Note: This document contains side effect information about oxytocin. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Pitocin.

Applies to oxytocin: parenteral injection.

Side effects include:

Adverse effects usually are dose related.

Uterine hyperstimulation and subsequent fetal heart rate deceleration most common. (See Uterine Hyperactivity under General Precautions.)

Maternal nausea, vomiting, sinus bradycardia, premature ventricular complexes; probably related to labor and not the drug.

Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, jaundice, retinal hemorrhage, low Apgar scores at 5 minutes.

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to oxytocin: compounding powder, injectable solution, intravenous solution.

General

The more commonly reported adverse effects have included headache, tachycardia, bradycardia, nausea and vomiting.^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Common (1% to 10%): Tachycardia, bradycardia

Frequency not reported: Premature ventricular contractions, hypertensive episodes, cardiac arrhythmia, bradycardia (neonate), premature ventricular contractions and other arrhythmias (neonate)

Postmarketing reports: Myocardial ischemia, QTc prolongation, hypotension, flushing^[Ref]

Bradycardia and premature ventricular contractions and other arrhythmias have been reported in the neonate due to induced uterine motility.^[Ref]

Nervous system

Permanent CNS or brain damage, and seizures have been reported in the neonate due to induced uterine motility.^[Ref]

Common (1% to 10%): Headache

Frequency not reported: Subarachnoid hemorrhage, permanent CNS or brain damage (neonate), neonatal seizures^[Ref]

Metabolic

Frequency not reported: Severe water intoxication with convulsions, coma, fatal water intoxication

Postmarketing reports: Maternal hyponatremia, neonatal hyponatremia^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Frequency not reported: Anaphylactic reaction

Postmarketing reports: Anaphylactic reaction and shock^[Ref]

Genitourinary

Frequency not reported: Uterine Rupture, pelvic hematoma, postpartum hemorrhage

Postmarketing reports: Uterine hypertonicity, tetanic contractions, rupture of the uterus; fetal distress (neonate), amniotic fluid embolism^[Ref]

Hematologic

Frequency not reported: Fatal afibrinogenemia

Postmarketing reports: Disseminated intravascular coagulation^[Ref]

Hepatic

Neonatal jaundice has been reported in the neonate due to use of oxytocin (the active ingredient contained in Pitocin) in the mother.^[Ref]

Frequency not reported: Neonatal jaundice^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Common (1% to 10%): Nausea, vomiting^[Ref]

Respiratory

Postmarketing reports: Acute pulmonary edema, asphyxia (neonate)

Ocular

Frequency not reported: Neonatal retinal hemorrhage^[Ref]

Neonatal retinal hemorrhage has been reported in the neonate due to use of oxytocin in the mother.^[Ref]

Other

Fetal death has been reported due to induced uterine motility; low Apgar scores at 5 minutes have been reported in the neonate due to oxytocin (the active ingredient contained in Pitocin) use in the mother.

Frequency not reported: Fetal death, low Apgar scores at 5 minutes

Dermatologic

Postmarketing reports: Angioedema