Barium sulfate and Nausea: What Users Say

• Ber...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 16, 2021

Barium sulfate for Computed Tomography "Earlier this week I had an abdominal CT without negative incident after prep with the Reddi-Cat Berry Smoothie. After reading the online patient reviews of barium sulfate (in general) prior to the exam, I was anticipating nausea and/or gastro issues and nearly canceled the appointment due to the anxiety the reviews caused. I am so glad I did not cancel, as the Berry Smoothie was so good that if I did not know it was barium sulfate, I could easily have thought I was drinking a Greek yogurt or kefir berry smoothie! I completed the preparation on a timely basis, completed the exam without issues, and the entire process was smooth and pleasant. I am leaving this review with the hope of encouraging others who may be unnecessarily concerned. The berry smoothie was very good!"

• Gum...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 9, 2020

For Computed Tomography "I've had plenty of CTs with IV contrast before, but not oral contrast, so I decided to look up what to expect. Mistake. The internet hyped this up as being sludgy cement that tastes awful, and that I should expect to immediately fight the urge to vomit or soil myself. I had the Vanilla Silq flavor/brand, cold, and it was almost indistinguishable from a vanilla Ensure, save for the knowledge it was mildly radioactive but unlikely to grant superpowers. Everyone reacts differently, but most people who had their expectations met at Chili's don't post reviews about it, so you won't find a lot of 'everything went fine and normal and I'm going about my day' posts about barium sulfate. You'll see the nasty and unfortunate stuff though. Anyway, worst milkshake I've ever had, but had no real fallout from it - no nausea or diarrhea, but time will tell about constipation - and would recommend drinking this as infrequently as your doctor will let you."

• Gig...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 19, 2019

For Computed Tomography "I had the oral and IV contrast and was told I could go to work after the CT scan. I asked about side effects but was told about the major ones, not the vomiting and diarrhea. I went to work and got very sick. It was so embarrassing. I had to rush home and almost kicked my house door down getting to the bathroom. The nausea, diarrhea, weakness, tingling in my body was so scary. I was in the bathroom every 5 minutes. That was on Tuesday, now here it is Thursday, and I am still nauseous and can taste the medication in my mouth. My stomach still bubbles up when I eat anything. This is a weight loss plan I didn't sign up for. This experience made me feel worse than what I originally went in for. Never again will I do something like that without doing my research first."

• Mar...
• July 12, 2021

Barium sulfate for Computed Tomography "One bottle last night before 8. Terrible heartburn (Tums which let me keep the medication down) & upset stomach till 12:30 when the bowels began to move. I had to do Lamaze breathing techniques to get through some of the pain; pain is very similar to a lactose attack. That lasted till 3:30 and it was total liquid. My stomach felt and continues to feel very bloated. (5 pm). I drank another bottle before my appointment plus another 6-8 ounces immediately prior to scan. The IV was not an issue and the scan was very quick and easy. I have felt queasy all day and only eating pretzels and water. All day my insides have sounded like rushing water and a wicked thunderstorm or fireworks. I just keep pushing the water. I don’t want to eat anything. Apparently not all people have this reaction. I am lactose intolerant, but there is no lactose listed as an ingredient. However, I might ask about taking Lactaid and Beano next time. My scan came out well. I just wish I’d been prepared for this."

• Anonymous
• July 7, 2012

Barium sulfate for Computed Tomography "I drank Readi-Cat (barium sulfate) for an abdominal CT scan. I gave it a nine only because of the taste. It was thick and had the consistency of vegetable oil with a citrus flavor. I experienced some very mild heartburn and nausea while drinking it, but that went away very quickly. The following morning, I had one bout of diarrhea, which was listed as a side effect. Other than that, I didn't experience any of the listed possible side effects. Overall, a much better experience than I was anticipating!"

