Barium

• Liquid E-Z-PAQUE is indicated for use in single contrast radiographic examinations of the esophagus, stomach, and small bowel to visualize the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in adult and pediatric patients.

• Liquid E-Z-PAQUE is contraindicated in patients with the following conditions: known or suspected perforation of the GI tract known obstruction of the GI tract high risk of GI perforation such as those with a recent GI perforation, acute GI hemorrhage or ischemia, toxic megacolon, severe ileus, post GI surgery or biopsy, acute GI injury or burn, or recent radiotherapy to the pelvis high risk of aspiration such as those with prior aspiration, tracheo-esophageal fistula, or obtundation known severe hypersensitivity to barium sulfate or any of the excipients of Liquid E-Z-PAQUE Known or suspected perforation of the GI tract ( 4 ) Known obstruction of the GI tract ( 4 ) Conditions associated with high risk of GI perforation or aspiration ( 4 ) Known severe hypersensitivity to barium sulfate or any of the excipients of Liquid E-Z-PAQUE ( 4 )contraindicated

Adults: Recommended oral dose is 150 mL to 750 mL (87g to 435g of barium sulfate, respectively) ( 2.1 ) Pediatric patients: adjust dose based on relative GI volume ( 2.1 ) 2.1 Recommended Dosage The optimal oral dose of Liquid E-Z-PAQUE will vary depending on the size and anatomy of the patient and the procedure being performed. The recommended oral dose of Liquid E-Z-PAQUE: Adults: 150 to 750 mL (87 g to 435 g of barium sulfate, respectively). Volumes closer to 150 mL are recommended for examination of the esophagus and stomach and volumes up to 750 mL are recommended for examination of the small bowel Pediatric Patients: Adjust dose based on GI volume For examinations of the upper GI tract, administer a volume sufficient to fully distend the esophagus or stomach. For small bowel examinations: Age birth to less than 2 years: 30 mL to 75 mL Age 2 years to less than 17 years: 75 mL to 480 mL 2.2 Administration Instructions For oral use only Shake bottle vigorously for 30 seconds prior to oral administration to fully suspend product Administer undiluted Ensure patients have nothing by mouth for the following time period prior to the examination: Neonates and Infants < 3 months 2 hours Infants 3-12 months 3 hours > 12 months of age 4 hours Discard any unused suspension Encourage patients to maintain hydration following the barium sulfate procedure

Hypersensitivity reactions: Emergency equipment and trained personnel should be immediately available ( 5.1 ) Intra-abdominal barium leakage: May occur in conditions such as GI fistula, ulcer, inflammatory bowel disease, appendicitis or diverticulitis, severe stenosis or obstructing lesions of the GI tract ( 5.2 ) Delayed GI transit and obstruction: Patients should maintain adequate hydration in days following a barium sulfate procedure to avoid obstruction or impaction ( 5.3 ) Aspiration pneumonitis: Patients with history of food aspiration or with swallowing disorders are at increased risk ( 5.4 ) 5.1 Hypersensitivity Reactions Barium sulfate preparations contain a number of excipients, including natural and artificial flavors and may induce serious hypersensitivity reactions. The manifestations include hypotension, bronchospasm and other respiratory impairments, dermal reactions including rashes, urticaria and itching. A history of bronchial asthma, atopy or a previous reaction to a contrast agent may increase the risk for hypersensitivity reactions. Emergency equipment and trained personnel should be immediately available for treatment of a hypersensitivity reaction. 5.2 Intra-abdominal Barium Leakage The use of Liquid E-Z-PAQUE is contraindicated in patients at high risk of perforation of the GI tract [see Contraindications ( 4 )].

