Informational only — Not medical advice. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider.

Shasthya স্বাস্থ্য · Health, made simple
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Community data Updated 23 hours ago
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Indications

Barium Sulfate Suphate is used to help doctors examine the esophagus (the tube that connects the mouth and stomach), the stomach and the intestine using X-rays or computed tomography (CAT scan, CT scan). This is a type of body scan that uses a computer to put together X-ray images and create a cross sectional or three dimensional picture of the inside of the body. Barium Sulfate sulphate belongs to a class of medicines called radiopaque contrast media. It works by coating the esophagus, stomach or intestine with a material that is not absorbed into the body, so diseased or damaged areas can be clearly seen on an X-ray examination or CT scan.

⚠️ Always consult a registered physician before taking any medicine.

Pharmacology

Barium sulfate takes up more of the x-rays passing through the body, so the structures where it collects show up clearly on the image. It is an insoluble material, and because it is dense it gives a positive contrast during an x-ray examination. It is also inert and radiopaque. The body does not absorb or metabolise it, and it leaves unchanged, much like other inorganic materials that are not absorbed. How fast it is excreted depends on gastrointestinal transit time.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Nobody has established that barium sulfate is safe to use during pregnancy. A pregnant woman should receive it only if the possible benefits are greater than the potential risks. Radiation is known to harm an unborn baby exposed in the womb.

⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Dosage Reference

⚠️ Reference ranges from official sources only. Consult your doctor for personalized dosing.

Adults: Barium Sulphate comes as a powder to mix with water, a suspension (liquid), a paste and a tablet. The powder mixture and the suspension can be taken by mouth or given as an enema (a liquid put into the rectum). The paste and the tablet are taken by mouth. You usually take Barium Sulphate one or more times before an X-ray examination or CT scan. If you are having a Barium Sulphate enema, medical staff at the testing center will give it to you. If you are taking it by mouth, you may get the medicine after you arrive at the testing center, or you may be given it to take at home at set times the night before and/or the day of your test. When you take it at home, follow the directions exactly. Don't take more or less than directed, and don't take it more often or at different times. Shake the liquid well before each use so the medicine is evenly mixed. If you are given a powder to mix with water and take at home, make sure you also get directions for mixing and that you understand them. If you have any questions about mixing, ask your doctor or the staff at the testing center. You will be given specific directions to follow before and after your test. You may be told to drink only clear liquid after a certain time the day before your test, not to eat or drink after a specific time, and/or to use laxatives or enemas before your test. You may also be told to use laxatives after the test to clear the Barium Sulphate from your body. Be sure you understand these directions and follow them carefully. If you are not given any directions, or if you have questions about them, ask your doctor or the staff at the testing center.