Have you heard of “Oxytocin Nasal Spray?”

Oxytocin nasal spray is used by people for a myriad of social reasons including to: 

• Increase empathy 
• Increase feelings of love and bonding in monogamous relationships
• Increase social recognition of facial expressions by parents in children (such as evaluated by the facial recognition test)
• Focus attentiveness to relevant social stimuli
• Increase trust
• Decrease fears and anxieties with respect to people
 

Oxytocin nasal spray is utilized for various medical reasons as well including to:

• Inhibit the development of tolerance of certain drugs including:  opiates, cocaine and alcohol
• Decrease appetite
• Alleviate Asperger’s and Autistic symptoms
• Assuage schizophrenic symptoms

In the United States, Oxytocin Nasal Spray can be prescribed by your MD or psychiatrist. It can be obtained at your local compounding pharmacy, as can other effective drugs not yet approved by the FDA.

Due to denaturing of the Oxytocin molecule in low pH or highly acidic environments, Oxytocin is most effective when delivered into the lungs as opposed to transport via the digestive tract into the stomach. Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) in the stomach would so rapidly break down the Oxytocin  that it wouldn’t have a chance to get absorbed into the blood stream, nor would it be circulated around the body or last long enough to cross the blood brain barrier.

Oxytocin nasal spray must be refrigerated and administered every 6 hours.  For some individuals, the results of nasally administered oxytocin can last a lifetime.  For others, the effects wear off.  This discrepancy in efficacy duration may have to do with which varying forms of genes located on chromosome 22 (to be discussed in a future article).  Perhaps some individuals rapidly break down the oxytocin molecule whereas others do not. Rate of breakdown is dependent upon whether an individual is considered an ultra rapid metabolizers or a slow metabolizer.

If one in need does not experience lifelong effects of oxytocin nasal spray, it would be helpful for these individuals: be tested for chromosome 22 variances (reimbursed by some insurance companies) and possibly be administered higher levels of Oxytocin than the "average."  Another possible option for administration might be to taper on and off of Oxytocin over the course of time as a method of attempting to "trick the body's" adjustment ability.

 Social observances of individuals who benefit from Oxytocin Nasal Spray are so incredible, they can be related to the movie Awakenings in which Robin Williams plays a lead role.  In the movie, patients are administered a drug that brings patients out of a catatonic Encephalitis Lethargica state.  Unfortunately, the drug is only effective for a short duration.

Based on the reasons for administration listed above, if you think that the Oxytocin Nasal Spray medication might be helpful to you and/or one whom you care about, it is suggested that you be an advocate for your own health.  Many medical and psychiatric providers don’t think outside the box and aren’t ‘adventurous’ enough to look at medication options outside of FDA approval.  Furthermore, many people including trained professionals haven’t heard of it as an option.  It has been somewhat explored as a supplement in certain couple’s therapy scenarios.

Lily J Kotila is not an M.D.  She was a high school Biology teacher in Washington D.C. and she is a licensed Marriage Family Therapist in California. This article is not intended to be medical advise.  This article is intended to educate people and provide new insight and ways of thinking about Oxytocin Nasal Spray, compounding pharmacies, genetic testing etc.  (What an interesting society in which we live).