU | |||
| 30 IU | |||
| 40 IU | |||
U-100 insulin syringe: 100 units is 1 mL. Draws over 100 units show in mL. Faded values are under 2 units, which is hard to measure. Check that your vial holds the larger volumes.
Datasheet
- Half-life
- about 1 to 6 minutes LabelPlasma half-life; shorter in late pregnancy and during breastfeeding.
- Type
- Peptide, 9 amino acids
- Molecular weight
- 1,007.2 g/mol
- Formula
- C43H66N12O12S2
- Sequence
- CYIQNCPLG-NH2Cys1-Cys6 disulfide
- Storage before use
- Not supplied as powder. Pitocin vials are stored at 20–25 °C (68–77 °F).
- After mixing or opening
- Supplied as ready-made solution in single-dose and multiple-dose vials; the label gives no separate in-use period.
- Half-life: Pitocin prescribing information, clinical pharmacology (DailyMed, revised March 2026)
- Molecule: PubChem CID 439302; Pitocin label lists MW 1007.19
- Storage: Label Pitocin prescribing information, Storage (DailyMed, revised March 2026)
Cautions
- Can trigger contractions in pregnancy.
- High or prolonged dosing can cause water intoxication and low sodium (label).
- A full postpartum IM dose is 10 units (about 17 mcg). Many community injection amounts exceed it.
Questions
What is oxytocin?
A 9-amino-acid hormone that triggers uterine contractions and milk let-down. It also acts in the brain and is studied as a nasal spray for social behavior, anxiety and pain.
Is oxytocin FDA-approved?
Approved in the US as Pitocin, an IV or IM injection for labor induction or augmentation and postpartum bleeding. Intranasal use is investigational.
What is the usual oxytocin dose?
From human studies (Research studies): Intranasal: a single 18–40 IU dose, most studies 20–24 IU, taken 45–60 minutes before the task. From the label (Pitocin): Obstetric use only, given by clinicians by IV infusion or as 10 units IM after delivery. These are the amounts sources reference, not recommendations.
What is the half-life of oxytocin?
About 1 to 6 minutes, according to the prescribing information. Plasma half-life; shorter in late pregnancy and during breastfeeding.
How should oxytocin be stored?
Not supplied as powder. Pitocin vials are stored at 20–25 °C (68–77 °F). After mixing: Supplied as ready-made solution in single-dose and multiple-dose vials; the label gives no separate in-use period.
Is oxytocin banned in sport?
No. Not named on the 2026 list.
Has oxytocin been studied in people?
Yes. The human studies section lists 4 published studies. The largest, from 2018, included 29,645 people. Blood loss of 500 mL or more, or extra uterotonics: 14.4% with oxytocin vs 14.5% with carbetocin, so carbetocin was noninferior.
Sources
- Pitocin (oxytocin) label (DailyMed)
- MacDonald et al., safety of intranasal oxytocin (2011) PMID 21429671
For the protocol details
- Pitocin (oxytocin injection) label (DailyMed)