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Does Oxytocin Interact with Misoprostol?

Oxytocin and Misoprostol have a contraindicated drug interaction according to U.S. FDA drug labeling data. Prostaglandins such as misoprostol may augment oxytocic activity, especially when given less than 4 hours prior to oxytocin. Concomitant use is not recommended. The mechanism involves augmentation of oxytocic agent activity. Patients taking both medications should consult their healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing the dosage of either drug. This information is based on official FDA drug labeling sourced from OpenFDA and the NIH National Library of Medicine.

Severity
Contraindicated
Oxytocin Class
Oxytocic
Misoprostol Class
Prostaglandin E1 Analog
Management
Do not take together
Data Source
U.S. FDA via OpenFDA

How This Interaction Works

The interaction between Oxytocin and Misoprostol occurs because augmentation of oxytocic agent activity. Clinically, this means prostaglandins such as misoprostol may augment oxytocic activity, especially when given less than 4 hours prior to oxytocin. concomitant use is not recommended. Because of the severity of this interaction, these medications are contraindicated — meaning they should not be taken together under any circumstances. If you are currently taking both, contact your healthcare provider immediately to discuss alternatives.

What To Tell Your Doctor or Pharmacist

If you are taking Oxytocin and your doctor is considering prescribing Misoprostol (or vice versa), make sure to:

  • Inform your doctor and pharmacist of all current medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements
  • Ask whether the benefits of combining these medications outweigh the risks for your specific situation
  • Ask what symptoms to watch for that would indicate the interaction is causing problems
  • Ask about alternative medications that do not interact with your current regimen
  • Ask how frequently you should be monitored while these are co-prescribed
  • Never stop or change either medication without first consulting your healthcare provider
💊 Oxytocin(Pitocin)+💊 Misoprostol(Cytotec)

Severity & Interaction Details

⛔
contraindicated
Avoid this combination
FDA labeling lists this pair as contraindicated. The risk outweighs the benefit in nearly all cases.
Severity scale
MinorContra
On record
Yes
Drug A class
Oxytocic
Drug B class
Prostaglandin E1 Analog
Source
NLP:misoprostol

What this means in plain English

Prostaglandins such as misoprostol may augment oxytocic activity, especially when given less than 4 hours prior to oxytocin. Concomitant use is not recommended.

About Oxytocin and Misoprostol

Oxytocin is an Oxytocic, while Misoprostol is a Prostaglandin E1 Analog. You may recognize them by the brand names Pitocin and Cytotec. Oxytocin is given by intravenous (IV) infusion, whereas Misoprostol is taken by mouth. Both Oxytocin and Misoprostol carry an FDA boxed warning — the agency's most serious safety designation.

What the FDA label says

"Augmentation of oxytocic agent activity"

📖 Source: NLP:misoprostol

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Data integrity: Every interaction shown is extracted directly from official U.S. FDA drug labeling via openFDA and the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NIH) — no interactions are invented, inferred, or manually edited. Maintained by CheckDrugInteractions.com. See our methodology or report a correction at support@checkdruginteractions.com.

Data sourced from U.S. FDA drug labeling via openFDA and the NIH National Library of Medicine, supplemented with a small number of well-established interactions from curated clinical references. For informational purposes only. Always consult your pharmacist or physician.