The following adverse reactions have been identified from spontaneous reporting or clinical studies of barium sulfate administered orally. Because the reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or to establish a causal relationship to drug exposure: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramping Serious adverse reactions and fatalities include aspiration pneumonitis, barium sulfate impaction, intestinal perforation with consequent peritonitis and granuloma formation, vasovagal and syncopal episodes Common adverse reactions include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramping ( 6 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Bracco Diagnostics Inc at 1-800-257-5181 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch

8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Liquid E-Z-PAQUE is not absorbed systemically following oral administration, and maternal use is not expected to result in fetal exposure to the drug [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] . 8.2 Lactation Risk Summary Liquid E-Z-PAQUE is not absorbed systemically by the mother following oral administration, and breastfeeding is not expected to result in exposure of the infant to Liquid E-Z-PAQUE [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 ) . 8.4 Pediatric Use The efficacy of Liquid E-Z-PAQUE in pediatric patients from birth to less than 17 years of age is based on successful opacification of the esophagus, stomach, and small bowel during single contrast radiographic procedures [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.1 )] . Safety and dosing recommendations in pediatric patients are based on clinical experience [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.1 )] . Liquid E-Z-PAQUE is contraindicated in pediatric patients with tracheo-esophageal fistula. [see Contraindications ( 4 )]. Pediatric patients with a history of asthma or food allergies may be at increased risk for development of hypersensitivity reactions [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )].

• Jan 11, 2016NDANDA208036Bracco
• Jan 15, 2016NDANDA208143Bracco
• Oct 14, 2016NDANDA208844Bracco
• Aug 1, 2025NDANDA219840Bracco

1. 1Fatigue1807.3%
2. 2Nausea1666.7%
3. 3Diarrhoea1626.5%
4. 4Pain1496.0%
5. 5Dizziness1425.7%
6. 6Headache1415.7%
7. 7Arthralgia1184.8%
8. 8Dyspnoea1134.6%
9. 9Drug Ineffective1114.5%
10. 10Pruritus1024.1%
11. 11Pain In Extremity994.0%
12. 12Asthenia984.0%
13. 13Vomiting973.9%
14. 14Rash853.4%
15. 15Insomnia813.3%

Recent PubMed references pinned to Barium as a MeSH major topic. Citations link to pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

• Crystal Structure and Tunable Photoluminescent Properties of Ce(3+)-Doped and Tb(3+)-Doped BaCa(12)(SiO(4))(4)(PO(4))(2)OF(2) Phosphors.
  Luminescence : the journal of biological and chemical luminescence · 2026 · Kim DH, Puspitasari P, Park K, et al.
  PMID 42219165DOI 10.1002/bio.70504
• Adsorption performance of barium from industrial wastewater using nano calcium alginate-manganese (IV) oxide beads.
  Environmental science and pollution research international · 2026 · Darzi S, Taleshi MS, Elmi F, et al.
  PMID 41975150DOI 10.1007/s11356-026-37609-y
• Quantitative determination of barium in human blood by ion chromatography: Method development and case application in barium intoxication.
  Journal of forensic sciences · 2026 · Lee S, Ham D, Park O, et al.
  PMID 41834174DOI 10.1111/1556-4029.70306
• Interface Defect and Spatial Charge Transfer Contribute to the Dynamic Anticounterfeiting and Fingerprint Recognition Applications and Mechanism Insights of A/B Site-Doped BaMoO(4) Phosphors.
  Luminescence : the journal of biological and chemical luminescence · 2026 · Yang J, Wang S, Zhang Y, et al.
  PMID 41672919DOI 10.1002/bio.70445
• Optimized cementitious immobilization of simulated cesium and barium radionuclides in borate waste solution by natural zeolite additives.
  Environmental science and pollution research international · 2026 · Iklaga G, Kaposy N, Tolnai I, et al.
  PMID 41609995DOI 10.1007/s11356-025-37369-1
• Constraining barium inputs to coastal waters using (224)Ra/(228)Th disequilibrium: evidence from the Yangtze River Estuary and East China Sea Shelf.
  Marine pollution bulletin · 2026 · Lin Z, Liu L
  PMID 41443162DOI 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.119157
• [Study of the association of prenatal barium exposure and advancement of the adiposity rebound phase in children].
  Zhonghua liu xing bing xue za zhi = Zhonghua liuxingbingxue zazhi · 2025 · Zuo YY, Jiang YY, Geng C, et al.
  PMID 41429517DOI 10.3760/cma.j.cn112338-20250520-00333
• Biomonitoring of barium, cadmium and lead in tissue of Eurasian Griffon vultures from Central Italy.
  Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987) · 2026 · Bellocci M, Defourny SVP, Merola C, et al.
  PMID 41407186DOI 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127539

The 10 most recently updated of 116 ClinicalTrials.gov registrations naming Barium as an intervention. Registration is not evidence of efficacy or safety — reference crosswalk only.

