Varibar
Barium sulfate is a contrast agent that's used to help providers see the inside of your body using an X-ray or a CT scan. Depending on the product and the body part being examined, you'll either take it by mouth or rectally. Barium sulfate comes in different forms, including suspensions, tablets, powders, and creams.
What is Barium sulfate?
Drug facts
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Common questions about Barium sulfate
Barium sulfate is a contrast agent that's used to help providers see the inside of your body like the gut, which includes the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine on an X-ray or CT scan. Barium sulfate is helpful for diagnosing a condition, but it's not for the treatment of any medical problem or condition.
Barium sulfate is available in the United States as the following brands: Vanilla Silq MD, Vanilla Silq HD, E-Z-Disk, E-Z-HD, E-Z-PAQUE, E-Z-PASTE, Varibar, TAGITOL V, Entero Vu, NeuLumEX, Liquid Polibar Plus, and READI-CAT 2. The differences between these products are the dosage form (e.g., suspension, tablets, cream), the amount of barium that's in each product, the part of your digestive tract each product works on, and the age group that can take each product. Your provider will pick the product that's best for you based on these factors and give you specific instructions on how to correctly take the medication.
Yes. Unlike other contrast agents that contain iodine, barium sulfate doesn't contain iodine and can safely be taken by people who are allergic to iodine.
Barium sulfate isn't absorbed into your body from your stomach, so the risk to pregnant mothers is minimal. If you're pregnant, speak to your provider before taking this medication.
Side effects can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramping. You'll also need to look out for more rare, but serious side effects such as blockage in the gut, blood clots, and potential lung injury after inhalation.
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Barium sulfate dosage
Typical dosage for Barium sulfate
Interactions between Barium sulfate and other drugs
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.
