Hormones
Oxytocin
Also known as: Pitocin, Syntocinon (brand names)
A natural hormone made in the brain that is an approved medicine for labor and postpartum bleeding. Nasal versions have been studied for social and emotional effects, with mixed results.
Overview
Oxytocin is a nine-amino-acid hormone made in the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland. It helps trigger uterine contractions in labor and the release of milk during breastfeeding, and it has been studied for a role in social bonding. A synthetic version is a standard hospital medicine in childbirth.
What the research has looked at
Its obstetric uses are well established. Studies of oxytocin sprayed into the nose, mostly small laboratory studies in healthy volunteers, reported modest effects on tasks involving trust and recognizing emotions. Clinical trials in conditions such as autism, anxiety and schizophrenia have given mixed results. A 24-week trial in 277 children and adolescents with autism found no significant benefit over placebo.
What we do not know
- How much nasal oxytocin reaches the brain, and by what route, is still debated.
- Effects seen in small laboratory studies have not been consistently reproduced.
- Long-term safety of nasal oxytocin for behavior or mood has not been established.
- Injectable oxytocin is a potent hospital medicine with serious risks, and it is used only under medical supervision.
Regulatory context
Oxytocin is an approved injectable medicine for labor and postpartum bleeding. Nasal products sold for social behavior or mood are not FDA-approved for those purposes.
Related pages
See also Kisspeptin and PT-141.
References & further reading
- Sikich L, et al. Intranasal oxytocin in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. N Engl J Med. 2021;385(16):1462-1473.
Educational reference only. Not medical advice. This page does not recommend or describe human use, dosing or sourcing.