Oxytocin: molecular data, studies & sources

Molecular formula, weight & structure

Molecular formula (MF)

C43H66N12O12S2

Molecular weight (MW)

1007.2 g/mol

PubChem compound ID

439302

Record title

Oxytocin

Values describe the selected PubChem molecular entity. Counterions, salt forms, hydration and sequence changes can alter the supplied material. Confirm the exact identity against the supplier specification.

Source: PubChem CID 439302 · retrieved 2026-09-21

US regulatory status & drug development

Oxytocin is the active ingredient of FDA-approved medicines that Drugs@FDA lists as marketed prescription products (checked October 7, 2026): OXYTOCIN (NDA 018243, approved April 29, 1980; NDA 018248, approved July 9, 1980) and PITOCIN (NDA 018261, approved November 19, 1980). Drugs@FDA lists two other applications as discontinued: SYNTOCINON (NDA 018245, approved April 17, 1980) and OXYTOCIN (NDA 019185, approved March 29, 1985). Drugs@FDA also lists 3 approved generic (ANDA) applications. Research-labelled Oxytocin listings are not PITOCIN and are not FDA-approved drugs.

Drugs@FDA also lists 3 approved generic (ANDA) applications for this active ingredient.

An FDA approval covers a defined medicine, formulation and labelled use. It does not extend to research-labelled material sold under the same compound name. Identity basis: Same active ingredient name (oxytocin). NDA 012285 (SYNTOCINON nasal solution) has no approved original submission in the openFDA record and is not listed.

Source: Drugs@FDA via openFDA (application records; DailyMed label set IDs) · checked 2026-10-07. openFDA data are not intended for clinical decisions.

Registered clinical trials

Studies registered on ClinicalTrials.gov that list Oxytocin as an intervention. Studies that only measure the molecule as a biomarker, or use it only as a comparator or background arm for another drug, are excluded. A registration describes a planned or completed protocol; it does not report a result. Active studies are listed first.

36 registered studies matched, 11 currently active or recruiting, 3 with results posted on ClinicalTrials.gov.

By highest phase

Phase 4 · 6Phase 3 · 3Phase 2 · 9Phase 1 · 3Early phase 1 · 3Not applicable · 12

By registry status

Completed · 11Unknown · 10Recruiting · 9Withdrawn · 3Active Not Recruiting · 2Terminated · 1

Registry check 2026-10-09 · Run this search on ClinicalTrials.gov

Human intervention studies

Selected studies in which participants received Oxytocin, with their indexed or reviewed study type. Check the original article for the formulation, population and controls. Studies that only measured the molecule, or used it as a comparator, are listed separately below and are not counted as intervention studies.

1. Human study · PubMed trial index Compound given to participants

   Oxytocin promotes altruistic punishment.

   Aydogan G, Furtner NC, Kern B et al. · Social cognitive and affective neuroscience · 2017

   PMID 28981891 · DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsx101

2. Human study · PubMed trial index Compound given to participants

   Social support and oxytocin interact to suppress cortisol and subjective responses to psychosocial stress.

   Heinrichs M, Baumgartner T, Kirschbaum C et al. · Biological psychiatry · 2003

   PMID 14675803 · DOI: 10.1016/s0006-3223(03)00465-7

3. Human study · PubMed trial index Compound given to participants

   Impact of discontinuing oxytocin in active labour on neonatal morbidity: an open-label, multicentre, randomised trial.

   Girault A, Sentilhes L, Desbrière R et al. · Lancet (London, England) · 2023

   PMID 37952548 · DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01803-2 · Registration NCT03991091

4. Human study · PubMed trial index Compound given to participants

   Oxytocin modulates hemodynamic responses to monetary incentives in humans.

   Mickey BJ, Heffernan J, Heisel C et al. · Psychopharmacology · 2016

   PMID 27614896 · DOI: 10.1007/s00213-016-4423-6

Human studies that measured Oxytocin or used it as a comparator

Indexed as human studies in PubMed, but participants were not given Oxytocin as the studied intervention, or the record does not establish that they were. They describe measurements or comparisons, not the effect of administering the compound.

1. Human study · PubMed trial index Endogenous level measured · not given

   Enhancing oxytocin and prolactin levels to address oligogalactia through emotional management and massage in working mothers.

   Astuti D, Rahfiludin MZ, Dwidiyanti M et al. · Narra J · 2024

   PMID 39816069 · DOI: 10.52225/narra.v4i3.017

Preclinical research, reviews & other publications

Animal studies, laboratory experiments, reviews and other indexed papers answer different questions. A review is secondary evidence; a case report does not estimate how often an outcome occurs.

1. Review · secondary evidence

   The physiology and pharmacology of oxytocin in labor and in the peripartum period.

   Uvnäs-Moberg K · American journal of obstetrics and gynecology · 2024

   PMID 38462255 · DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2023.04.011

2. Review · secondary evidence

   Is Oxytocin "Nature's Medicine"?

   Carter CS, Kenkel WM, MacLean EL et al. · Pharmacological reviews · 2020

   PMID 32912963 · DOI: 10.1124/pr.120.019398

3. Review · secondary evidence

   Maternal plasma levels of oxytocin during breastfeeding-A systematic review.

   Uvnäs Moberg K, Ekström-Bergström A, Buckley S et al. · PloS one · 2020

   PMID 32756565 · DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235806

Oxytocin supplier sources

Scientific sources describe molecules and experiments. The commercial links below identify recorded supplier packages. A publication or chemical database entry does not verify the seller, purity, sterility or contents of a lot. Some links are affiliate links; see our disclosure.

Oxytocin for sale: compare prices, sizes and forms from every tracked supplier →

Reference sources & further reading

• PubChem compound record 439302 — chemical identity and structure.
• ChEMBL drug record CHEMBL395429 — development stage, mechanism and synonyms.
• FDA Global Substance Registration System: UNII 1JQS135EYN — substance identity, names and codes.
• Drugs@FDA: NDA 018245 — US approval record for a medicine with the same active ingredient.
• Drugs@FDA: NDA 018243 — US approval record for a medicine with the same active ingredient.
• Drugs@FDA: NDA 018248 — US approval record for a medicine with the same active ingredient.
• Drugs@FDA: NDA 018261 — US approval record for a medicine with the same active ingredient.
• Drugs@FDA: NDA 019185 — US approval record for a medicine with the same active ingredient.
• Wikipedia: Oxytocin — Background encyclopedia; not a primary clinical source.

The citations above link directly to publication records. Encyclopedia links are background reading and are not used to establish clinical effectiveness.

Research information is not a dosing guide or a recommendation for personal use. Study findings are specific to the formulation, population and methods tested. Read our source and correction policy.

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