Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: OXYTOCIN 5 USP UNITS IN DEXTROSE 5 versus PITOCIN.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: OXYTOCIN 5 USP UNITS IN DEXTROSE 5 versus PITOCIN.
OXYTOCIN 5 USP UNITS IN DEXTROSE 5% vs PITOCIN
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Oxytocin is a nonapeptide hormone that binds to oxytocin receptors on the myometrium, increasing intracellular calcium and stimulating uterine smooth muscle contraction. It also acts on mammary gland myoepithelial cells to promote milk ejection.
Oxytocin receptor agonist; stimulates uterine smooth muscle contractions and myoepithelial cell contraction in the mammary gland.
Induction or augmentation of labor: IV infusion, initial rate 0.5-2 mU/min, increased by 1-2 mU/min every 15-30 min until adequate contractions; max 20 mU/min. Postpartum hemorrhage: IV infusion 10-40 units in 1000 mL D5W or NS, rate adjusted to control bleeding.
IV infusion: 0.5-2 mU/min, increase by 1-2 mU/min every 15-60 minutes until contractions are established; maximum 20 mU/min.
None Documented
None Documented
Terminal elimination half-life: 1–6 minutes (intravenous); 2–5 minutes (intramuscular); short half-life requires continuous infusion for sustained effect.
Terminal elimination half-life is 3-5 minutes (plasma) with a terminal half-life of 1-6 minutes for exogenously administered oxytocin; clinical effects persist 20-30 minutes due to receptor binding.
Renal (primarily); >99% of infused oxytocin is excreted unchanged in urine; negligible biliary/fecal elimination.
Primarily renal: 90-95% of the dose is excreted in urine as intact peptide and metabolites; <1% excreted in feces via bile.
Category C
Category C
Oxytocic
Oxytocic