Oxytocin Richter Special Precautions

Oxytocin-Richter must only be administered as an intravenous infusion and never by intravenous bolus injection, as it may cause an acute short-lasting hypotension accompanied with flushing and reflex tachycardia.
Induction of labour: The induction of labour by means of oxytocin should be attempted only when strictly indicated for medical reasons. Administration should only be under hospital conditions and qualified medical supervision.
Cardiovascular disorders: Oxytocin should be used with caution in patients who have a predisposition to myocardial ischemia due to pre-existing cardiovascular disease (such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, valvular heart disease and/or ischemic heart disease including coronary artery vasospasm), to avoid significant changes in blood pressure and heart rate in these patients.
QT syndrome: Oxytocin should be given with caution to patients with known 'long QT syndrome' or related symptoms and to patients taking drugs that are known to prolong the QTc interval (see Interactions).
When Oxytocin-Richter is given for induction and enhancement of labour: Foetal distress and foetal death: Administration of oxytocin at excessive doses results in uterine overstimulation which may cause foetal distress, asphyxia and death, or may lead to hypertonicity, tetanic contractions or rupture of uterus. Careful monitoring of foetal heart rate and uterine motility (frequency, strength and duration of contractions) is essential, so that the dosage may be adjusted to individual response.
Particular caution is required in the presence of borderline cephalopelvic disproportion, secondary uterine inertia, mild or moderate degrees of pregnancy-induced hypertension or cardiac disease, and in patients above 35 years of age or with a history of lower-uterine-segment caesarean section.
Disseminated intravascular coagulation: In rare circumstances, the pharmacological induction of labour using uterotonic agents, including oxytocin increases the risk of postpartum disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). The pharmacological induction itself and not a particular agent is linked to such risk. This risk is increased in particular if the woman has additional risk factors for DIC, such as being 35 years of age or over, complications during pregnancy and gestational age more than 40 weeks. In these women, oxytocin or any other alternative drug should be used with care, and the practitioner should be alerted by signs of DIC.
Intrauterine death: In the case of foetal death in utero, and/or in the presence of meconium-stained amniotic fluid, tumultuous labour must be avoided, as it may cause amniotic fluid embolism.
Water intoxication: Because oxytocin possesses slight antidiuretic activity, its prolonged IV administration at high doses in conjunction with large volumes of fluid, as may be the case in the treatment of inevitable or missed abortion or in the management of postpartum haemorrhage, may cause water intoxication associated with hyponatraemia. The combined antidiuretic effect of oxytocin and the IV fluid administration may cause fluid overload leading to a haemodynamic form of acute pulmonary oedema without hyponatraemia. To avoid these rare complications, the following precautions must be observed whenever high doses of oxytocin are administered over a long time: an electrolyte-containing diluent must be used (not dextrose); the volume of infused fluid should be kept low (by infusing oxytocin at a higher concentration than recommended for the induction or enhancement of labour at term); fluid intake by mouth must be restricted; a fluid balance chart should be kept, and serum electrolytes should be measured when electrolyte imbalance is suspected.
Renal impairment: Caution should be exercised in patients with severe renal impairment because of possible water retention and possible accumulation of oxytocin (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions).
Anaphylaxis in women with latex allergy: There have been reports of anaphylaxis following administration of oxytocin in women with latex allergy. Due to the existing structural homology between oxytocin and latex, latex allergy/intolerance may be an important predisposing risk factor for anaphylaxis following oxytocin administration.
Excipients: This medicinal product contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per dose, that is to say essentially 'sodium-free'.
This medicinal product contains small amounts of ethanol (alcohol), less than 100 mg per dose.
Effects on ability to drive and use machines: Oxytocin can induce labour; therefore, caution should be exercised when driving or operating machines. Women with uterine contractions should not drive or use machines.