• Trial of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Guided Radiotherapy Dose Adaptation in Human Papilloma Virus Positive Oropharyngeal Cancer
  Active not recruiting · Phase 2 · Interventional · 90 enrolled · M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
  NCT03224000updated 2026-06-11
• A Study of the Use of Fat Flap Reconstruction to Reduce Neck Injury After Cancer Treatment
  Recruiting · Interventional · 12 enrolled · Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
  NCT05889091updated 2026-06-03
• Botox or Botox With Esophageal Dilation in Patients With Achalasia
  Enrolling by invitation · Phase 4 · Interventional · 50 enrolled · Vanderbilt University Medical Center
  NCT03654066updated 2026-05-27
• Training Swallowing Initiation During Expiration
  Completed · Interventional · 88 enrolled · Northwestern University
  NCT05278039updated 2026-05-14
• Reference Values for Videofluoroscopic Measures of Swallowing
  Enrolling by invitation · Interventional · 580 enrolled · University Health Network, Toronto
  NCT05497219updated 2026-05-14
• De-Escalated Adjuvant and Definitive Radiation Therapy Informed by DART 2.0 ctHPV-DNA
  Recruiting · Phase 2 · Interventional · 455 enrolled · Mayo Clinic
  NCT05541016updated 2026-05-12
• Cough, Expiratory Training, and Chronic Aspiration After Head and Neck Radiotherapy
  Active not recruiting · Interventional · 175 enrolled · M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
  NCT02662907updated 2026-04-16
• Novel Dental Cements (ALBO-MPCA) in Patients With Caries
  Completed · Interventional · 20 enrolled · Albos d.o.o. Beograd
  NCT07507136updated 2026-04-02
• Effect of 1% Melatonin Gel Versus Calcium Hydroxide as an Intracanal Medicament on the Intensity of Postoperative Pain, Bacterial Load Reduction and Periapical MMP-9 Levels in Patients With Necrotic Pulp.
  Not yet recruiting · Interventional · 50 enrolled · Cairo University
  NCT07495605updated 2026-03-27
• Value of PET/MR Enterography in the Assessment of Crohn's Disease Using a Collagen-binding Radiotracer.
  Recruiting · Observational · 25 enrolled · Massachusetts General Hospital
  NCT06252493updated 2026-03-12

Frequently asked questions

What is Barium used for?

According to FDA labeling, Barium carries indications including: Liquid E-Z-PAQUE is indicated for use in single contrast radiographic examinations of the esophagus, stomach, and small bowel to visualize the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in adult and pediatric patients.. This is a reference summary of labeled uses, not medical advice or a treatment recommendation.

What are the contraindications for Barium?

Barium labeling lists contraindications including: Liquid E-Z-PAQUE is contraindicated in patients with the following conditions: known or suspected perforation of the GI tract known obstruction of the GI tract high risk of GI perforation such as those with a recent GI perforation, acute GI hemorrhage or ischemia, toxic megacolon, severe ileus, post GI surgery or biopsy, acute GI injury or burn, or recent radiotherapy to the pelvis high risk of aspiration such as those with prior aspiration, tracheo-esophageal fistula, or obtundation known severe hypersensitivity to barium sulfate or any of the excipients of Liquid E-Z-PAQUE Known or suspected perforation of the GI tract ( 4 ) Known obstruction of the GI tract ( 4 ) Conditions associated with high risk of GI perforation or aspiration ( 4 ) Known severe hypersensitivity to barium sulfate or any of the excipients of Liquid E-Z-PAQUE ( 4 ). Always consult the full prescribing information and a clinician.