X-rays or computed tomography are used in conjunction with barium sulphate to help clinicians inspect the oesophagus (tube connecting the mouth and stomach), stomach, and intestine (CAT scan, CT scan; a type of body scan that uses a computer to put together x-ray images to create cross-sectional or three dimensional pictures of the inside of the body). Radiopaque contrast media are a family of drugs that includes barium sulphate. It functions by coating the oesophagus, stomach, or intestine with a substance that is not absorbed into the body so that diseased or damaged portions can be plainly seen by an x-ray or CT scan.

For mixing with water, barium sulphate is available as a powder, a liquid suspension, a paste, and a tablet. The paste and pill are taken by mouth, while the powder and water mixture and the suspension may be ingested or administered as an enema (liquid inserted into the rectum). Before an x-ray or CT scan, barium sulphate is typically administered once or more.

A barium sulphate enema will be delivered by medical personnel at the testing facility if you choose to use one. If you’re taking barium sulphate orally, you might get the medication when you get to the testing facility or you might get instructions for when to take it at home on the night before and/or the day of your exam. Take barium sulphate exactly as prescribed if you’re taking it at home. Do not take it in larger or less amounts, or more frequently or at different times than recommended.

Do not chew, break, or crush the tablets; instead, swallow them whole.

Before each usage, give the beverage a good shake to evenly distribute the medication. Make sure you are given mixing instructions and that you comprehend them if you are given a powder to mix with water and consume at home. If you have any questions regarding combining your medications, see your doctor or the testing facility staff.

Before and after your exam, detailed instructions will be given to you to follow. The day before your test, you might be instructed to consume only clear liquids after a certain time, refrain from eating or drinking after a certain hour, and/or take laxatives or enemas. Additionally, you could be instructed to use laxatives to eliminate the barium sulphate from your system following the test. Make sure you comprehend their instructions and pay close attention to what they say. If you are not given guidance or if you have any questions about the directions you are given, ask your doctor or the staff at the testing facility.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before taking or using barium sulfate,

• If you are allergic to barium sulphate, other radiopaque contrast media, simethicone (Gas-X, Phazyme, and others), any other medications, any foods, latex, or any of the ingredients in the kind of barium sulphate you’ll be using or taking, make sure your doctor and the staff at the testing facility know. For a list of the ingredients, ask the testing facility staff.
• Inform the workers at the testing facility and your doctor about any prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbal items, and nutritional supplements you are currently taking or intend to take. Your doctor will advise you on whether to take your usual medications the day of the test as well as whether you need to wait a certain length of time before ingesting barium sulphate.
• Inform your doctor if you have recently undergone a rectal biopsy, if you have any blockages, sores, or holes in your oesophagus, stomach, or intestine, or if you have swelling or rectum cancer. Additionally, let your doctor know if your infant or young kid suffers from any conditions that affect the oesophagus, stomach, or intestines, or if they have undergone any gastrointestinal surgery. Your doctor could advise against giving barium sulphate to you or your kid.
• Inform your doctor if you have recently undergone any type of surgery, particularly if it involved the colon (large intestine) or rectum. Also mention if you have ever experienced intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri), which is high pressure in the skull and can result in headaches, vision loss, and other symptoms, or if you have ever aspirated food (inhaled food into the lungs). Additionally, let your doctor know if you or any family members have ever experienced allergies or asthma; Hirschsprung’s disease (inherited condition in which the intestines do not function normally), hay fever (allergy to pollen, dust, or other substances in the air), hives, eczema (red, itchy skin rash caused by allergy or sensitivity to substances in the environment), constipation, cystic fibrosis (inherited condition in which the body produces thick, sticky mucus that can interfere with breathing and digestion), high blood pressure, or heart disease.
• If you think you might be pregnant, if you want to get pregnant, or if you’re breastfeeding, let your doctor know. The foetus may be harmed by the radiation used in x-rays and CT scans.

What you can eat and drink the day before your test will be specified by your doctor or the professionals at the testing facility. Pay close attention to these guidelines.

After your test is finished, make sure you replenish your fluids.

Take the missed dose of barium sulphate as soon as you remember it if it was prescribed for you to take it at home and you forgot to. If you didn’t take the barium sulphate at the appointed time, let the testing centre staff know right away.

Effects from barium sulphate may be negative. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Stomach pain
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Weakness
• Light skin
• Sweating
• An earache that ringers

Some adverse effects can be very harmful. Tell the workers at the testing facility if you suffer any of these symptoms, or call your doctor right away:

• Hives
• Itching
• Red skin
• Throat swells or feels tight
• Difficulties with eating or breathing
• Hoarseness
• Agitation
• Confusion
• Quick heartbeat
• Bluish skin tone

Other adverse consequences from barium sulphate are possible. If you experience any odd issues while taking or right after obtaining this medication, call your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

If you are prescribed barium sulphate to take at home, make sure to keep the medication tightly packed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Store it away from excessive heat and moisture at room temperature (not in the bathroom). You might be instructed to cool the prescription in the refrigerator before taking it.

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

As many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Additionally, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Overdose symptoms could include:

• Stomach pain
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Constipation

Maintain all scheduled times with your doctor and the testing facility.

No one else should take your medication.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.