Oxytocin
Also known as · OT · Pitocin (IV labor use) · Syntocinon (intranasal, withdrawn US)
- EvidenceApproved
- CategoryNeuropeptide
- RouteIntranasal (research)
- Half-life~3–5 min (plasma)
01 / Dosing schedule
Cited dosing
Oxytocin is FDA-approved as Pitocin for IV labor induction only. Intranasal use for social/behavioral research has no FDA label. The Kosfeld 2005 Nature paper established the 24 IU intranasal dose that became the field default; multi-dose trials have used 12 IU twice daily.
Intranasal — single-dose behavioral research
| Phase | Dose & frequency |
|---|---|
| Standard dose | 24 IU intranasally |
| Timing | ~45 minutes before the target task |
| Frequency | As-needed per protocol |
| Replication note | Large registered replications (n=321 pooled) failed to reproduce the trust effect |
Source · Kosfeld M et al. Oxytocin increases trust in humans. Nature 2005 ↗
Intranasal — multi-dose (autism trials)
| Phase | Dose & frequency |
|---|---|
| Standard dose | 12 IU intranasally twice daily |
| Duration | 4-week regimens in pediatric SRS-2 trials |
| Route | Intranasal spray |
Source indication · FDA labor induction is IV Pitocin. Intranasal social-effects research use is not the approved indication.
- Injection frequency
- Once before task, or 12 IU 2x/day in multi-dose regimens.
- Injection sites
- Intranasal (research). IV administration (labor use, hospital only).
02 / Reconstitution
Reconstitution reference
Research-grade oxytocin ships as a lyophilized vial. A common prep is 10 IU/mL nasal spray formulation compounded by pharmacy. Research protocols typically dispense a fixed number of puffs per nostril to deliver the target IU dose.
03 / Overview
Protocol overview
Oxytocin is a nine-amino-acid neuropeptide produced in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus. It acts peripherally on uterus and mammary gland and centrally on social-behavior circuits.
The only FDA-approved indication is IV Pitocin for labor induction and augmentation. Intranasal use for pair-bonding, trust, and autism research is not an approved indication and has no FDA label.
The Kosfeld 2005 Nature paper established 24 IU intranasal as the field-default single dose. Large pre-registered replications have failed to reproduce the original trust-game effect.
Multi-dose regimens in autism trials have typically used 12 IU twice daily for 4 weeks. Meta-analyses support small effects on emotion recognition; broader behavioral effects remain contested.
04 / References