Pharmaceuticals company Abraxis Bioscience received permission from the FDA yesterday to produce oxytocin in a larger vial. This product is used to stimulate or increase the strength of contractions during labor.
Abraxis already sells oxytocin in 1 ML and 10ML bottles. According to the company, the new 30 ML size is designed to be a "more convenient," multi-dose bottle.
The question is, will this super-sized vial at hand in the delivery room induce doctors to increase the oxytocin dose, exposing women and babies to greater hazards from this drug: painfully strong contractions; diminished oxygen supply to the baby; a possible allergic reaction in the baby to naturally produced oxytocin.
