Barium sulfate (oral route)
Available brands
Bar-Test, Entero VU, E-Z-Cat Dry, E-Z-Disk, E-Z-HD, Readi-Cat 2, Readi-Cat 2 Smoothie, Tagitol V, Varibar, Varibar Pudding, Volumen, Acb, Baro-Cat, Colobar-100, Epi-C, Epi-Stat, Esobar, Esopho-Cat Esophageal Cream, E-Z-Cat, E-Z-Hd, E-Z-Jug, E-Z-Paque, Gel-Unix 10
About this medication
Barium sulfate is used to help diagnose or find problems in the esophagus, stomach, and bowels. It is a radiographic contrast agent. Contrast agents are used to create a clear picture of the different parts of the body. This medicine is to be given only by or under the direct supervision of a doctor. This product is available in the following dosage forms:
Before using this medication
In deciding to use a diagnostic test, any risks of the test must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. Also, other things may affect test results. For this test, the following should be considered: Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully. Entero VU™ 24% oral suspensionis not indicated for use in children. Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness ofE-Z-HD oral suspensionin children 12 years of age and older. However, safety and efficacy of this medicine have not been established in children younger than 12 years of age. Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness ofVaribar® Pudding oral pastein children 6 months of age and older. However, safety and efficacy of this medicine have not been established in children younger than 6 months of age. Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of barium sulfateoral suspension or pastein the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have kidney, liver, or heart problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving this medicine. Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine. Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco. The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this diagnostic test. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
How to use this medication
A doctor or other trained health professional will give you or your child this medicine in a hospital. This medicine is given by mouth. You will swallow the bariumliquidorpastejust before a CT scan or x-ray. Your doctor may tell you not to eat or drink anything the night before your test. Barium will work better if your stomach and bowels are empty. It is important to drink plenty of liquids during and after the test. Barium sulfate may cause severe constipation. Barium sulfate is also available as an enema and given through the rectum.
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