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Prescription medicine · generic available

Oxytocin

Drug class: Oxytocic

The FDA’s “Established Pharmacologic Class”: the group of medicines that work in a similar way.

Official FDA data, not advice

Everything here comes from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): the drug label, the NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, recall reports and the drug shortage list. Each fact shows its source and date.

This page is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change any medicine.

In an emergency, call 911. If someone may have taken too much of a medicine, call Poison Help: 1‑800‑222‑1222.

Quick answers

What is Oxytocin used for?
The FDA-approved label (Oxytocin, Remedyrepack Inc., September 1, 2026) says: “IMPORTANT NOTICE: Oxytocin Injection, USP (synthetic) is indicated for the medical rather than the elective induction of labor. Available data and information are inadequate to define the benefits to risks considerations in the use of the drug product for elective induction. …” This page is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change any medicine.
Does Oxytocin have a boxed warning?
The label we quote has no boxed warning, but 5 of 9 FDA labels for this medicine do. Check the label of your own product.
Is there a shortage of Oxytocin?
No current shortage is listed by the FDA for the products of this medicine (FDA data from October 30, 2026).
Has Oxytocin been recalled?
FDA enforcement reports list 2 recalls of products of this medicine; the newest started June 24, 2013 (Class II). A recall usually concerns specific lots, not every product.
Who makes Oxytocin?
5 companies list prescription products of Oxytocin in the FDA NDC Directory, including Par Health USA, LLC, Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC and West-Ward Pharmaceuticals Corp.

What Oxytocin is used for

Quoted from the “Indications and Usage” section of the FDA-approved label.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Oxytocin Injection, USP (synthetic) is indicated for the medical rather than the elective induction of labor. Available data and information are inadequate to define the benefits to risks considerations in the use of the drug product for elective induction. …

— FDA label: Oxytocin, Remedyrepack Inc., effective September 1, 2026. Read the full label on DailyMed →

The FDA has 9 labels for products of this medicine (different makers and forms); uses can differ between them. Check the label that comes with your own medicine.

This page is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change any medicine.

Boxed warning

A boxed warning (“black box”) is the FDA’s strongest warning on a drug label, for serious or life-threatening risks.

The label quoted above has no boxed warning.

5 of 9 FDA labels for this medicine have a boxed warning.

Forms and how it is given

Dosage formsInjection · Injection, solution
RouteIntravenous · Intramuscular
Prescription products8 in the FDA NDC Directory
Brand namesPitocin

Companies that list this medicine

Labelers in the FDA NDC Directory: the company named on the package (maker or distributor), with the number of prescription products.

FDA approval history

  • NDA: New Drug Application: how a new (usually brand-name) medicine is approved.
  • ANDA: Abbreviated New Drug Application: how a generic version is approved.
Brand and biologic applications
ApplicationSponsorApprovedLater changes approved
NDA018248
OXYTOCIN
Fresenius Kabi USAJuly 9, 1980 23, latest September 20, 2022
2022: Labeling · 2014: Manufacturing (CMC) · 2007: Manufacturing (CMC)
NDA018261
PITOCIN
Ph HealthNovember 19, 1980 27, latest May 11, 2021
2021: Labeling · 2016: Manufacturing (CMC) · 2014: Labeling

Generic approvals (1)

Shortage status

The FDA drug shortage list does not show these products.

FDA Drug Shortages database →

Recalls

From FDA enforcement reports, matched by the product’s NDC code. A recall usually covers specific lots only: check the lot number on your package and ask your pharmacist. Do not stop a medicine on your own.

  1. June 24, 2013 · Class II · Terminated · D-804-2013

    Subpotent Drug; 15-month stability test station

    Oxytocin Injection, USP, (Synthetic), 10 USP Units/mL, for IV Infusion or IM Use, Rx Only, 1 mL vial, APP ) 10 USP Units/mL, 1 mL, APP Pharmaceuticals, LLC Schaumburg, IL, 60173, NDC 63323-012-01. — Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC

  2. June 5, 2012 · Class III · Terminated · D-1420-2012

    Labeling: Label Mix-up: Pitocin storage conditions should be labeled, "Store between 20¿ to 25¿C (68¿ to 77¿F)". Pitocin lot 225867 and part of Pitocin lot 231423 were labeled, "Store between 20¿ to 25¿C (28¿ to 77¿F)".

    Pitocin (Oxytocin Injection, USP) Synthetic 10 units per mL 10 mL, Rx only, Manufactured and Distributed by: JHP Pharmaceuticals, LLC Rochester, MI 48307 NDC 42023-116-02 — JHP Pharmaceuticals, LLC

What do the recall classes mean?

Class I: The most serious type: there is a reasonable chance that using the product will cause serious health problems or death.
Class II: Using the product may cause temporary or medically reversible health problems, or the chance of serious problems is remote.
Class III: Using the product is not likely to cause health problems (for example a labeling or packaging issue).

Official identifiers

RxCUI (RxNorm)207315, 238013, 1791721, 1791723
SPL set ID of the quoted labelb6f20a2c-3609-4b09-b8f7-8d8eaeb5c242
FDA labels (SPL)9
FDA applicationsNDA018248, NDA018261, 1 ANDA
Active ingredients (FDA)OXYTOCIN

Sources

  1. FDA-approved label on DailyMed (National Library of Medicine) — Oxytocin, Remedyrepack Inc., effective September 1, 2026; via openFDA, FDA data exported October 30, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026
  2. NDC Directory (openFDA) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FDA data exported October 30, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026
  3. Drugs@FDA (openFDA) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FDA data exported October 30, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026
  4. Drug recall enforcement reports (openFDA) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FDA data exported October 27, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026
  5. Drug shortages (openFDA) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FDA data exported October 30, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026

openFDA data is provided by the FDA as is; it may be incomplete. Always rely on the label that comes with your medicine. FDA Enforcement Report search →

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