Syntocinon Nasal Spray

Please note: This product can only be shipped using our EMS courier option.

Uses
Syntocinon Spray contains a synthetic version of the naturally-occurring hormone oxytocin. It works in the same way as the natural hormone. Oxytocin is normally released by the pituitary gland in the brain towards the end of pregnancy to stimulate the smooth muscle of the uterus (womb). The oxytocin causes the muscle of the uterus to contract during labour so that the baby can be pushed out.

Synthetic oxytocin is used to induce labour for medical reasons, or if labour has not started naturally. The dose of the medicine is adjusted until the contractions produced are in a similar pattern to that of normal labour. Synthetic oxytocin can also be used to stimulate labour that has started naturally, but is considered too weak to push out the baby. In this case the medicine strengthens the contractions of the uterus.

After the baby has been born, Syntocinon Spray may be given to stimulate contractions that help push out the placenta and prevent heavy bleeding. Syntocinon is given as a drip into a vein.

Syntocinon Spray (Oxytocin) is used for:

• Starting (inducing) labour
• Stimulating labour when the contractions are considered too weak
• Preventing or controlling heavy bleeding due to delivery of the placenta after childbirth (post-partum haemorrhage)
• During caesarian section
• Management of certain types of miscarriage

Dosage and administration
For the dosage and administration of Syntocinon nasal spray please consult your doctor and discuss with him your individual case. Your doctor or delivery nurse will decide when and how to treat you with syntocinon. Usually syntocinon is thinned before use and is given as an intravenous infusion into one veins.

Side effects

• Nausea and vomiting
• Spasms of the uterus
• Bleeding
• Abnormal heart beats (arrhythmias)
• Skin rashes
• Fall in blood pressure (causing dizziness, lightheadedness, feeling faint)
• Difficulty in breathing
• Shock (blood pressure too low to maintain blood supply to the tissues)
• High doses may cause very strong contractions of the womb, resulting in tearing of the womb, tissue damage or distress to the baby
• Water intoxication and low levels of sodium in the blood may occur if high doses are used for long periods (symptoms include headache, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, lethargy, drowsiness, unconsciousness and seizures)

Precautions
Syntocinon Spray shall not be used if one has known allergies against the active agent oxytocin. In case you do observe an allergic reaction, end the medication and directly inform your doctor or pharmacist. In addition the application of syntocinon is not recommended in cases of:

• Foetal distress (shortage of oxygen)
• Previous caesarian section
• Age over 35
• Strong uterine contractions
• Situations when inducing labour is inadvisable or vaginal delivery is not possible, for example, if the baby is in the wrong position, or if the woman has a low lying placenta (placenta praevia), a very small pelvis, or a scar on the womb from a previous caesarian section.

Syntocinon Spray should not be used for on-going periods if:

• No increase of contractions due to the treatment
• High blood pressure (pre-eclamptic toxaemia)
• Protein in the urine (pre-eclamptic toxaemia)
• Swelling of the feet and ankles (pre-eclamptic toxaemia)
• Heart problems
• Blood circulation problems