Effects of long‐term treatment with oxytocin in chronic constipation; a double blind, placebo‐controlled pilot trial
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Abstract Background: Oxytocin and its receptor have been found throughout the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, where it affects gut function. Clinically, we have noticed an improvement of bowel habits during lactation in constipated women. The aim of this study was to examine whether oxytocin has an effect on bowel symptoms and psychological well being in women with refractory constipation. Methods: Fifty‐nine women with refractory constipation were included in a double blind, multicentre study. After a 2‐week run‐in period, they were randomly allocated to nasal inhalation of either placebo or oxytocin treatment twice daily for 13 weeks, followed by a 2 weeks, posttreatment period. The patients completed a questionnaire every day concerning bowel habits, abdominal pain and discomfort, and Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rating Scale (GSRS) and Psychological General Well‐being (PGWB) twice during the study; namely, during the baseline period and at the end of the treatment period. Results: Both oxytocin and placebo led to improvement of the constipation according to the GSRS and led to improvement in the sensation of incomplete evacuation and anorectal obstruction, without significant differences between the groups. Abdominal pain and discomfort responded weakly to oxytocin, with no effect of the placebo. In a subgroup of patients with IBS and concomitant depression, a weak improvement in depressed mood was observed after oxytocin administartion. Conclusion: Nasal administration of oxytocin had no significant advantage over placebo concerning an effect on constipation. However, it seems to have a positive effect on abdominal pain and discomfort and depressed mood. These findings should be further explored.
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Other studies administering intranasal oxytocin daily from 3 to 13 weeks in patients with chronic syndromes did not show any analgesic effects.
“However, other studies administering intranasal oxytocin daily from 3 to 13 weeks in patients with chronic syndromes did not show any analgesic effects 21, 22.”
From The Analgesic Effect of Oxytocin in Humans: A Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled Cross‐Over Study Using Laser‐Evoked Potentials (2016) · cites this paper as [22]
Double-blind, placebo-controlled studies have produced mixed results regarding the analgesic role of oxytocin in humans.
“However, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled studies have produced mixed results.”
From The Analgesic Effect of Oxytocin in Humans: A Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled Cross‐Over Study Using Laser‐Evoked Potentials (2016) · cites this paper as [22]
A dose of 40 IU oxytocin twice a day is comparable to the doses previously used in human studies investigating effects of multiple treatments of oxytocin and does not produce significant side effects or adverse outcomes.
“A dose of 40 IU twice a day is comparable to the doses previously used in human studies investigating effects of multiple treatments of oxytocin [61,62] and does not produce significant side effects or adverse outcomes [63].”
From Efficacy of oxytocin administration early after psychotrauma in preventing the development of PTSD: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial (2014) · cites this paper as [62]
The BONDS trial's dose of 40 IU intranasal oxytocin was based on two studies that examined prolonged intranasal oxytocin administration on clinical symptoms in psychiatric patient populations and observed favorable outcomes.
“We based our dose of 40 IU on 2 studies that examined the effects of prolonged intranasal oxytocin administration on clinical symptoms in (psychiatric) patient populations and observed favorable outcomes [61,62].”
From Efficacy of oxytocin administration early after psychotrauma in preventing the development of PTSD: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial (2014) · cites this paper as [62]
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- Authors
- Ohlsson, B., Truedsson, M., Bengtsson, M., Torstenson, R., Sjölund, K., Björnsson, E. S., & Simrèn, M.
- Affiliations
- Lund University (SE)
- Skåne University Hospital (SE)
- Sahlgrenska University Hospital (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Ohlsson, B.
- Venue
- Neurogastroenterology & Motility
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2005-06-21
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 697-704
- ISSN
- 1350-1925 (ISSN-L)
- 1365-2982
- OpenAlex
- W2012409109
- Cited by
- 92
- References
- 47
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 2.05
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- lup.lub.lu.se
- Licence
- Locations
- Neurogastroenterology & Motility (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Lund University Publications (Lund University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rheumatology › Pelvic floor disorders treatments
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Keywords
- oxytocin, refractory constipation, chronic constipation, bowel habits, abdominal pain, incomplete evacuation, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, psychological well-being, women
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Anxiety, Chronic Disease, Constipation, Depression, Double-Blind Method, Gastrointestinal Transit, Health Status, Humans, Middle Aged, Oxytocin, Pilot Projects, Placebos, Patient Selection
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