• Gr8...
• August 9, 2018

Barium sulfate for Computed Tomography "Here I lay Thursday, having drunk two bottles of Readi-Cat 2 oral (1 Sunday and 1 early Monday morning). I think I am having a reaction to the Readi-Cat 2. After drinking one bottle, I felt very full, somewhat nauseous, and just rather bad (achy joints, intestinal tightness). I called the imaging place the next morning (Monday) and was told to drink the 2nd bottle anyway. I have been having problems with IBS-C, and here it is Wednesday, 2 a.m. I was so dizzy and sweaty during the night, and now I am dizzy and shaky, too. I have not managed to get the Readi-Cat smoothie out of my system, and it feels like I swallowed concrete. I will call both my PCP, GI, and imaging place when they open. My suggestion to others might be to discuss taking Readi-Cat smoothie with the doctor for guidance before taking it, especially if you are already constipated. The vanilla smoothie tastes good but has sorbitol in it. I am obviously sensitive to something in this and know sorbitol is probably one."

• Did...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 8, 2018

For Computed Tomography "I made it through the first bottle pretty good. The taste wasn't bad at all (had the berry flavor), but the consistency is just gross. About 10 minutes later, I had a huge hit of diarrhea. After half of the second bottle, I must have looked white like a ghost as everybody asked me if I was okay, and I felt super sick to my stomach. It was hard to keep it down. After the scan, I threw up about 8 times and had diarrhea ALL day long. Couldn't drive myself home, my husband had to pick me up. I felt so weak. Also having a lot of gas and a huge headache. I am sure it's needed, but I hope I never have to do this again."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 1, 2013

For Computed Tomography "About 15 minutes after drinking the second bottle, the diarrhea started. It was pretty severe and made it difficult to get through the CT scan. It was followed by nausea and some weakness. It started early in the morning and is lasting well into the night."

• Jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 21, 2022

For Computed Tomography "After reading reviews, I was scared. SCARED TO DEATH, SCARED. I even canceled my appointment 2x. I got the banana flavor, and it's like drinking banana water with a small splash of milk in it. That's the best I can describe it. It wasn't terrible. I made sure to shake well and to drink it as cold as possible. Also, I used a wide straw, bigger straw than they gave me, so it was faster to drink. I found it really wasn't that hard to drink it. I felt a slight bit of nausea in the beginning, but honestly, I'm going to chuck that up to my nerves. It subsided quickly as soon as I was distracted. I can, however, feel 'bubbles' or a mild kicking-like (for us moms out there) sensation that has lasted for hours. No other issues, besides I feel gassy. But haven't 'gone' or run to the bathroom. I also had the iodine IV done with this. I really wish I'd done so instead of being so frightened by the reviews. It is really not that bad so far, but I guess we will see about tonight and tomorrow."

• Ste...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 8, 2024

For Computed Tomography "7:30 am I went to complete my GI checkup. I believe the whole procedure is a bit different in China. We don't have to take extra doses the night before the test, and we take much fewer portions (200-250 cc, a full paper cup in total). It was hard to swallow at first, but tolerable. I drank half of the cup before the test and took the few sips left during the test. I experienced a gassy, stretchy feeling afterward, and the gas persisted for a few hours. I did feel so nauseous that I ate nothing but a hard candy for breakfast. Fortunately, I didn't get diarrhea as expected. It's important to drink plenty of water to avoid constipation. So, don't cancel your appointment for concern over those side effects. They do happen but are still rare. I'm glad that the test has revealed the cause of my upset stomach. The outcomes sure outweigh these weaknesses."

• Sun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 19, 2022

For Computed Tomography "Chose the mochaccino flavor, and it wasn't bad at all, aside from a strange sensation in the throat after swallowing. Smaller sips worked best for me. I got a bit nauseated at the amount that needed to be consumed, but I got it all down without too much of an issue. It did cause me to have diarrhea three times during the course of the first bottle. Second bottle, one more trip to the restroom. Then just a LOT of gas that slowly started to build up. Came home, felt tired, and took a nap, and have been extremely gassy all night. Otherwise, it was not a bad experience. Not nearly as nasty as that Clenpiq stuff you drink for colon prep. Don't recommend making any plans for 24 hours after consumption in case you have tummy issues as a result as well."

• Big...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 21, 2015

Barium sulfate for Computed Tomography "Tastes so nasty, made me want to throw up even more."